Veg gardening for the disabled

[Evelyn J]

First things first, it's good to be back, ive been in hospital for what seems like years, well 5 months.

So the first thing i did when i got home was shuffle out into the garden to survey the newly grown jungle, and start working out how the heck i was going to get it back in order and producing again, one small catch, i cant bend or lift anything heaveyer than a tin of beans.

For a little while i thought my days of enjoying the bounty of my labour were over, untill i stoped feeling sorry for myself and got my thinking head back on.

Ok digging is at the top of the list of things i can't do ( it's a big list and it gets longer every day) so after looking at the veg pach for a week hoping it would dig it's self, i reinvented the rake and with the skills of my nephew who made " the beast" am now the owner of a rake that is light waight with very sharp 8inch prongs, with very little effort on my part i can rake the ground as you would with a normal rake but without doing myself further damage and it has almost the same result as digging with a fork.

The other thing that has been keeping me awake ( other than the hidious pain in my back) was how am i going to sew my seeds, the answer came to me when i was watching an episobe of "the good life" Tom was showing off his no bending potato planter, a little elaborate for me but it got me thinking of a simpler device, a little scrounging later and presto! 4ft of copper pipe, ideal for droping seeds down, problem solved!

And i now have 101 uses for a litter picker, if you dont have one, GET ONE!!! even if bending is no problem for you.

So, i have worked out some problems and i would be realy realy interested to know what you have invented or modified so you can get on with life and stick two fingers up to your disability.

Eve

[ElizabethBinary]

Honestly, you might need help. My fiancee's Mother is disabled and we're helping her start her old veggie patch back up. We've set her up on an automatic 4 wheeler (bad ankles, can't use clutch) with a trailer he made attached to the back. The farm is four hours away so I've started seedlings here. She has in her green house, which is all pretty much her height (I should mention the trailer is also designed for minimal bending).

Once we get up there, we're using the rotary hoe on the garden and planting everything for her and then setting up a pump system that goes from the water tank to the garden so all she needs to do is turn one tap on for half an hour to water it.

I am so proud of your work you've done to make sure this doesn't get you down. I don't think I'm of ANY help, but maybe some of the ideas were doing for Mother can help you. Don't know.

[Evelyn J]

I wish my plot was bigenough to require a 4 wheel beasty, but to be honest i am determind to avoid 4 wheels
( the dreded wheel chair), but i like the idea of the cart as i cant use a wheel barrow now, so i will be having a chat with "the boy" and the local bike repair guy to see what we can knock up at as little cost from all recycled bits.

I was getting a bit boggled to how i was going to plant out seedlings, but i am doing some tests with a lenth of guttering and a broom handle with a block on one end, idea beeing that you use the broom handle to make the hole, then slide the seedling gently down the guttering and then tamp it down with the block end of the broom handle, this is either going to be my best idea ever, or a compleete desaster! hehehe i will keep you posted on the test results.

Eve

[Green Aura]

Have you seen this Eve

• http://www.gardeningfordisabledtrust.org.uk/index.html

You might be able to get some help with alterations etc.

Glad you're managing to find ways round your problems. Makes life so much more bearable doesn't it.

[Evelyn J]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
I just had a quik look at the site and it looks like it will be a fantastic resorce.


I must say though i am rather enjoying inventing things and working out how to do things, it makes me feel like i am not a waste of space and some of my failed attempts at doing things often make me laugh and it gives me something to do other than feel sorry for myself, and that will never do

Eve

[Evelyn J]

I'm very excited this morning! my breez blocks have just arrived, so now my chicken coop can be raised up so i dont have to look like i should be in a circus when i go get the eggs, I know its a bit sad to get excited about this but it means that i can add another thing to the list of things i can do rather than always adding to the list of things i cant.

Eve

[Mrs Moustoir]

Excellent news about the chicken coop improvements!

Just a thought, and feel free to disregard my suggestion..but have you thought about looking for a gardening buddy or buddies even to help you? You hear about waiting lists for allotments, land shares and I just wondered whether this could be an option for you?

My sister-in-law helps her elderly neighbour with his veg gardening as he is no longer able to manage it all by himself. She does the heavy stuff which he struggles with and they share the produce. Result is that his garden is maintained, he can still enjoy his garden by helping (and offering advice!) and my SIL has more land to cultivate.

Your local allotment association might be able to put you in touch with someone who is waiting for a plot or you might know a like-minded individual who'd jump at the chance to help you with your garden. Perhaps you could get the nephew on board!

[Evelyn J]

The nephew is currently fencing off the vege patch from the chuks, then he will be building the new polly tunnal, he works for Leeks and other food hes a good lad, but will have to go home soon so i think i will start looking for a garden buddy next week.

Eve

[thesunflowergal]

Eve

Where abouts are you? Maybe someone here might be able to help!!

Nikki

[Evelyn J]

I am in South Manchester and i am happy to do job exchainge, say you come and do me some digging i will do you some ironing or baby sitting you get the idea.

Eve