HI
I am disabled and have just taken on an allotment. A friend is laying paths for me,my sister is going to help me when she can.......My problem is that I will have to do my gardening on my hands and knees !! Whatever I need must be within my reach so the design has to be right.
Everyone says that I wont be able to do it but I'm hoping that I can tempt friends to help with the thought of fresh veg....I'm hoping that other people can help me with advise so that by next year I will be able to astound the people who had know faith in me.
PS
Do you know were I can get some really strong knee pads also I've seen something like a claw with know handle that would be great for doing my weeding but blowed if I can find one now when I need one!!
Thanks for your help
Faith ;)
Hi Chocolate (Faith), I wish you good luck with your new allotment - good for you for getting one, just you show the doubters. If you are determined enough you will succeed. I had Chronic Fatigue five years ago, and people thought I was mad to get an allotment as I could hardly walk then. I was lucky enough to have a husband to do the digging but I did the weeding and used to use my yoga stool to sit on, which was quite comfortable.
Over the years I got stronger and stronger, just being outside in the fresh air and seeing things I planted grow was a terrific boost and I am convinced helped my recovery. I see people on our site who are elderly and infirm who do marvelous things and we have a blind man who has an allotment too. His is marked out in a certain way, so he can navigate around his plot. It would be good if you had helpers to organise things for you to start with. Keep us up-to-date with how you are getting on. :D busy_lizzie
I wish you the best of luck with your gardening, a chap on our site configured 2000 sq yds on behalf of Help the Aged, using mainly beds at waist height etc, all to make gardening easy for people with mobility problems. Sadly there haven't been many takers on that plot, but the rest of the site has filled up, often from people being bitten by the bug, having whetted their appetite there or seen what can be achieved.
Regarding your weeding claw and knee pads, I have seen them regularly on sale in Poundland, perhaps check out your nearest store?
Hi Chocolate ;D That's how I do most of my gardening (I have a spinal disease) ;D
My lottie has all been put down to beds with pathways in between which makes life a lot easier.
I agree with Busy_Lizzie...the fresh air and seeing what you have grown gives one such a boost...just makes you want to do more and more ;D
I got a tool from The Range ....it's a telescopic combination hoe/weeding tool....but quite small. It has a flat hoe type thing on one side and 3 tines on the other. Found it very usefull 'cos I plant most of my veggies quite close together :) I hope this helps.
Good luck with your venture ;D
HI BOTH
I've not done these boards before so there might be mistakes!! Thanks so much for building me up, I have felt really down after the weekend and people saying I cant do it . Like you say a blind gentleman works round it so I can.
My friend is going up this week to rotivate and level it off so that he can lay the slabs but I 'll need know end, good job he gets second hand ones with his job!!
I dont get into town to get to the pound shop but a friend does, I'm sure she'll do me a favour. ha
Thanks so much and I'll surely keep you abreast of how I'm going on!!
Faith :D
I think you should be really proud of yourself to have the determination that you have...good luck.. i have a feeling you are going to succeed...only wish i live near to help you! Happy growing
Thanks Agapanthus
that sounds really good, its all about getting things that are made just to suit us, isnt it. I'm getting more and more confident!!
Faith ;D
Good on you chocolate, there are scores of disabled allotmenteers about the country so don't let any doubting thomases get to you.
go for it faith, i am sure with a positive attitude and some good old encouragement from us lot you will work wonders, dont be afraid to ask for help when you need it and dont get too discouraged if things get tough. I would help you if you were on my site and i am sure others on your site will help when they see you are serious. any chance of seeing some photos of your plot?
Thanks so much everyone ! Just thinking do they do a runner bean that grows to about three foot??
Faith ??? :(
Hi Sarah
I'm not very up to date with this new fangled stuff, I'm still buying a diposable camera from Asda !! I can tell you tho,' at the moment the grass and weeds are about three feet high and it looks like it belongs in the middle of the jungle!!
Faith
PS you know I feel a bit filled up with everyones kind wishes.
I wish you well in your new venture,we may not be able to help you on the physical side of things,but we are all here if things get you down.Which im sure they wont.Where is your lottie?
Hi Chocolate, just wanted to add my best wishes, I'm certain you can do it with a little help from your friends and lots of determination. About the runner beans, why not grow dwarf french beans rather, they're much tastier and don't grow very high. I'm not sure if they do low growing runner beans. Otherwise could you adapt some sort of purning/cutting device to cut them, a bit like those loppers you get for picking apples from tall trees. :)
Or grow them on cordons ...
Hi
Yes I could grow cordons I'm having wires thick ones put all round the plot so that I can grow things up them. I ran it past the chap who runs it he said its OK.
Thats it yes french beans and your right they taste lovely, thats me set up with my beans then!!
My plot is in Leicestershire. You can bet money that nobody lives near me, thats the story of my life!! :)
Good knee pad from your local builders merchants. They are heavy duty, made for plunbers and carpenters. Happy gardening :) :)
Hi
Thats great theres a builders merchant just up the road from me, you know I cant believe how helpfull people on this site are!! ;)
Well done you Chocolate and I really wish you luck.
Would raised beds eliminate the need for heavy digging? Maybe below your wires to give depth for the beans? And in due course maybe on the rest of your beds? As you said...the design must be right for you from the beginning.
Just some thoughts, good luck again.
Wx
Hi
I've thought about raised beds but I cant work out the logistics of it all. What would the sides be made of to make them sturdy,then how do you get the soil to the allotment, is it top soil ?? I tell you what I think to much for my own good :D
Do you know I've only been on this site since this afternoon but at last I feel as tho' I'm with people who are like me, do you know what I mean??
Faith
::) I know what you mean about thinking too much...sometimes it doesn't leave time for ''doing''. Maybe a couple of scaffold planks and stakes, and some bags of topsoil from the garden centre just to start off your beans...and then play it by ear. There will always be time for improvement and once you get to know your neighbours you will have more ideas and something to aim for.
Slowly slowly catchee monkee.
Wx
HIYA Faith ;D
Really pleased you found your way here!
My friend (83, veggie grower in her large gardener, osteoporosis, arthritis, etc.etc...) grows runners as cordons. They're v. obliging plants. Bush french beans are easy too and don't need staking. I can send you seeds of both if you want? Just PM me. They'll germinate ever so quickly and the bonus is...you'll be harvesting yours when mine have been eaten and I'll be dead jealous ;D ;D ;D
She made her raised beds with Linkaboards (you can Google for the site). Easy to do, and praps, even tho there's obviously the initial outlay, easy to assemble. She did hers by herself, with just the teeniest bit of help from me :) No planks, etc. to be had, around...
All the best from someone who also can hardly manage a throwaway camera ;D
Lishka
We hope to have a plot adapted for wheel chair users soon, lots of raised beds and wider access paths any tips greatfully received!
:)
Hi Faith. Just like to add my best wishes for your future allotmenteering (is there such a word). I am sure with your very positive attitude you will make all those doubters eat their words. and when they see how great your veg look and would like some MAKE THEM PAY FOR THEM!!!!! ;D
Good luck Lorna.
PS User name chocolate?? Watch out for Alishka and Mrs KP they have a thing about chocolate ::) ::) ::) ::)
quote:
"My plot is in Leicestershire. You can bet money that nobody lives near me, thats the story of my life!! :)"
I'm in leics :) couple of others on here too.
Quote from: Chocolate on May 30, 2006, 21:04:46
My plot is in Leicestershire. You can bet money that nobody lives near me, thats the story of my life!! :)
My plot is in Leicester. There are few others that have plots in leicester & leicestershire around on this site.
You might want to look at getting load of manure delivered to build up the height of your beds. I found a guy on ebay who is in Thurnby of all places willing to deliver a tonne of manure to Leicestershire and other parts of the east midlands. I didn't buy it at the time but he's bound to have plenty left.
Hi Everyone !!
Sorry I've not answered anyone earlier, the computer wouldn't let me start it, not good at these things only started to learn 'puters at Christmas!! Anyway sons fixed it now, I hope. :)
I just want to thank every body that has emailed me and put messages on the board I know I'm stupid but people caring makes me well up. Yesterday folk had convinced me that I 'd never do it, now I know I will. :'( I will answer all the emails as soon as poss, I'm like a big girl I love getting letters. :)
Hoping to go up the allotment on Friday to see if my friend has done a bit up there, he went with me on Sunday and you know what folk are like, they know that I 'm taking over the allotment but pointedly spoke to Mick and not to me, a bit of the does she take sugar brigade. ??? I'll prove them see if I dint. :D
Speak to you soon
Faith
Hi Faith,
Best of luck with your allotment.I don't have a physical disability myself,but, one thing that I find useful when working at ground level, such as when I'm sowing seeds or planting seedlings or potatoes etc, is a large peice of upholstery foam (such as the main cushion that you sit on, on a sofa).I use one of these, inside a plastic bag, and I find that I can just 'flop down' on it in comfort.
Also,I find the Wolf tools very good.They have different attachments so that you can alter the length of the various tools.
I realise It's not much, but I hope It helps.
All The Best-Mark. :)
Quote from: Chocolate on May 31, 2006, 22:50:49
pointedly spoke to Mick and not to me, a bit of the does she take sugar brigade
arg ... I'm sure you'll rise above it choccy ;)
looking forward to more stories (and pictures!) soon :)
Hi Faith,
Being a fairly new allotmenteer myself, I dont have any words of wisdom for you (will leave that to the proper experts to be found patrolling these boards).
But just wanted to wish you luck.
Getting the lottie was the best thing I ever did, apart from marrying the wife and having the kids of course.....
To get you started, Chocs, runner bean seeds - Painted Lady & White Emergo in the post today, along with some dwarf french beans - a purple, a green, and a yellow......that'll brighten your lottie up ;D Suggest you start them off in pots at home (peat pots, perhaps or make yr own out of newspaper? - sure someone will tell you how! Easy, then, to plant the whole shebang) - think of soaking them in hot water overnight first to give them a kick start.
All the best! Lishka
Thanks Lisha
I bet they will arrive in the morning ;D I love presents thank you muchly ;) ;)
I'll do just as you say. I wanted to go up the 'lottie this pm but had a call from the bank, you know one of those can you come in and talk to us about your overdraft ??? I can see why I didn't end up working in one I would be whispering in folks ears, heres a hundred don't tell anyone !!!! Good thing I went into the other end of the workforce, welfare is so much more my scene. :)
Anyway explained to the bank I was paying their wages with my charges and they agreed to forget it !!
So I'm going out soon to do a bit on my front garden then I shall go up the 'lottie tomorrow oh cant wait !!! ;D
Faith
You know...you're enthusiasm so shines through, you're a real tonic to read :)
Have a great weekend.
Thanks Lisha
But you've got to know its you lot are keeping me going, I felt really low last weekend, a bit like a spare part not needed any more, then you lot came along and have pulled me right back up again. :)
See that job of work you do, you give folks so much joy every day of your life and don't forget it. I loved my job too, when you lose it, its like losing your identity. You are so blessed!! ;)
Have a great weekend and kick ass girl :D
Faith
I really wish I lived nearer to you Faith. I have got lots of cabbages, brussel sprouts and broccoli plants going spare which you could have had. However there is still time to sow some cabbage seeds and I have a spare packet of Greyhound cabbage seeds you are welcome to have. Just PM me with your address if you want them. I have had a great day today re-potting things and planting stuff out at my lottie - it give you such a feeling of well being. There is nothing more life enhancing that growing things, and the taste of your own home grown veggies is unbelievable in comparison to shop bought stuff. :) busy_lizzie
Hi Lisha
Seeds have arrived ;D I'm off to Wilkinsons to get some peat pots, this might sound daft but how many seeds would I put in each pot ??? Also do I water from the top or stand the pot in water, sorry for being dumb :-[
Speak after I've been up the 'lootie yeah
Thanks Faith
Chocolate, have a nice day on your lottie. Don't try to do too much.
Lorna
Quote from: Chocolate on June 03, 2006, 10:24:50
Hi Lisha
Seeds have arrived ;D I'm off to Wilkinsons to get some peat pots, this might sound daft but how many seeds would I put in each pot ??? Also do I water from the top or stand the pot in water, sorry for being dumb :-[
Speak after I've been up the 'lootie yeah
Thanks Faith
Instructions on watering will be on the pots, Faith. I put 2 seeds to a pot and thin to the strongest (actually, I'm lying! That's the standard procedure, but whoever can throw away a perfectly good little plant ??? So my 2nd usually gets saved - resulting in panic digging up more lawn as I run out of room) ::) My three lawns are more or less grassed paths between vegetable beds now ;D
Hi Lisha
Your garden sounds brill' a bit like a gardallottie or something :D
I went to Wilkinsons but they had know peat pots, with me walking with two crutches I thought I've had enough of this. Why have their shops always got narrow aisles, if your not carefull your waltzing down the aisles with someones new rug stuck up your jacket ;D
Anyway back to what I was talking about, right so I got someting called tray inserts ??? all it is, is 15 little pots an one tray, I meant to get some lolly stick things to label the things, but like I say my coat hood got caught in some chaps new apple tree branches and I was up and out of the door be for I had chance to gather my thoughts :P
Then to the 'lottie, it was so sunny and Mick had been and strimmed it down,not sure whether he'd put weed killer on, he said he was, there was a pile of wood which he'd gathered. Knowing Mick hell have a bonny and set light to the really old shed, which he wants to pull down anyway ;D Got talking to the chap at the back of mine at least he wasn't out and out, you cant do this so that made me happy :)
Just having a cuppa then taking my son to Asda as he doesn't have a car, then back on A4A for a while before just doing a teeny bit more on the front garden. Thats mostly those climbie things
See ya all soon
Faith
Hi Chocolate,
I have only just found your thread and just want to say...
;D 'Well done you!' ;D
I don't have any disability to contend with like you but when I started on my Lottie, you would have thought I had one, being a woman!
I had the unfortunate luck of getting a Lottie on a very competitive site where it was all men who had 'been here 40 odd years' !!! >:(
Refered to as 'that Girlie', I was always been told 'you don't want to do it like that' or 'It's not easy this you know'. >:(
After 5 years, I have finally been accepted and even get compliments for keeping it up along with working and being a mum of 4! :D
So keep your pecker up and you will prove them all wrong, 'you go girl !!!' ;D ;D
By the way, I do most of my work on my bum or my hands and knees. I love nothing better than crawling along, pulling all the weeds out by hand, I use an ordinary hand fork to ease the weeds out and a trowel for planting. My knees have grown their own kneepads now but when it's wet nad muddy, I have got some from Wilko's!
All the best, Donna ;D
What a lovely Sunday morning :D
As I said yesterday I did quite a bit in the garden ext !!! Didn't take yor advice Lorna and feel like I'v been steam rollered today :P
I think this is going to be like learning to walk again, bit at a time, never had much patience with my body when it wont do what I want it to do ???
I'll just do a bit today, didnt get to finish my front garden so I'll just do that !! If I can stop myself ::)
Thanks for that Donna at least I know they are not picking on me just because I'm disabled. If anyone calls me girlie I shall have to clout him with my crutch ;D I didnt know Wilkco did knee pads are they very strong ? Wonder if I can stand another trip to the local one, I'm in and out in a jiff because its so small. Theres a big one in town wide aisles so that I can use my wheelchair but can you get any where to park, can you heck >:(
Only been in this bugalow for a year and Mick came last backend to do like a japenese garden with a water feature in it. Memory being as it is I'v only just remembered its there oh my word, anyway I'v put it on today and it looks so nice. :D
Anyway hope you all have a good day with loads of produce not weeds to bring back ;D
See yah later
Faith
Hi Faith,
The knee pads are not too bad but the elastic stretches after a while.
Happy lottying!
Donna.
I've got Wilkos knee pads too, but prefer my bright yellow 8) thick rubber pad....call it me prayer mat ;D
Went down to Aldi's this morning to get some more growbags....(doing a test. Some toms in spensive organic ones, same varieties in cheapos - eithics aside, I'm just curious to see if the extra money spent produces more and nicer tasting fruit?)..anyway! got a nice gent to load up my trolley with 8 cheapos, nice lady at the cash desk didn't want them loaded onto the belt ;), another nice gent pushed the trolley to the car and loaded it, nice neighbour's just unloaded and delivered to the garden.
;D ;D ;D
Faith, your seeds are on their way. Happy sowing! :) busy_lizzie
Oh brill busy ;D
You must have a nice face Lish thats what it is :D
Say don't know whether this is allowed but has any one heard that new song called, Wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair, by Sandy Toms ??
Seems to say everything about me ;) I don't usually bother with new music really but that is so good ;D Have a listen.ha
No CD player so will keep on listening to the radio :D
Faith ;)
Hi
Had two lots of seeds today, I'm so glad of them, they will all be eaten with gusto' as veggies don't put weight on, unlike my bestest favorite food,yes chocolate :D
All my thanks to Sarah and Bizzy Lizzy for sending them ;)
Faith
Chocolate. The sun is shining, you have your seeds and you sound a happy bunny. Keep up the good work.
Lorna.
Thanks Lorna
You've cheered me up know end, struggling with the pain at the moment :(
But am itching to get going on the 'lottie, spoke to Mick last night and I think its going to take a good while for him to get on top of it.
Mind I had to laugh at him, just as I said, he asks can you have bonnies up the lottment,no says I, knowing full well that he'd burn my shed down and probably everyone else's as well ::) You've gotta laugh or you'd cry!!!
I asked him if I could help by him giving me a job, he just laughed talk about knocking your confidence :o Men !!
Hes going to clear the site, theres enough wood to build a house there, and a glass house and shed that a gust of wind could blow over. I've told him to pull the glass house down, he says you've got a shed at humm ( home) better than that. Your not taking that says I.
Then hes going to rotivate it and level it out then we'll decide what to do.!!! I've decided what I want, what he means is he wants to change my mind the s... :) He's lovely really, I think. !!!
Its just the frustration of not being able to get in and DO something, I'm not good with playing the passive disabled person ???
Anyway time to put the kettle on
See ya soon
Faith
Keep your spirits up Faith! Things will work out after a while. Glad you liked the seeds. :) busy_lizzie
Thanks Bizzy that means alot to me. !! What am I like!!
Faith