Tips for gardening with disabilities : Suggestions for those with visual or physical impairments

The Oregon State University Extension Service's demonstration garden in Salem features adaptive gardening techniques that make it more accessible to people with physical disabilities. The garden is open to the public and is at 3180 Center St. NE. / Neil Bell / OSU Extension Service  

Pat Patterson, a Master Gardener trained by the Oregon State University Extension Service, does not let a bad back or an artificial knee keep her from her garden.

The enthusiastic 74-year-old maintains a 2,000-square-foot vegetable garden, a 4-acre wildlife area and a Japanese garden at her property between Noti and Cheshire with the help of three friends and her husband. She also chairs the adaptive gardening committee of the Master Gardeners’ Association of Lane County.
“I would be at a loss if I couldn’t garden,” Patterson said. “I would have planted at least sprouts in a pot or African violets on my windowsill, but I really wanted to grow food, and lots of it.”


What allowed her the freedom? A concept called “adaptive gardening” involves making small modifications to accommodate a gardener’s physical injuries or disabilities. In her case, she has built high raised beds that make access easier. She also uses an extensive trellis system. Favorite tools include an Asian plow-hoe, a garden knife and an aluminum trowel with finger indentations for a better grip.


The public can view examples of adaptive gardening technique, including whiskey barrel planters, accessible table-top beds and extra-tall raised beds, at various demonstration gardens maintained by Master Gardeners, including the Center Street garden in Salem.

Gardening tips

OSU Extension Service offers gardening advice for the visually impaired. Here are a few of the tips:

• Mark changes in the direction of path segments with shrubs or with different textures of the path material.

• Make flower borders and planted beds no more than three feet across so the gardener can reach the plants while kneeling and working with short-handled tools.

• Install wind chimes, moving water and scented plants to help the gardener find special parts of the garden.

• Arrange bedded plants in groups of three to five in straight rows to make them easier to locate.



 Source : Statesman Journal ( 11th April 2013 )