Viewing post #1047476 by daylily

You are viewing a single post made by daylily in the thread called For Physically Challenged Gardeners.
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Jan 31, 2016 9:37 AM CST
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
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I am glad that this thread is welcome to new folks… Years ago I used to post on the accessible thread on DG. I have downsized so many times, it now feels like I am growing plants on a postage stamp. But I trudge on…. I think of gardening as my favorite form of physical therapy.

I found this photo from last year that shows some of my favorite gardening "helpers"….

If you click to enlarge, on the far left is one of the kneeler things that you can flip over. I seldom get down but when I do I can kneel on this, and use the handholds to help get up. Most often, I use it as a bench for tools, or just a lightweight seat to move around to take a break and sit on.

Behind it is a tall thing that takes the place of a wheelbarrow for me. I can no longer use a traditional wheelbarrow that requires lifting up on the handles. This little cart I load up then push down on the handle to push. It does not dump out as easy as a wheel barrow, but I have learned to adapt to it. It does do a great job at carrying around tools and things.

I keep a bucket with me for tossing things into - rocks, used pots, plant tags - it goes into the tall black cart when I am done and wheeled to the garage. All the stools and stuff stack into the black cart and are lightweight and easy to wheel over there.

In the middle there is my rolling stool that I use when I weed. I am not a tall person, just at 5' and have problems in my upper back and shoulders with the muscles and nerves. So, I can't bend or reach well. This stool is low, sturdy and years and years old. I can use hand tools with it and bend from the waist and scoot along and do an ok job. Not perfect, but it helps. Now that all my sun perennials will be in this small, flat area, I should be able to do most of it sitting on this rolling stool.

Then to the right of the rolling stool is my very favorite "helper"… my service dog. When I am standing, she can pick up dropped hoe handles and put in my hand. She can pick up small things like paper seed packets. She can go down a path and get a small hand tool and bring to me. I can give her a plant tag, a used paper towel or other item and she knows the command "bucket" and will go and put them in the bucket. Very similar to her task of putting things in the waste basket or laundry basket inside the house. She will even fetch my bottle of water from the kneeler stool. Most important, she can grab the phone and bring it to me if I fall and need help. I have to watch her if I give her a paper towel though. She likes to sneak back and get them and tear them up. Whistling Rolling my eyes. Lovey dubby

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