Gardening is one of America’s most popular hobbies. According to a recent Greenhouse Management Online study, nearly 164 million homeowners in the US (49%) gardened in the past 12 months. In addition to the enjoyment it brings, gardening is also a great activity for maintaining range of motion, bone density and strength, joint flexibility, and overall quality of life.
However, many people feel they have to give up this popular pastime because of arthritis pain. Arthritis is the number one disability-causing disease in America, with nearly 50 million Americans having a diagnosis of at least one form of arthritis.
The goal of this one-hour webinar is to provide an overview of the tasks related to gardening and to show the relationship between arthritis pain management and maintaining a productive garden. Topics include:
Arthritis limitations and barriers
Tools and techniques for planting, weeding, and harvesting
Ergonomic and mobility issues
Selection of proper growing media and varieties of plants
Our Presenters:
Amber D. Wolfe joined the National AgrAbility Project in 2009 as the AgrAbility project coordinator for the Arthritis Foundation. As such, she serves as a national resource for rural arthritis issues, particularly those related to agriculture. Amber provides training to professionals and consumers via rural arthritis workshops and also assists in developing resources related to rural arthritis. She has brought her experiences with 4-H and FFA to AgrAbility by working with rural youth to prevent the early onset of osteoarthritis.
Stephen J. Swain is the assistive technology specialist for the National AgrAbility project and the rural rehabilitation specialist for the Indiana AgrAbility Project. He is a member of RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) and is a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Practitioner (ATP). Steve conducts disability and accessibility assessments of farms, homes, and businesses, and develops reports related to such assessments. In cooperation with Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services, he also provides business planning services to potential entrepreneurs interested in self-employment.A question & answer period will follow the presentation.
To participate in this free webinar, click here to access the online registration form by Friday, May 24. Instructions for accessing the session will be sent to registrants by Tuesday, May 28. Please pass on this invitation to others you believe may be interested. Contact AgrAbility at 800-825-4264 or email agrability@agrability.org if you have questions.
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