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Appendix A: Project Examples

II. Inclusive Crews Partnering with Community Gardens

Project Overview:

The accessible community garden, designed and constructed by the UCC inclusive crew, is fully accessible to all community members. In 2008, the UCC partnered with the new Cache Valley Community Garden project to turn this dream into a reality. The garden includes raised beds, table top planters, hardened pathways, and adapted gardening tools.

The Cache Valley Community Garden (CVCG) project is a large community venture. The role of the UCC inclusive crew is to design and construct garden tools, beds, and pathways that are physically accessible.

Accessibility and Inclusive Community Gardens:

Community and accessibility go hand in hand. As a part of the overall goal of the community garden to attract and include a diversity of community members, the accessible features within the garden accommodate people of varying abilities. No community member is denied participation in community gardening because of physical barriers in the built environment. In addition to accommodating community members who want to garden, the project also accommodates UCC AmeriCorps crew members with disabilities who want to serve within an accessible and inclusive environment. UCC members of all abilities will conduct community gardening workshops every other Friday during the summer months. The Utah Conservation Corps inclusive crew will serve as an ongoing accessible gardening resource and will regularly disseminate this information.

Accessibility and Physical Design:

The physical design of the garden is inherently accessible and avoids an environment that is conspicuously augmented for accessibility. The goal is to create an environment that is accessible to all individuals with and without disabilities…a total environment. The organization of the beds is based on the branching proportions of Utah’s only native orchid, the Epipactis Gigantea. The organic arrangement inherently uses space in such a way as to allow for larger spaces adjoining smaller ones. This ensures that there is plenty of space to move about without creating awkward voids. The raised beds can be enjoyed as an accessible environment and a stimulating composition.

Blueprint of Accessible Community Garden Design

UCC Table Top Planter Design:

This is an example of a table top planter built by the UCC for the Community Garden. For a copy of detailed construction plans and a material list for the planter, contact Kate Stephens at kate.stephens@usu.edu.

Books:

Accessible Gardening for People with Disabilities, A Guide to Methods, Tools, and Plants by Janeen Adil

The Enabling Garden: Creating Barrier-Free Gardens by Gene Rothert

Accessible Gardening: Tips & Techniques for Seniors & the Disabled by Joann Woy

Square Foot Gardening: A New Way to Garden in Less Space With Less Work by Mel Bartholomew

Websites:

Funding:

The Cache Valley Community Garden has received numerous donations for materials from local businesses as well as larger corporations such as Lowes and Home Depot.

The Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities was instrumental in providing funding and expertise in the development of assistive technology and workshop space to construct raised beds.

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