Gardening has many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety and depression and boosting the immune system, but local gardening experts point out that gardening can be difficult or impossible for people with limited mobility.
In this Green Thumb Education Series presentation, “Tips and Tricks for Accessible Gardens,” you'll learn how to make gardening easier for everyone.
The session will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 510 E. Park Ave. in Port Angeles, or online. To join via Zoom, visit wsu.zoom.us/j/93629898830 (meeting ID 936 2989 8830, passcode 676224) or call 253-215-8782 to join.
Presented by Clallam County Master Gardener Cathy Wagner and co-written with Master Gardener Anna Prager, this session will provide details on creating an accessible garden and share ideas for designing, laying out and building walkways, raised beds, patio areas and more.
Wagner explains how many features of a standard garden can be easily adapted to provide a more accessible approach to gardening, including a variety of tools and techniques, and includes an extensive list of resources to further explore this universally beneficial activity.
A native of Canada, Wagner led an active life in Michigan, British Columbia and Alaska before moving to Sequim in 2015 when her husband, Dan, was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis. Their lifestyle of fishing, hunting, hiking and skiing changed as the Wagners began to realize that as they got older, their bodies might not be able to move as well as they wanted and they needed to find new ways to bring joy into their lives.
She then got involved in Woodcock Demonstration Garden's “Accessible Garden” project, demonstrating that gardening can still be a viable passion for people with mobility issues.
The Green Thumb Education Series, hosted by Washington State University's Clallam County Master Gardeners, will be held the second and fourth Thursday of each month through October (with one lecture in November, December and January; scheduled presentations are subject to change).
For updates on upcoming presentations, check the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar at extension.wsu.edu/clallam/master-gardener-calendar.
For more information, call 360-565-2678.
