From http://garden.org/thread/view_... ...

daylily said:I tried the Accessible Gardening forum on DG - but found it was a lot of chat, little info about actually gardening if you have physical challenges. I went to the forum looking for ways to work around the fact that I can't use a shovel etc. I have learned some unique ways to get around my physical problems. PuddlePirate - if your ever in a forum like that - I would love to hear some of your modifications. I'm not in a chair - yet - but I do a lot of my gardening from a rolling garden seat. When it is not blazing hot out - my service dog has been a big help. She can't pull weeds, but it she is great for picking up tools and other things I drop!

I'm guessing you have MS from the "yet" remark. Personally, I'm a C6 incomplete quad due to a diving accident, so my condition's not going to get worse. What limitations do you have, and what do you want to accomplish/improve?

I am unable to use a shovel and have difficulty using hand tools. I would like to hear about any tools or hints anyone has for making gardening easier.

Thanks!

I have MS. Can still do most things, but generally only in short stretches. Fatigue comes on fast, along with weakness and numbness on the left side, especially in Summer. So the deep digging and moving bags of soil, mulch, and such I usually leave to whomever I can persuade to come help. Most of the planting I do myself because that is the most fun for me. I'd be looking for ideas and tools to reduce energy expediture in order to maximize what I can get done.

Raised beds are great for those that are in wheel chairs, also the soil is much loser and easier to work in. The beds can also be made with a shallow width so a person can reach across or go around to the other side. I can still get down on the ground to work in my borders, but it is getting more difficult with time. I can't use a shovel anymore, other than a hand shovel.

And that, boys and girls, is how you haul 80 pounds of compost in a 20 pound cart. You sit your 200 pound butt in a 40 pound wheelchair, and make like a Clydesdale.

Works for me.

That is great Alo, I love that cart. : )

Very clever STUDLY !!!!

glad you are having fun.,,.much admired

I have MS and am typing out loud here.

Daylily, do you have enough hand strength to use grabbers?

Can you put on a pair of gloves?

Grabbers are useful to me while gardening. I'm also wondering if something like the over-fore-arm brace of canadain crutches might make up for a lack of hand strength.

Just a thought.

I website I like to go to, managed by a lady in a wheelchair is listed below. She has a section on handicapped Gardening. I've always been amazed by her determination to garden.

http://www.margaretlauterbach....

Alan, the link didn't work for me.

Weird, it's working for me, even from within the post. Did you type it or just click on the link?

I checked in both Internet Explorer and in Firefox, and the link is working in both locations. Sorry I can't be of more help Angie

Hmm, I tried "open in new tab" first, and got a "Firefox can't find the server at www.margaretlauterbach.com." message. Tried just clicking on the link and got the same message. Put her name in a google search, and found the same website, so I clicked on it there. I STILL got the same message.

No idea why it would work from your computer, and not from mine! No problem opening any other pages.

If you go to the Texas Gardening forum and scroll down to Do You Have a Favorite Tool thread, the second post shows a new tool I have called a Gator Grabber. The handles are telescoping, so they can be adjusted to any height. They're great for picking up leaves and sticks. I'm sure they would be helpful.

*duplicate info*

No idea either. I even tried your link and it worked, going straight to just the homepage. Anyone else have problems accessing this page?

Welcome to the internet I guess

>> http://www.margaretlauterbach....

I was able to go there with IE7 and an IT department that blocks many sites.

I know this sounds simplistic, kind of like "Did you remember to plug the television IN?", but have you cleared the cache and retried it? I don't have any problems, either.