I am a passionate wheelchair gardener. I have been keen on gardening all my life, and a road accident at age 25 meant a lot of changes ,however it wasn’t till three years ago when my mobility made a marked change . It necessitated a move to my fantastic outdoor all terrain wheelchair from which l access my garden .
My suggestion is to have some mentions on accessibility. Access is not just being able to get into the garden, it’s also figuring out how to do things differently to how you used to do it before. Maybe organised beds, pots or grow bags on top of a crate , etc..it’s also how we look after crops and harvest them.
Rarely is accessibility is spoken about, in an aging society we should .
Firstly, it's wonderful that you've been able to continue to garden despite your adversity. Well done on your persistence.
I love the idea of writing about accessibility. I touched on this in Part 1 and Part 3, but I only scratched the surface really. The trouble is, I'm fairly fit and able bodied. I haven't had to deal with these issues much myself. I write best from my own tried and tested experience, not so much from theoretical ideas. So for an article on the topic of accessibility I'd need to collaborate with gardeners such as yourself, who have the experience. Would you be open to such a collaboration? I'd need you to supply the ideas and the photographs. I could send you some questions as a prompt, if that would be easier.
I could also try and track down some other gardeners who might have ideas to share on the topic.
I sent a “ yes would love to collaborate and provide photos etc..”, but as I am new to Substack I wasn’t sure if it actually went through… or was lost to cyberspace when my phone rang. If you didnt get it let me know and I will send again.
Thankyou, for replying so promptly. I only just joined your substack community after following you a little while. I am thoroughly enjoying reading the posts and articles and loving learning so much.
I would be delighted to collaborate with you and provide photos. When we were looking to change our Doreen back garden to be more accessible , it was extremely difficult to find information and even someone to help. It was easy to find someone to add a few planter boxes in the backyard on a slab of concrete, but to get someone who understood gardening, food growing and providing a space that was accessible for me in a wheelchair ,ongoing and a space I could manage with my husband to garden and play with our grandchildren and adult family. I went down many rabbit holes before I found Ben and his team at “Adaptable Gardens” who have proved to be very adaptable themselves and bought my garden into a fantastic accessible space for myself and my multi generational family. I am eager to break down some of the barriers that mobility challenged face, sometimes just doing the most simplest tasks in the garden become insurmountable, when it takes simple change or fix. I know is over simplifying it to say gardening has so many benefits but it does!
I am still ambulatory… meaning I can use a walker but for less then 20% of the day , so mostly I use my wheelchair in the garden but sometimes I transfer to an old walker and sit whilst working in the greenhouse or garden.
I find I am learning all the time about gardening , especially since starting the changes to the garden and now again since joining your group.
I'm so thrilled that you are keen to collaborate. I have a bit on my plate at the moment, but I will be in touch with you in the coming weeks to discuss the best path forward.
Hello Duncan, a very good list. Missed topics?... Winter Veggies as I find they can do better than summer ones when summer is harsh; & Overplanting on Green Manure as I think I have read somewhere, years ago, that red clover is good for this. It is something I'd like to try but not sure if it is for grains or veggies.
I also ferment green beans, cooked dried beans, snow peas, capsicum, carrot, cauli, etc but these do need refrigeration when at the desired sourness. I keep the spare fridge at 10-12deg - more like cellar temperatures than refrigeration. This seems to work well for the fresh fruit and veg also.
Hi Pauline, thanks for your support and great feedback.
The winter vegetables have been covered throughout the series and compared to summer vegetables. A quick summary can be found in my autumn planting guide. I'll look to update it in the coming weeks.
Duncan. I stumbled across a note about freezing excess ripe avocado. It works. I have sliced avo into smallish cubes. Freeze them on a flat sheet of baking paper, to make usage easier. Then place the cubes in a storage container. The reconstitution is good as the cubes defrost without any oxidation affect.
What a great tip Kerry, thanks for sharing. We're trying to grow avocados here in Kyneton. They've survived two winters here, but I think a glut of fruit is still years away for us. Fingers crossed we need your tip "soon" though.
Happy gardening and thanks for your paid subscription.
With preserving excess you have drying, pickling and ? water bath preserving (passata). How about cool storing, laying down in boxes covered in sand or the like and blanching to freeze? Peas freeze really well went blanched within a few hours of picking. You could mention pressure canning but that is an expensive set up and doesn’t seem that common in Australia. Just my 2 cents worth.
Wow there's some more great ideas that I hadn't yet included. When I get down to writing them I'll have a think about how I can put all of those topics together. I'm not sure how many more parts might need to be included. I won't be writing about pressure canning as I prefer to write about topics that I have personal experience with. I've never even thought about pressure canning, let alone given it a go!
Pressure canning is gaining momentum in Australia. I have had a pressure canner for about 8 years, although not a fan of pressure canned vegetables. I freeze broccoli, cauliflowers, peas, beans. Carrots, Kale, cabbage, spinach, zucchinis, corn, Japanese turnips, garlic, ginger, tomatoes until I have enough to make Passata, herbs, beetroot for baking, capsicums, chillies and chopped onion mainly for convenience after I have spent all day in the garden. I also dehydrate most things.
Dear Duncan,
I am a passionate wheelchair gardener. I have been keen on gardening all my life, and a road accident at age 25 meant a lot of changes ,however it wasn’t till three years ago when my mobility made a marked change . It necessitated a move to my fantastic outdoor all terrain wheelchair from which l access my garden .
My suggestion is to have some mentions on accessibility. Access is not just being able to get into the garden, it’s also figuring out how to do things differently to how you used to do it before. Maybe organised beds, pots or grow bags on top of a crate , etc..it’s also how we look after crops and harvest them.
Rarely is accessibility is spoken about, in an aging society we should .
Hoping you will taking up my suggestion
Thanks for your great work
Hi Nola,
Firstly, it's wonderful that you've been able to continue to garden despite your adversity. Well done on your persistence.
I love the idea of writing about accessibility. I touched on this in Part 1 and Part 3, but I only scratched the surface really. The trouble is, I'm fairly fit and able bodied. I haven't had to deal with these issues much myself. I write best from my own tried and tested experience, not so much from theoretical ideas. So for an article on the topic of accessibility I'd need to collaborate with gardeners such as yourself, who have the experience. Would you be open to such a collaboration? I'd need you to supply the ideas and the photographs. I could send you some questions as a prompt, if that would be easier.
I could also try and track down some other gardeners who might have ideas to share on the topic.
I'm keen, if you are!
Many thanks
Duncan
Dear Duncan,
I sent a “ yes would love to collaborate and provide photos etc..”, but as I am new to Substack I wasn’t sure if it actually went through… or was lost to cyberspace when my phone rang. If you didnt get it let me know and I will send again.
Regards,
Nola Young
Dear Duncan,
Thankyou, for replying so promptly. I only just joined your substack community after following you a little while. I am thoroughly enjoying reading the posts and articles and loving learning so much.
I would be delighted to collaborate with you and provide photos. When we were looking to change our Doreen back garden to be more accessible , it was extremely difficult to find information and even someone to help. It was easy to find someone to add a few planter boxes in the backyard on a slab of concrete, but to get someone who understood gardening, food growing and providing a space that was accessible for me in a wheelchair ,ongoing and a space I could manage with my husband to garden and play with our grandchildren and adult family. I went down many rabbit holes before I found Ben and his team at “Adaptable Gardens” who have proved to be very adaptable themselves and bought my garden into a fantastic accessible space for myself and my multi generational family. I am eager to break down some of the barriers that mobility challenged face, sometimes just doing the most simplest tasks in the garden become insurmountable, when it takes simple change or fix. I know is over simplifying it to say gardening has so many benefits but it does!
I am still ambulatory… meaning I can use a walker but for less then 20% of the day , so mostly I use my wheelchair in the garden but sometimes I transfer to an old walker and sit whilst working in the greenhouse or garden.
I find I am learning all the time about gardening , especially since starting the changes to the garden and now again since joining your group.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Kind Regards,
Nola Young
Hi Nola,
I'm so thrilled that you are keen to collaborate. I have a bit on my plate at the moment, but I will be in touch with you in the coming weeks to discuss the best path forward.
I'm really looking forward to it.
Duncan
Hello Duncan, a very good list. Missed topics?... Winter Veggies as I find they can do better than summer ones when summer is harsh; & Overplanting on Green Manure as I think I have read somewhere, years ago, that red clover is good for this. It is something I'd like to try but not sure if it is for grains or veggies.
I also ferment green beans, cooked dried beans, snow peas, capsicum, carrot, cauli, etc but these do need refrigeration when at the desired sourness. I keep the spare fridge at 10-12deg - more like cellar temperatures than refrigeration. This seems to work well for the fresh fruit and veg also.
Hi Pauline, thanks for your support and great feedback.
The winter vegetables have been covered throughout the series and compared to summer vegetables. A quick summary can be found in my autumn planting guide. I'll look to update it in the coming weeks.
https://www.leafrootfruit.com.au/autumn-planting-guide-melbourne/
I'll definitely cover my take on green manure crops.
I don't have much experience with fermenting so I'll only be covering the basics on that in the preserving section.
Happy gardening!
Duncan
Duncan. I stumbled across a note about freezing excess ripe avocado. It works. I have sliced avo into smallish cubes. Freeze them on a flat sheet of baking paper, to make usage easier. Then place the cubes in a storage container. The reconstitution is good as the cubes defrost without any oxidation affect.
What a great tip Kerry, thanks for sharing. We're trying to grow avocados here in Kyneton. They've survived two winters here, but I think a glut of fruit is still years away for us. Fingers crossed we need your tip "soon" though.
Happy gardening and thanks for your paid subscription.
Duncan
All looks great Duncan, particularly the soil prep, composting etc as well as the greenhouses and fresh food storage sections
Excellent, thanks for the feedback Lewis.
With preserving excess you have drying, pickling and ? water bath preserving (passata). How about cool storing, laying down in boxes covered in sand or the like and blanching to freeze? Peas freeze really well went blanched within a few hours of picking. You could mention pressure canning but that is an expensive set up and doesn’t seem that common in Australia. Just my 2 cents worth.
Hi Linda,
Wow there's some more great ideas that I hadn't yet included. When I get down to writing them I'll have a think about how I can put all of those topics together. I'm not sure how many more parts might need to be included. I won't be writing about pressure canning as I prefer to write about topics that I have personal experience with. I've never even thought about pressure canning, let alone given it a go!
Thanks for the great feedback!
Duncan
Pressure canning is gaining momentum in Australia. I have had a pressure canner for about 8 years, although not a fan of pressure canned vegetables. I freeze broccoli, cauliflowers, peas, beans. Carrots, Kale, cabbage, spinach, zucchinis, corn, Japanese turnips, garlic, ginger, tomatoes until I have enough to make Passata, herbs, beetroot for baking, capsicums, chillies and chopped onion mainly for convenience after I have spent all day in the garden. I also dehydrate most things.
Hi Jacque. I also like to blanch and freeze my produce. Do you cook the beetroot and then freeze it or just freeze it straight from the patch ??
Hi Michele, I pressure cook my beetroot and then freeze. I also pickle it using Sally Wise’s recipe.