Enabling Gardens & Adaptive Gardening
Enabling gardens seek to reduce physical barriers and increase physical activity as a means of promoting physical health; Diehl’s three models - demonstration, eldercare and Alzheimer care gardens are used for diverse populations” (Fleming, 2021; Diehl, 2013). Enabling gardens can be found at all types of gardens where physical barriers are minimized including home gardens, school gardens, community gardens, defiant gardens, & therapeutic gardens.
This category includes adaptive gardening, an integral part of enabling gardens.
This category includes adaptive gardening, an integral part of enabling gardens.
> Key Organizations
> Books, journals & E-publications on enabling gardens & adaptive gardening
AgrAbility (2021). The toolbox assistive technology database.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Carman, J. (2021). Design for generations.
Cassidy, P. (2011). The Illustrated Practical Guide to Gardening for Seniors. Lorenz Books.
Cooper Marcus, C. & Sachs, N. (2014). Therapeutic Landscapes: An evidence-based approach to
designing healing gardens and restorative outdoor spaces. John Wiley and Sons. Inc.
Helphand, K. (2006). Defiant Gardens: Making gardens in wartime. Trinity University Press.
Rothert, G. (1994). The Enabling Garden: Creating barrier-free gardens. Taylor Trade Publishing.
Tai, L., Haque, M.T., McLellan, G.K. & Knight, E.J. (2006). Designing Outdoor Environments for Children: Landscaping schoolyards, gardens, and playgrounds. McGraw Hill.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Carman, J. (2021). Design for generations.
Cassidy, P. (2011). The Illustrated Practical Guide to Gardening for Seniors. Lorenz Books.
Cooper Marcus, C. & Sachs, N. (2014). Therapeutic Landscapes: An evidence-based approach to
designing healing gardens and restorative outdoor spaces. John Wiley and Sons. Inc.
Helphand, K. (2006). Defiant Gardens: Making gardens in wartime. Trinity University Press.
Rothert, G. (1994). The Enabling Garden: Creating barrier-free gardens. Taylor Trade Publishing.
Tai, L., Haque, M.T., McLellan, G.K. & Knight, E.J. (2006). Designing Outdoor Environments for Children: Landscaping schoolyards, gardens, and playgrounds. McGraw Hill.
> RESEARCH & ARTICLES ON enabling GARDENS & adaptive Gardening
Recently published selected research & articles:
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design.
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design: Gardens.
Bravo, M. (2015). A guide for making community gardens accessible for all members. Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
Diehl, L. (2013). A framework for categorizing healing gardens. AHTA News Magazine 41(2):4-6.
Diehl, R.M. (2019). Perspective: Psychological accessibility—A perspective on therapeutic garden design. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.) The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Dillon, I. & Green, J. (2021). Universal design. American Society of Landscape Architects.
Fleming, L. & Carroll, K. (2016). The accessible children’s rainforest garden at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Eatbreathegarden.com. Electronic version
Fleming, L. (2013). Recent trends in adaptive gardening tool use in HT settings. AHTA News Magazine 41(1):12-13.
Fleming, L. (2011). The Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples Florida. AHTA
News Magazine 39(3):13-14.
Gendall, J. (2010). Senior Circuit (a playground in London’s Hyde Park designed for older
exercisers). Landscape Architecture 100(9):110-114.
Guerro, A. (n.d.). Increasing inclusion in the school garden. A resource packet for garden educators. School Garden Project of Lane County.
Kahn, Jr., P.H., Weiss, T. et al. (2018). Modeling child–nature interaction in a nature preschool: Proof of concept. Frontiers in Psychology 9:835.
Marcaccio, A. (2020). Ramps and garden accessibility. Digging In 6(1):9.
Morgan, S.C. (2019). Considerations and adaptations to safely accommodate program participants. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.) The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Palsdottir, AM., Spendrup, S., Martensson, L. & Wendin, K. (20xx). Garden smellscape: Exploring plant scents for human wellbeing. Acta Horticulturae (in press).
Pollin, S. & Retzlaff-Furst, C. (2021). The school garden: A social and emotional place. Frontiers in Psychology 12:567720.
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design.
American Society of Landscape Architects. (2021). Universal design: Gardens.
Bravo, M. (2015). A guide for making community gardens accessible for all members. Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo.
Diehl, L. (2013). A framework for categorizing healing gardens. AHTA News Magazine 41(2):4-6.
Diehl, R.M. (2019). Perspective: Psychological accessibility—A perspective on therapeutic garden design. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.) The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Dillon, I. & Green, J. (2021). Universal design. American Society of Landscape Architects.
Fleming, L. & Carroll, K. (2016). The accessible children’s rainforest garden at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Eatbreathegarden.com. Electronic version
Fleming, L. (2013). Recent trends in adaptive gardening tool use in HT settings. AHTA News Magazine 41(1):12-13.
Fleming, L. (2011). The Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples Florida. AHTA
News Magazine 39(3):13-14.
Gendall, J. (2010). Senior Circuit (a playground in London’s Hyde Park designed for older
exercisers). Landscape Architecture 100(9):110-114.
Guerro, A. (n.d.). Increasing inclusion in the school garden. A resource packet for garden educators. School Garden Project of Lane County.
Kahn, Jr., P.H., Weiss, T. et al. (2018). Modeling child–nature interaction in a nature preschool: Proof of concept. Frontiers in Psychology 9:835.
Marcaccio, A. (2020). Ramps and garden accessibility. Digging In 6(1):9.
Morgan, S.C. (2019). Considerations and adaptations to safely accommodate program participants. In R. Haller, K. Kennedy & C. Capra (Eds.) The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy. CRC Press.
Palsdottir, AM., Spendrup, S., Martensson, L. & Wendin, K. (20xx). Garden smellscape: Exploring plant scents for human wellbeing. Acta Horticulturae (in press).
Pollin, S. & Retzlaff-Furst, C. (2021). The school garden: A social and emotional place. Frontiers in Psychology 12:567720.
> Examples of enabling gardens & adaptive gardening
.Brandermill Woods Alzheimer’s Garden is a contained garden for people living with dementia and their families with non-toxic plants, seating areas & water features in this safe secure garden.
Buehler Enabling Garden at Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois.
Naples Botanical Garden Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples, FL, is an example of a public garden designed specifically with enabling features, reducing physical barriers to gardening.
Natural Growth Project in London, England, has 30 community garden sites at 2 locations organized by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
Portland Memory Garden in Oregon is a collaborative effort designed to meet the needs of people with memory disorders & care partners.
The Angie Fowler Adolescent and Young Adult Rooftop Garden at University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Ohio encourages children, families & visitors to play & enjoy hands-on exploration & moveable play structures.
The Activities Garden at Arbor Terrace, Middleton, NJ. independent living, assisted living & dementia care residence provides outdoor plant filled space for range of activities for residents, families & programming.
Vera A. Scherer Garden at a high school for special needs students with accessible features.
Buehler Enabling Garden at Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois.
Naples Botanical Garden Buehler Family Foundation Enabling Garden, Naples, FL, is an example of a public garden designed specifically with enabling features, reducing physical barriers to gardening.
Natural Growth Project in London, England, has 30 community garden sites at 2 locations organized by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
Portland Memory Garden in Oregon is a collaborative effort designed to meet the needs of people with memory disorders & care partners.
The Angie Fowler Adolescent and Young Adult Rooftop Garden at University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Ohio encourages children, families & visitors to play & enjoy hands-on exploration & moveable play structures.
The Activities Garden at Arbor Terrace, Middleton, NJ. independent living, assisted living & dementia care residence provides outdoor plant filled space for range of activities for residents, families & programming.
Vera A. Scherer Garden at a high school for special needs students with accessible features.
> Videos, webinars & websites on ENABLING GARDENS & ADAPTIVE GARDENING
Adaptive Gardening Tools short video from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation introduces tools useful for adaptive gardening.
Enabling Garden, Altoona, Iowa, video shares photos of its garden, as a joint initiative with master gardeners & the City of Altoona
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/page/enabling-garden-altoona-iowa
The Discovery Garden at Washington State University offers information on an Extension Discovery Garden’s enabling garden, ergonomic tools, plans for raised beds & accessible structures
In '& Thou Shalt Honor', D. Bell interviews geriatric physician Dr. Bill Thomas on The Eden Alternative as “the reinterpretation of the environment elders live in.
Tools and Strategies for Adaptive Gardening a video featuring horticultural therapist Teresia Hazen at Stenzel Therapeutic Garden at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital (2019)
Enabling Garden, Altoona, Iowa, video shares photos of its garden, as a joint initiative with master gardeners & the City of Altoona
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/page/enabling-garden-altoona-iowa
The Discovery Garden at Washington State University offers information on an Extension Discovery Garden’s enabling garden, ergonomic tools, plans for raised beds & accessible structures
In '& Thou Shalt Honor', D. Bell interviews geriatric physician Dr. Bill Thomas on The Eden Alternative as “the reinterpretation of the environment elders live in.
Tools and Strategies for Adaptive Gardening a video featuring horticultural therapist Teresia Hazen at Stenzel Therapeutic Garden at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital (2019)
> Related organizations
Center of Design for an Aging Society
Defiant Gardens
Easter Seals: 'Living with Disabilities
Population-focused organizations such as: American Liver Foundation (ALF), Mental Health America, etc.
Defiant Gardens
Easter Seals: 'Living with Disabilities
Population-focused organizations such as: American Liver Foundation (ALF), Mental Health America, etc.
Written & compiled by Lesley Fleming, Susan Morgan Nov 2021