While gardening has many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety and depression, and boosting immune systems, local gardening experts note that the activity can be difficult — if not impossible — for people with limited mobility.
At the Green Thumb Education Series presentation, “Tips & Tricks for Accessible Gardens,” find out how to make gardening easier for everyone.
The session is set for from noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 510 E. Park Ave., Port Angeles, and online. To join via Zoom, go to wsu.zoom.us/j/93629898830 (meeting ID 936 2989 8830, passcode 676224) or join by phone by calling 253-215-8782.
Presented by Clallam County Master Gardener Cathy Wagner, in a talk co-written by Master Gardener Anna Plager, the session will detail how to create an accessible garden, showing ideas on design, layout and construction of pathways, raised beds, patio areas and more.
Wagner will show how many features of standard gardens can be easily adapted to offer more accessible garden methods, including various tools and techniques. An extensive list of resources will be included to enhance further exploration of this universally beneficial activity.
Born in Canada,Wagner lived an active lifestyle in Michigan, British Columbia and Alaska before moving to Sequim in 2015, where her husband Dan was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Their lifestyle of fishing, hunting, hiking and skiing was changing, and the Wagner’s began to realize as we age, our bodies may not do what our minds want to do, and we need to find new ways to bring joy into our lives.
She then became involved in the Accessible Garden project at Woodcock Demonstration Garden to be able to demonstrate how gardening can still be a viable passion for people with mobility issues.
The Green Thumb Education Series, sponsored by the Washington State University Clallam County Master Gardeners, is held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month through October (in November, December, and January, one lecture is offered. Scheduled presentations are subject to change).
Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar (extension.wsu.edu/clallam/master-gardener-calendar) for the latest information on upcoming presentations.
For more information, call 360-565-2678.
