Gardening for the disabled

Gardening for the disabled

Gardening is one of the hobbies that most people are encouraged to have. The fact of caring for a living being, even if it is a plant and we cannot understand if they speak, makes many feel calm, that they relax when they are with the plants, forgetting about stress and taking time for themselves. And the same goes for the gardening for the disabled.

This activity is one of the most recommended for this group, hence workshops and other types of events are held where plants and people with disabilities come together in a task as important as caring for plants. But what about gardening for the disabled?

What is gardening for the disabled

What is gardening for the disabled

Gardening for the disabled can be understand in two different ways. On the one hand, it can be that type of tasks related to the plants that are carried out by disabled workers, those who, either by birth or by accident, cannot perform the work for which they were trained but other types of tasks such as it is gardening.

On the other hand, we can understand it as that entertainment activity that is carried out by a disabled person to have fun, either in workshops or taking care of their own garden.

Both meanings are different from each other but have two links in common: disability and gardening.

In general, gardening for the disabled allows people who cannot do other types of work to see in this a way to relax, to be useful and even, in many cases, to continue being part of the labor market with a job that takes care of the plants.

Benefits of gardening for the disabled

Benefits of gardening for the disabled

There are many associations and centers dedicated to the disabled. These usually help these people to feel more autonomous and to integrate into the job market, gardening being one of the jobs they can do. In fact, not only is gardening recommended as a job for the disabled; but also as a hobby due to the many benefits that you can find. Among them:

Serve as therapy

Many times, disabled people, especially due to accidents, have to face a radical change in their lifestyle. From being able to do everything themselves to needing help. And this causes frustrations, discomforts and coexistence problems.

For this reason, gardening for the disabled offers the opportunity for this group to act as therapy, so that they understand that they are capable of caring and getting ahead.

They are a good rehab

Both physical and mental. But especially the first, since motor rehabilitation is encouraged. For example, when manipulating the branches of plants, flowers, using tools, etc.

Depending on the disability, they will be able to do or less, but what is clear is that, having to take care of the plant, they will need to manipulate it in order to help it grow healthy.

Improves self-esteem

In the sense that they will not feel as useless as they may first think. In fact, many are fond of this entertainment and spend hours and hours later to obtain results in the form of praise (or even awards) that help them to perform.

Control anxiety and aggressiveness

Imagine that you have an accident and are disabled. The normal thing is that the change of life is very hard for you, which will imply that you are more irascible, aggressive, negative ... Anxiety, stress and negative thoughts will surface but gardening for the disabled can help alleviate this by giving them a point to focus to get ahead.

Provide knowledge and skills

You will be learning a new trade, something that can open new doors and windows for you both in the job market and on a personal level.

How to Garden for the Disabled

How to Garden for the Disabled

If you have a disabled relative, friend, or colleague and you think that gardening for the disabled can be a nice entertainment for him or her (or even a professional outing), here we give you two options to practice it that can be very positive.

In centers, associations ...

The first option that we propose is to go to centers and associations for the disabled to ask about workshops, courses, etc. related to gardening.

Depending on where you live it is possible that they already have them in place but if not, do not give up, because you could propose them as possible activities and, if they see it viable, they could do them.

If not, another option that we can think of is to go to garden centers, garden associations, or even nurseries. Many of them like to hold workshops and practical courses with which to attract users who can become clients. By being more “novel”, it can help many to feel useful, since the arc of participants can be opened to the elderly and the disabled to have a larger audience.

Of course, if you like the idea, you can always look for courses and training on gardening through the Internet and focus it on disabilities, opening the possibility of training others who are in the same situation.

At home

The second option that we propose is to practice gardening for the disabled at home. It is not necessary to have a large space, nor a large number of plants, but with just one you could already practice it.

For example, you could have a plant at home or, if you have a balcony, place a couple of them to give it color and enjoy the flowers that come out, in addition to being aware of their care.

Tools

To do gardening for the disabled at home you should know that there are a series of tools aimed at disabled people that make gardening tasks much easier for them. These, being more specialized, are not easily found, and you should go to professional and specialized stores to get them (yes, they will be more expensive, but you will feel much more useful using them and they will adapt to you, not the other way around).

Tasks

What chores can you do in gardening for the disabled? Everything will depend on the disability you have. But, among the activities to do, you could:

  • Watering plants.
  • Take care that they do not have pests or diseases.
  • Transplant them.
  • Prune them.
  • Pay them.
  • Plant them.

In other words, You could take care of them the same as another person, only adapting this type of task to your own possibilities. Therefore, depending on the disability, some plants or others are recommended so as not to feel bad about not being able to provide the necessary care.

Do you have experience in gardening for the disabled? Do you know more about this topic? We would love to have your comment and know more about it.


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