Gardens for the disabled

Avoid unnecessary work

  1. Mulch,
  2. Recycle compostable materials
  3. Work with natural forces such as sun/shade, rain (watering plants), wind (distributing mulching material - leaves) and gravity, (positioning heavy elements uphill from where they are needed)
  4. Employ light easily moved containers. Use light potting mix and soil substitutes (e.g. Coconut coir and mushroom compost, leaves [Daniels 1996 PIJ])
  5. Create no-dig beds and minimise need for digging and weeding

No-bend gardens

  1. Use planters of light material or readily available material. Large planters are easier to maintain as they hold more moisture and can have mixed plantings which are less susceptible to insect invasion.
  2. Hanging gardens are suitable for trailling and shallow rooted edibles.
  3. Consider indoor gardens in sunny moist areas such as Bathrooms and Kitchens.
  4. Remember the high value of sprouts.

Special Needs Gardens

  1. Wheelchair gardens on table tops
  2. Tray gardens
  3. Aquaculture gardens
  4. Terariums
  5. Miniature plants
  6. Aerial plants; bromeliads; orchids; epiphiliums (edible fruit)
  7. Medicinal succulents (such as varieties of Aloe)
  8. Edible flowers

People with special talents

People with special needs can offer small but highly valued work such as rare seed propagation.

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