Stackable Power

Stackable Power

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In these hard economic times everyone is trying to think of ways to save money. One of the ways we can save money is to grow some of our own food. The home vegetable garden is not new, in fact it was very popular in World War Two. In those days they were called victory gardens, a term that has become popular again today. When we think of a home garden we usually think of a patch of ground, turned over, enriched with compost, and fertilized, where we plant our seeds. This is still true, accept when we think of a wheelchair accessible garden. The conventional garden can be anywhere from a 10 foot x 10 foot plot to hundreds of square feet. It just depends on how much you want to grow. An accessible garden can be just as large, but it needs to conform to the following guidelines.

* You should use 3 foot square or 3 foot diameter round raised planting beds.

* Your beds should be raised no less than 18 inches high. But can be up to table height.

* Raised beds should have a knee space beneath it, if they are table height.

* The area between the raised beds should be a hard packed material.

* Access to the garden should be a path, 4 feet wide, of a hard packed material.

There are several different methods that can be used to raise your beds. You can construct platforms, for the beds to sit upon, using lumber, cement blocks, or even metal saw horses purchased from your local hardware store. The method I prefer to use, and the one I used in my own yard, is stackable retaining wall blocks. They just stack together without cement and lock together one to the other very securely. They are durable and long lasting. They are also visually pleasing to look at. Once the beds are created you simply fill them with bagged soil or your own compost. Then you can plant your seed or transplants and tend as usual.

This method can be adapted to all of the landscaping around your residence. You can create a landscape of varying levels and interesting focal points. You can creating hard paths to and within your garden allowing access for all to every part of your garden. Whatever method you choose to create your garden, the end result will be the same, an accessible garden that everyone can enjoy. So when you plan your next vegetable garden why not use the methods outlined above. Even if you are not disabled it can lessen the strain on your back and knees if you use raised beds to grow your produce.

My name is Gary M Renick and I am a 55 year old retired engineer. I have be handicapped since the age of three when I was stricken by polio. I have spent the last 37 years confined to a wheelchair. The last five in a power chair as I now suffer from Post Polio Syndrome. My experience as a wheelchair user helps me to write about accessibility problems and solutions. My blog is called "Ask Gary ADA" and it deals with answers to accessibility problems and other handicap issues and changing government policy. You can visit my site at http://www.askgaryada.com Let me answer your questions about accessibility. Come get some valuable information. Be a part of global community that is building the world of tomorrow. Help us build a barrier free world.

300A 12-Phase Stackable Power with the LM3754 Eval Board