Download The Benefits of Accessible Gardening: The Healing Reward

The Benefits of Accessible
Gardening:
The Healing Reward
OKLAHOMA AGRABILITY PROJECT
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Mission
The missions of the Oklahoma AgrAbility
Project is to provide education,
assistance, and support to farmers,
ranchers, and their families who have a
disability to perform essential farm tasks.
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Oklahoma AgrAbility Project
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Links agricultural families and technology
Links agricultural families with resources for
modifications
Technical assistance
On farm assessment
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What does the Oklahoma AgrAbility
Project offer?
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Education and assistance
Eliminate barriers
Provide safe practical solutions
A resource book
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Gardening Recreation and
Leisure is one category of
the AgrAbility Project
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Why do people garden?
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Personal satisfaction
Enjoy home grown garden
vegetables and fruits
Outdoor activity
Relieves stress
Exercise
Burns calories
Creativity
Scent of fresh flowers
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Increases attention span
Better concentration
Alleviates depression
Improves motor skills
Social interaction
Teaches problem solving
Develops self-confidence
Enhances self esteem
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Finding it harder to get
around?
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Yes, you can still garden.
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Adaptations + Modifications = Gardening
Where to garden
Prevent injuries
“Body Friendly” garden tools
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Accessible Garden
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Eliminates physical barriers
People with any ability level can garden
Garden minimum of difficulty
Design the garden to meet abilities of the
person
Decide what kind of garden space
Select appropriate tools or adapt existing tools
to your strengths
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Raised Bed Dimensions
Vertical Beds
Containers
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Features to Consider
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Wide gates and doors
A chair or bench
A ramp
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Match the tool to the job
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Prevent injury
Minimize risk of injury
Make gardening an enjoyable experience
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How to get “Body Friendly” tools
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Adapt existing tools
Purchase specially designed tools
Be innovative
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Ergonomic Tools
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Prevent injury
Increase efficiency
Lightweight
Require little force to
operate
Use elbow joint rather
than the hand and wrist
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Keep body in a neutral
position
Decrease stress on joints
Work longer with less
energy
Prevent fatique
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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Prevent injury while gardening
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Stretching exercises
Warm bath or shower
Medication
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What are ways that gardening can
cause injury?
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Strenuous repetitive motions i.e. digging; shoulder, arms, or
weeding; raking leaves etc. Carpel tunnel-tennis elbow
Overuse-tennis elbow, bursitis, shoulder, hips, knees-tendonitis
Forceful gripping-repeated pressure on a site
Vibration (garden tiller-chain saw-mowing)
Continuous pressing against hard surfaces
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What are ways that gardening can
cause injury?
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Repetitive strain
Sustained or awkward positions such as kneeling, squatting,
twisting
Acute trauma-falls, cuts, jabs from limbs, tripping, tugging,
pulling, etc.
Sunburn-don’t forget the sunscreen, wear large brimmed hat,
wear lightweight clothing and avoid exposure from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m.
Drink plenty of water (decaffeinated) to prevent dehydration
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Tips to Help Make Gardening Fun
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Recognize when to adapt or modify garden
tools
Pace activity
Decrease resistance
Spread the load over multiple joints or larger
joints
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Tips to Help Make Gardening Fun
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Work load should be close
Match the tool to the job
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Features to look for when shopping
for tools.
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Geared Tools
Easy Kneeler
Long Handles
Transporting Tools
Spring Released Tools
Watering Wand
D and T
Pistol Grips
Light Weight Tools
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How to Contact Us
Contact Information
 If you would like to talk to someone regarding a
disability, please call toll-free at 1-888-885-5588.
 If you would like to get general information,
please call 405-744-2398.
 To be contacted by one of our staff members,
please send and email to [email protected]
OKLAHOMA AGRABILITY PROJECT
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