1 The Benefits of Accessible Gardening: The Healing Reward OKLAHOMA AGRABILITY PROJECT

2 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.

3 Oklahoma AgrAbility Project Links agricultural families and technology Links agricultural families and technology Links agricultural families with resources for modifications Links agricultural families with resources for modifications Technical assistance Technical assistance On farm assessment On farm assessment

4 What does the Oklahoma AgrAbility Project offer? Education and assistance Education and assistance Eliminate barriers Eliminate barriers Provide safe practical solutions Provide safe practical solutions A resource book A resource book

5 Gardening Recreation and Leisure is one category of the AgrAbility Project

6 Why do people garden? Personal satisfaction Personal satisfaction Enjoy home grown garden vegetables and fruits Enjoy home grown garden vegetables and fruits Outdoor activity Outdoor activity Relieves stress Relieves stress Exercise Exercise Burns calories Burns calories Creativity Creativity Scent of fresh flowers Scent of fresh flowers Increases attention span Increases attention span Better concentration Better concentration Alleviates depression Alleviates depression Improves motor skills Improves motor skills Social interaction Social interaction Teaches problem solving Teaches problem solving Develops self-confidence Develops self-confidence Enhances self esteem Enhances self esteem

7 Finding it harder to get around?

8 Yes, you can still garden. Adaptations + Modifications = Gardening Adaptations + Modifications = Gardening Where to garden Where to garden Prevent injuries Prevent injuries “Body Friendly” garden tools “Body Friendly” garden tools

9 Accessible Garden Eliminates physical barriers Eliminates physical barriers People with any ability level can garden People with any ability level can garden Garden minimum of difficulty Garden minimum of difficulty Design the garden to meet abilities of the person Design the garden to meet abilities of the person Decide what kind of garden space Decide what kind of garden space Select appropriate tools or adapt existing tools to your strengths Select appropriate tools or adapt existing tools to your strengths

10 Raised Bed Dimensions Vertical Beds Containers

11 Features to Consider Wide gates and doors Wide gates and doors A chair or bench A chair or bench A ramp A ramp

12 Match the tool to the job Prevent injury Prevent injury Minimize risk of injury Minimize risk of injury Make gardening an enjoyable experience Make gardening an enjoyable experience

13 How to get “Body Friendly” tools Adapt existing tools Adapt existing tools Purchase specially designed tools Purchase specially designed tools Be innovative Be innovative

14 Ergonomic Tools Prevent injury Prevent injury Increase efficiency Increase efficiency Lightweight Lightweight Require little force to operate Require little force to operate Use elbow joint rather than the hand and wrist Use elbow joint rather than the hand and wrist Keep body in a neutral position Keep body in a neutral position Decrease stress on joints Decrease stress on joints Work longer with less energy Work longer with less energy Prevent fatique Prevent fatique

15 One Size Does Not Fit All

16 Prevent injury while gardening Stretching exercises Stretching exercises Warm bath or shower Warm bath or shower Medication Medication

17 What are ways that gardening can cause injury? Strenuous repetitive motions i.e. digging; shoulder, arms, or weeding; raking leaves etc. Carpel tunnel-tennis elbow 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 Overuse-tennis elbow, bursitis, shoulder, hips, knees-- tendonitis Forceful gripping-repeated pressure on a site Forceful gripping-repeated pressure on a site Vibration (garden tiller-chain saw-mowing) Vibration (garden tiller-chain saw-mowing) Continuous pressing against hard surfaces Continuous pressing against hard surfaces

18 What are ways that gardening can cause injury?  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

19 Tips to Help Make Gardening Fun Recognize when to adapt or modify garden tools Recognize when to adapt or modify garden tools Pace activity Pace activity Decrease resistance Decrease resistance Spread the load over multiple joints or larger joints Spread the load over multiple joints or larger joints

20 Tips to Help Make Gardening Fun Work load should be close Work load should be close Match the tool to the job Match the tool to the job

21 Features to look for when shopping for tools. Geared Tools Geared Tools Easy Kneeler Easy Kneeler Long Handles Long Handles Transporting Tools Transporting Tools Spring Released Tools Spring Released Tools Watering Wand Watering Wand D and T D and T Pistol Grips Pistol Grips Light Weight Tools Light Weight Tools

22 How to Contact Us How to Contact Us Contact Information If you would like to talk to someone regarding a disability, please call toll-free at If you would like to talk to someone regarding a disability, please call toll-free at If you would like to get general information, please call If you would like to get general information, please call To be contacted by one of our staff members, please send and to To be contacted by one of our staff members, please send and to OKLAHOMA AGRABILITY PROJECT