Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints Articles
From the WVATS Spring 2008 Newsletter
Green Thumbs awarded 6 mini-grants
Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints is a project at the Center for Excellence in Disabilities funded by the WV Bureau for Public Health. Green Thumbs collaborates with Master Gardener groups to raise awareness about the wide variety of ergonomic tools and accessibility options available to persons with musculoskeletal conditions.
Six Green Thumbs grants of $1000 each were awarded to Master Gardener groups across the state.
- Greenbrier Valley Masters Gardeners will host activities at the West Virginia State Fair.
- Berkeley/Jefferson County Masters Gardeners will work with Berkeley Senior Services to build raised garden beds.
- Monongalia County Master Gardeners will build an accessible garden in Jack Roberts Park.
- Braxton County Senior Center plans to create a premier garden complex at the Senior Gardens.
- WVU Potomac County Master Gardeners is partnering with the Grant County Nursing Home to build indoor gardens.
- Ohio County Master Gardeners will work with the Peterson Rehabilitation and Geriatric Hospital to create a horticulture therapy garden.
In addition, each group will receive ergonomic gardening tools. For more information, call Tammy Hare or e-mail thare@hsc.wvu.edu.
From the WVATS Fall 2007 Newsletter
Green Thumbs Project Shares Success
'Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints' projects around the state have been busy making gardening more accessible to seniors. Volunteers in Wheeling made rapid progress in their project at Peterson Rehabilitation Hospital. In the evenings, four to six residents come out to the garden with therapists on staff at the hospital to use the three tabletop beds, each eight feet in length. But the project is far from complete--volunteers are busy installing a deer fence around the area, and planning for the installation of a water feature next year.
Ohio County project leader, Fred Payne, said he was overwhelmed by the momentum that was sparked by the small grant from 'Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints'. He was able to leverage donations, volunteer time and discounts from community members and businesses, including $1,000 from an anonymous donor. The group successfully applied for a grant from the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, and was awarded $5,500. Mr. Payne, an Ohio County Master Gardener, felt encouraged by the many forms of assistance. "If you're doing something valuable in the community, it's amazing how people come out of the woodwork to support it."
This coming year, 'Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints' will offer another round of mini-grants to help support accessible gardening projects in West Virginia. To find out how you can become involved, or to request a brochure and application, call 800-841-8436 or e-mail agrability@hsc.wvu.edu
From the WVATS Spring 2007 Newsletter
Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints Awards Announced
Thanks to support from the Osteoporosis and Arthritis Program at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, West Virginia AgrAbility is partnering with Master Gardener groups to promote accessible gardening. Through a new program called Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints, groups with creative proposals for the construction of raised beds, vertical gardens or other accessible garden modifications can receive financial assistance to help pay for materials. Applicants were encouraged to work collaboratively with parks, senior centers or other sites in their communities where gardens can be used and maintained by individuals with arthritis, osteoporosis or other joint conditions.
Awards were announced on March 14 to the following West Virginia Master Gardener (MG) groups:
- Harrison County MGs for the construction of 12 raised beds with trellises at the Clarksburg Mission Community Garden. Low income and homeless patrons of the mission will be given 'Gardening 101' courses and plots, while graded and mulched paths will improve access for individuals with mobility limitations. Award: $500
- Ohio County MGs for enhancing the grounds of Peterson Rehabilitation Hospital and Geriatric Center in Wheeling with wheelchair accessible beds. Residents, with assistance from Peterson staff, will maintain the gardens through a horticultural therapy program. Award: $500.
- Monongalia County MGs, for collaboration with BOPARC to construct raised garden beds at Jack Roberts Park in Morgantown, West Virginia. Award: $200.
- Tucker County MGs, for the construction of raised beds at Mt. Top Senior Center in Parsons Senior Center in Thomas and Parsons, respectively. Award: $300.
- Braxton County MGs, for the construction of raised beds at the Braxton County Senior Center in Sutton, West Virginia. Award: $500.
- Randolph/Tucker MGs, for the installation of planters and other accessibility and safety modifications to an existing patio at the Randolph County Senior Center in Elkins, West Virginia. Award: $500.
- Kanawha County MGs, (see photo) for accessibility modifications to existing 'Bird and Butterfly' and 'Serenity' Gardens at SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation in Dunbar, West Virginia. Award: $500.
Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints, will also provide technical support and informational resources based on each group's unique interests and ideas. Groups will receive ergonomic and arthritis-friendly tools to demonstrate to the public during their community outreach activities.
For more information about the Green Thumbs, Healthy Joints projects, or to receive an accessible gardening fact sheet, please call 800-841-8436 or e-mail West Virginia AgrAbility at agrability@hsc.wvu.edu
From the WVATS Spring 2006 Newsletter
Gardening for Life
This spring, West Virginia gardeners will have a new tool to help their communities flourish. In partnership with the West Virginia AgrAbility project, the newly revised 2006 edition of the Master Gardener Manual (published by the West Virginia University Extension Service) features "Gardening for Life," a chapter on accessible gardening. In addition to tips on ergonomics, the chapter features ideas and resources on gardening with low vision, arthritis, limited mobility and reduced strength.
West Virginia Master Gardeners is a flagship program of the West Virginia University Extension Service, providing horticultural training to hundreds of West Virginians. Volunteers take the 30 hour Master Gardener course, then use the nearly 400-page manual as a reference for designing workshops in their communities.
Those seeking to 'dig deeper' into the exciting world of accessible gardening can learn more from the following books:
- Adil, J.R. (1994.) Accessible Gardening for People with Physical Disabilities: A Guide to Methods, Tools, and Plants. Woodbine House: Bethesda, MD.
- Woy, J. (1997.) Accessible Gardening: Tips and Techniques for Seniors & the Disabled. Stackpile Books: Mechanicsburg, PA.
From the WVATS Summer 2005 Newsletter
Gardening Made Easier for Seniors
Gardening is truly one of America's favorite leisure outdoor activities, enjoyed by more than 22 million seniors. But for those who suffer from arthritis or other medical conditions, gardening can become difficult and frustrating. Accessible gardening is a term that offers practical tips and ideas to help seniors manage their physical limitations so they can continue to garden. Here are some things to consider:
Tools of the trade
If you have limited strength or mobility, here are some tips to help make your gardening a little easier:
- Add foam tubing to your garden tool handles to soften the grip.
- Paint your tools with a bright color to make them easier to locate.
- Buy ergonomic gardening tools. The user-friendly design makes these tools easier to grip, putting less stress on the wrist and hand.
- Use a kneeling pad or knee pads to help protect aching knees.
- Buy telescopic extender handles, or longer handles for some of your garden tools to eliminate bending and stooping.
- Use a lightweight garden stool to avoid stooping or kneeling. Some stools are rolling carts that will transport tools and double as a seat.
- Use fold-away canvas wheelbarrows that are lightweight, weighing only 12 pounds, but can carry 130 pounds.
- Coil hoses make watering in small containers easier.
Bring the garden to you
If your mobility keeps you from getting into the garden, bring the garden to you. Here are some ideas to consider:
- Raised garden beds, adjusted to your height require less kneeling, stooping and bending.
- Container gardening can be an alternative. Decorative containers are made to look like terra cotta pots, but are actually made out of lightweight plastic. Self-watering planters, when filled, can go unattended for days and minimize hauling around water or a heavy hose.
- A trellis can serve the same purpose, growing a garden vertically instead of horizontally.
- Hanging baskets on a pulley system allows them to be lowered for watering or other maintenance.
- A unique upside down planter can allow you to grow a garden from your patio with no bending or stooping. Visit Hammacher Schlemmer for more information at 800-321-1484 or www.hammacher.com
Resources:
The National Gardening Association: A nonprofit organization that offers gardening tips and sells many of the accessible gardening tools and containers listed above. Visit www.garden.org or call 800-538-7476.
Gardener's Supply Company sells many accessible gardening tools and containers. Visit www.gardeners.com or call 888-833-1412.
Check with your local county extension agent for advice on accessible gardening.
Content derived from Savvy Senior by Jim Miller.
