Planting and nurturing a garden has been, repeatedly, linked to great mental health as well as physical benefits – all of which apply to accessible gardening. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, “gardening can cut the risk of a heart attack or stroke and prolong life by 30 percent. The benefits appear to come from the combination of physical exercise and the stress reduction playing in the dirt provides.”
Adaptations for Accessible Gardening
With modifications, a garden can be adapted to accommodate most abilities. These include making use of:
- Raised beds
- Hanging plants
- Wall gardens or vertical gardens
- Wider pathways
- Hard, smooth paving with minimal grade
Adaptive Equipment for Accessible Gardening
A number of special tools are available to facilitate accessible gardening for people with disabilities. Some of these are:
- Gripping aids, add-on handles and arm support cuffs for use with standard
- Hand tools with angled handles and easy grips
- Long-reach hand tools
- Lightweight versions of large tools
- Fold-down carrying supports for wheelchairs
- Tools with extended handles
If you like the nature and being outdoors, you might interested in the Handicapped Hiking post, which has more information about trails and accessories.
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