Allotments Support for Disabled People

csno01
csno01 Online Community Member Posts: 398 Empowering
in Coffee lounge
Hi Everyone, 

i hope everyone is keeping well and enjoying the sunshine? 

Who enjoys getting out into the fresh air and growing their own produce? This is something I have an interest in and was wondering if anyone had access to either an alotment or garden and if there was any support available to disabled people in this field. 

Thank You :-)
CSno01

Comments

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,990 Championing
    We had an allotment like 15 years ago, they were owned by the council and you had to rent one

    It was really cheap, like £15 for a whole year for quite a decent size plot

    Apparently there is a big waiting list now, when we had one lots of people would rent like 2 or more next to each other and make a big one, now you are lucky to get a single half plot

    I don't know what kind of adaptations you would need but I think it would be hard to make provisions for anyone in a wheelchair. They are often in fields, and the road up to them is usually a dirt track. There isn't a pavement, you are just walking on the grass or dirt track

    Also obviously you can do what you want with your plot so you could make it wheelchair friendly, but that would use up a lot of room

    Raised beds might be an option if you have trouble bending or crouching

    If there's anything more I could explain more specifically just let me know and I'll try to answer :blush:
  • csno01
    csno01 Online Community Member Posts: 398 Empowering
    Thank You for your reply @66Mustang, that is very helpful. I am visually impaired although not a wheelchair user, so there are Some  points to consider. 
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 14,990 Championing
    Oh OK @csno01

    I don't have any experience of visual impairment so I might not be thinking of helpful stuff here but just a few things I can think of from when we had our allotment

    Most allotments are in a field somewhere out of the way, like I said earlier they are without a proper footpath, and it's sometimes quite potholed and uneven, if that would present an issue

    Usually however you are able to drive right up to them if you want, with few issues, unless you have some kind of sports car. So if you can have someone drop you off, that could be a viable option. I'm not sure if a taxi would agree to drive there, though

    Not that I am against accessibility but just being realistic, sadly for the very much token cost they charge you to rent one, I don't think making them accessible is an option, unless they multiplied the rent by like 20

    If you can manage it, I do think it's very therapeutic and a really great thing to do, especially if you have nowhere to grow stuff at home. Plus the veggies taste nicer as well :blush:
  • sarahbadr
    sarahbadr Scope Member Posts: 15 Contributor

    Hi,

    I'm a bit late to the party, but some councils do offer accessible allotments (Brighton and Hove being one).

    I live in the north west and have just been allocated an allotment after a four plus year wait and I'm looking forward to getting started. I have mobility issues due to a spinal cord injury, but my allotment is basically only a street away which is handy.

    Thrive offer advice on gardening for disabled people, which you might find useful. For example, there are some tips here for gardening with macular degeneration:

    https://www.thrive.org.uk/get-gardening/julies-story-allotmenteering-with-macular-degeneration#.

  • sarahbadr
    sarahbadr Scope Member Posts: 15 Contributor

    Also, tips here on gardening for blind and visually impaired people (for Spring gardening apparently but probably still worth a look): https://www.thrive.org.uk/get-gardening/spring-gardening-tips-when-blind-or-visually-impaired.

  • sarahbadr
    sarahbadr Scope Member Posts: 15 Contributor

    And, Thrive also have some other gardening resources for people impacted by sight loss: https://www.thrive.org.uk/shop/publications/sight-loss.

  • csno01
    csno01 Online Community Member Posts: 398 Empowering

    Hi @sarahbadr,

    Thank You very much for sharing your Allotment journey. A 4 year walt, that is a long time! I bet it is worth it though.
    i will take a look at the resources you have shared. They sound interesting.

    Thanks again and good luck. What will you be growing first? I have a chilli plant in my fathers greenhouse. Hopefully I will get some this year - just need the heat!


    Csno01

  • sarahbadr
    sarahbadr Scope Member Posts: 15 Contributor

    The allotment is massive and is also a bit of a mess so I'm going to need to do quite a bit of work on it before growing anything I think. I'm making a list of what I'd like to grow though - sweetcorn, loads of berries, sweet potatoes, salad onions, rhubarb, spinach.. I may be getting a little carried away! I'm already growing tomatoes in my yard in the meantime.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 8,695 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    I'm lucky enough to have free reign of my sisters garden, with a little raised veg patch at hte bottom. I've finished scoffing the last of the 7 cucumbers I grew and it looks like I'll have a lot of pak choy, corugettes and many many different varieties of chilli to harvest in a few weeks.

    I tend to plant the seeds expecting the worst case scenareo, so it's always lovely to have too much. Hopefully the neighbours like spicy things. 😆

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