creating an enabled garden bruce dunn joanna sanford jane walling
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What is an Enabled Garden?Any landscape, garden, patio, or greenhouse space designed around the needs of someone who is physically, developmentally, or psychologically unable to tend a traditional garden.
Types of Enabled Gardens
Therapy – therapist guided activities
Healing – retreat or place of respite
Adaptive – designed for accessibility
Memory – benefits Alzheimer and dementia patients
Sensory – focused on color, texture, and fragrance
FeaturesDirected &
programmed activities
Modified features for accessibility & use
Well defined spaces & perimeters
Carefully chosen plants
Support & safety features
Sight Bright colors to show
contrast
Well lit
Simple transitions
Place & plant markings
Shapes & numbers
Symmetry
Taste Herbs
Honeysuckle
Fruits & vegetables
Note: use organic & avoid hazardous chemicals. Of the senses, taste is the one that should be on a case by case basis due to extreme sensory conditions
Whatever the goal of your garden, it should be a place where people of various ages and abilities can experience the benefits of gardening easily and safely throughout the entire year.
Just a few of our local Therapy Gardens Mattey’s Garden – Matthew
Whaley Elementary School
Freedom Park, Williamsburg Botanical Gardens – Botanical Therapy Garden
Chambrel Assisted Living
ResourcesAccessible Gardening: Tips & Techniques for Seniors & the Disabled. Joann Woy. 1997, Stackpole Press
Enabled Gardening: An Introduction (info provided by Angela Cingale, Master Gardener).
Enabling Garden: Creating Barrier-Free Gardens. Gene Rothert, HTR. 1994, Taylor Trade Publishing
Healing Landscapes: www.healinglandscapes.org
NCState.edu – Horticulture Department. How to Organize a Community Allotment Garden. http://cals.ncsu.edu/hort_sci/extension/documents/ag-727.pdf
UNC.edu http://rehabdesign.web.unc.edu/?projects=accessible-garden-bed-and-adjustable-hanging-basket
Sensory Gardens. www.ahta.org (American Horticultural Therapy Organization).
The garden as a healer. Mark Epstein. The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce: http://www.djc.com/special/landscape98/10037844.htm. March 31, 1998.
Van Mullekom, Kathy. Scout gives Children’s Hospital a therapy garden. Dailypress.com, July 30, 2011.
Virginia Cooperative Extension: www.ext.vt.edu
Special thanks to Angela Cingale & Pat Crowe for their time and assistance