Limb loss need not prevent those with metaphorical green thumbs from participating in activities they enjoy. Assistive devices and ideas for adapting equipment and environment can allow those with limb loss or limited mobility to garden to their heart’s content.
Adaption Ideas
For those with limited mobility, consider designing accessible plots and using assistive devices. These include:
- Using raised beds (kits range from $7-$900, depending on complexity and materials), trellises, planters, window boxes, or other containers, such as the hanging tomato planter (prices range from $7-$13)
- Keeping nearby a bench or stool or a seat with wheels (many such rolling seats like the tractor scoot or garden seat caddy are available – prices range from $60-$140)
- Using a tool cart to transport tools, seeds, watering cans, etc.
- Fitting hand trowel, fork, hoe and cultivator heads on broom or mop sticks or other similar poles – or purchasing longhandled versions of these implements; add-on handles, sold by many retailers (prices range from $15-$18), can be attached to allow greater leverage
- Getting a long-handled grabber to retrieve clippings and tools ($10-30)
- Using ratcheted pruners and shears with telescoping handles (prices range from $8 to over $150), which don’t require as much leverage
- Availing yourself of soaker hoses ($5-30) or spray wands ($15-$40) for watering to minimize bending and lifting.
Hand hoe used with body-powered prosthesis
For upper-extremity limb loss, a few gardening-specific terminal devices are available from Texas Assistive Devices. These include:
- Hand hoe
- Hand cultivator
- Hand spade
- Pruning saw.
All Texas Assistive Device tools and implements, including gardening tools, can be used with either body-powered or myo-electric prostheses. You will need to check with your prosthetist or orthotist regarding availability and pricing of these items.
Hand hoe, hand cultivator and hand spade
TRS, which also builds custom sports and recreational terminal devices for upper-extremity amputees, does not list gardening tools among its sports and recreation devices, but invites customers to inquire about custom projects.
If purchasing assistive devices is not an option, the Idaho Center for Assistive Technology (ICAT) offers a series of videotapes on how to construct your own one-armed gardening implements, using low-cost materials like PVC piping. The adaptive tools include:
- Belt & extension assembly
- Pedal hoe
- Garden Trencher
- Rake
- Tree trimmer
- Shovel.
Pruning saw used with myoelectric
ICAT is also developing a gardening wheelchair called the DIY Garden Tractor; a videotape demonstration of the prototype can be viewed on the Web site. Another low-cost wheelchair design is also in the works (shown in photo on page 45).
For more intensive agrarian work, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s National AgrAbility Project and Purdue’s Breaking New Ground Outreach Program offer resources and suggestions for adaptable and assistive farming devices.
Vendors
Active Forever
activeforever.com
AgrAbility
agrability.org
agrability.com
Breaking New Ground
cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/ABE/Extension/BNG/OutreachProgram/outreach
eziMate
ezimate.com
Gardener’s Supply Company
gardeners.com
Hand Helpers
handhelpers.com
Idaho Center for Assistive Technology
idahocat.org/services/custom-adaptive-equipment/one-armed-gardening
Kmart
kmart.com
Life Solutions Plus
lifesolutionsplus.com
Life With Ease
lifewithease.com/garden.html
National Public Website on Assistive Technology
assistivetech.net
Plow & Hearth
plowhearth.com
Raised Garden Beds
raised-garden-beds.com
Texas Assistive Devices
n-abler.org
TRS
oandp.com/products/trs
The Wright Stuff
wrightstuff.biz
Photos courtesy of Texas Assistive Devices