The Shrewd Gardener

A few years ago I worked for a wonderful charity called the Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) which amongst many, many other things maintains a database of equipment for people with disabilities.  Actually the name of the charity is a bit misleading because they deal with just about every age group and the issues around overcoming physical problems that may be encountered in day to day life.

Amongst its many categories of equipment there is a section on gardening which includes listings of items that the DLF knows about that may be of use to keen gardeners.  These range from long handled tools to raised beds to  robotic mowers.  It is possible to go and see some of these tools at their Equipment Display Centre or you may call the helpline and speak to the knowledgeable advisors there.

So, if you are keen on gardening and have a disability or maybe you’re not as sprightly or dextrous as you used to be it’s probably worth giving the Disabled Living Foundation a call.  They may be able to guide you towards the right piece of equipment or ’signpost’ a service that can assist you in getting more out of your garden and gaining more satisfaction in your leisure time.

My words: The mission of the DLF is to provide independent impartial advice and information on aids for daily living.  There is a brilliant Equipment Demonstration Centre packed with a wide range of equipment for viewing by the public (by appointment) . Occupational Therapists often train there or may need to visit familiarise themselves with how best to use an item of equipment.

Some Links:

Twitter DLF Disabled Living Foundation Further Reading (Amazon)