And so the Garden Begins

          

  What better day than the Vernal Equinox to start a new blog about gardening? But this isn’t just any gardening blog. I’ve decided to focus on gardening issues that people with disabilities face. There are many different types of gardens, as well as, ways to garden. Just because you, or people you care about, have an obstacle keeping them from a traditional garden does not mean they can’t experience the fulfillment that one receives from digging into the earth and nurturing life from it.

            Let’s face it, traditional gardening can be tough for even the healthiest and most fit. I have been involved in gardening and nature activities for the vast majority of my life. Over the past five years, though, I have had special challenges to deal with. I have a disabling disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis. This disease is in the family of Rheumatic Arthritis but focuses primarily on the hips and spine. I have slowly been losing mobility in my legs and back which has made walking, among other things, very difficult. Now a days I use a cane, I have trouble lifting even the lightest of objects and bending and getting up from a seated position can be down right pain staking.

            I know that there are too many people out there in the world who are experiencing issues in their life which make it impossible for them to have the customary interaction with gardens and nature that others enjoy. I am setting my experience on the written page so that together, we can learn new ways to bring our garden dreams into fruition.

            There are three types of non-traditional gardening methods that jump immediately to mind; container gardening, raised beds, and lasagna gardening. Each one of these methods has advantages that meet the needs of the plants and also the gardener who faces physical challenges. My next few entries will examine each of these in detail. Knowing what garden type is best suited to your personal needs is a huge step in becoming a successful gardener.

            The last thing I would like to talk about today is reader participation. It would be greatly appreciated and beneficial to so many people if readers would contribute their thoughts and ideas. Any questions that come to mind or helpful suggestions are always welcome. This blog is for us, we who refuse to watch nature through the window. Let’s get out there and garden!