The Benefits of Accessible Gardening: The Healing Reward

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 with resources for modifications • Technical assistance • On farm assessment

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

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

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

7. Finding it harder to get around?

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

9. Accessible Garden • 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

10. Raised Bed Dimensions Vertical Beds Containers

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

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

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

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

15. One Size Does Not Fit All

16. Prevent injury while gardening • Stretching exercises • Warm bath or shower • 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 • 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

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 • Pace activity • Decrease resistance • Spread the load over multiple joints or larger joints

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

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

22. 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 ability@okstate.edu OKLAHOMA AGRABILITY PROJECT