Adaptive Gardening & Horticultural Therapy Adapting Your Garden

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Adaptive Gardening is adapting tools and techniques ... Books and catalogs. ▫ Internet and software programs ... finan
Mission Statement

Adaptive Gardening & Horticultural Therapy presented by Gail Karlsen, M.G., OSU Lane County Adaptive Gardening Specialist

What is Adaptive Gardening? ƒ Adaptive Gardening is adapting tools and techniques commonly used in gardening to fit the needs of people of various levels of physical ability. ƒ Gardening G d i adaptations d i can b be used d ffor the h elderly, the wheelchair bound, or for people with a limited range of motion. ƒ Anyone wanting to reduce stress on joints while gardening is a potential adaptive gardener.

How does Adaptive Gardening work?

The mission of the Lane County Master Gardener Adaptive Gardening Committee is to be a resource to the community demonstrating how to adapt gardening practices to make gardening enjoyable and successful for people of different ages, levels of ability, interest, and needs.

What is Horticultural Therapy? ƒ It is an innovative treatment method of rehabilitation and recovery, often medically prescribed. ƒ It uses plants l t and d naturenature t -based b d activities ti iti tto improve the social, psychological, and physical well--being of individuals whose lives have been well disrupted by physical, social or economic circumstances or simply aging. ƒ It may improve psychological/developmental disorders.

Adapting Your Garden

ƒ Provide gardening opportunities and nature nature-based activities to diverse and challenged populations p p

ƒ Problem solving and being creative

ƒ Creating specialty

ƒ Assess yourself ƒ Assess your garden ƒ Consult resources ƒ Design a Plan and make any necessary changes

gardens

Adaptive Gardening

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Assess Yourself ƒ What are your current physical limitations? ƒ Time and money resources ƒ Availability of assistance

Assess your garden ƒ Evaluate accessibility and size

ƒ Determine soil tilth and drainage

ƒ Assess availability of water source

ƒ Assess sun and micro climate

ƒ How will the garden be used

“Terry Cotta”

Consult resources ƒ Local Extension

Design plan and make changes ƒ Make it functional and

Office ƒ Talk to Adaptive Gardeners

ƒ Organizations ƒ Books and catalogs ƒ Internet and software

ƒ ƒ ƒ

programs ƒ ƒ

adaptable for YOU (for current and future requirements) Plan for convenient location Work with nature, not against it Select appropriate plants, adaptive structures, irrigation, and accessible pathways Make comfortable and shaded rest areas Use the right tools

A good design plan ƒ Make it functional,

What do you need to develop a successful adaptive garden?

Adaptive Gardening

inviting, and useruserfriendly to both you and others ƒ Consider aesthetics and environmental impact ƒ Design for maximum accessibility and low maintenance

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Useful and appropriate tools

Good Materials

Adaptive Demo Garden Development at Fairgrounds

Adaptive Structures & Techniques

Minimal Maintenance and use Manual Labor help as necessary

Newer Adaptive Garden at Extension

Lane County Fairgrounds provided the site, coordinated the labor, and financed the site development.

Adaptive Gardening

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Functional Features

Testing the structures

Additions and Improvements

Putting it all together

The rewards are enormous

Adaptive Gardening

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