This is an excerpt from an email I sent to a friend today! At a guess I’m sure many will identify with it?
Ever onward and upward!
‘ I decided I would plant a small plant today. This is the first time I had done this for months. What a palaver it was! I had to find something of the right height to sit on and be able to getup from. Then a trowel with a long handle as I couldn’t bend over enough. Dug a little hole, then couldn’t reach to put the plant in! So threw it!! Filled in hole but couldn’t stretch to firm it! Did manage to give it some water!’
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Whatgrange
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Yes, everybody on this forum will understand both that need for careful preparation to avoid unnecessary fatigue and your mixed sense of frustration and achievement. I hope your friend understands too...
As I love gardening, I invested in long handled, pruners, forks, trowels and a wheel seat with locks on the wheels.
I found the following website and there were loads of ideas - so I picked and chose the ones I really wanted and steadily saved up and bit by bit bought the tools I needed
I saved and then had raised beds put in and I can sit on the side and work away quite happily, this was done two years ago and so I am still able to do quite a bit now I am into 11 years of overtime.
There was a very useful item on “Gardeners’ World”, the other week, when Mark Lane, who gardens from his wheelchair, had lots of helpful hints for people with a range of disabilities. It’s episode 16, broadcast on June 29th., and is still on the iPlayer.
Thank you for that! I’ve just watched it and, although I don’t need a wheelchair and have reasonable mobility, I found the idea of things like a grabber very interesting. I’ll spend more time concentrating on long handles as well. I also like the idea of a chair to sit on every 10 minutes a good idea! A year in, I’ve still got a way to go with pmr!
I love gardening - this year has been the best I've felt - more able bodied since my diagnosis of GCA/PMR 5 years ago - have faith you will improve with time - in the meantime take all the tips you can to help you pursue your hobby - but don't overdo it!
I watched it and have seen Mark over the past three or four years on both GW, Garden Rescue and at the three major shows. Monty Don was the best thing to happen as he had a traumatic time and then worked hard to raise awareness.
TV 11 years ago did not have anyone gardening with disabilities - luckily times have changed because a whole heap of people cared and raised awareness. I well remember the programme on what is now Radio 4 "Does he take Sugar?"
Thanks that is really useful info that could help all of our stiffened gardeners get back to the hoe!
I missed that episode so will check it out , I love Gardeners World and Month Don always manages to make you feel calm no matter what he talks about , such a relaxing voice combined with the beautiful plants .
It's a little escape to watch GW when you are stressed even if you don't garden.
Just put 'Lightweight Garden Tools' in your search engine and have a good browse.
If you are like me you will be amazed at the range and prices..............I bought middle range or upwards as I made a mistake with the first one ............serves me right, I had always been told 'by cheap and you buy twice'..............🤔
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Well done....the plant will grow. But I get your frustration and pleasure. I am 3 years in, and have other issues, but have grown veg this year for the first time in over 10years. I used grow bags on some cheap pop together shelving and some pots. I have a chair within reach that gets used every 5 to 10 mins. We will find a way!!
I pull up the odd weed and decide where things go but if I need to dig a hole I delegate that to my husband. I don't have much of a problem with getting up and down but my arms don't have any strength
I've had to resort to this sort of planting on the arrival of PMR. Happy to report, all plants thrived. Makes you wonder why I followed extremely careful forms of planting in the past!
Can so relate. My Asian jasmine had crawled out of the bed next to the patio and gone about 3 ft across it when I decided I couldn’t stand looking at it. Took most of the day—-clipping( arms could handle 5-8 clips at a time) ( energy lasted about 5-10 mins), then back inside for 30 + min sit. 😁
That was me this morning !! About 3 pushes with the long handled hoe and I had to stop! Arms and shoulders! And I was only practising ! Eventually came in and decided I needed a hot chocolate as a treat.
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