Outdoor gardening can be
therapeutic for the healthy or the
disabled. The simple activity of
weeding can strengthen people
physically as well as mentally.
One of the most poignant memor
ies of my childhood is helping
elderly neighbors weed and tend
to their garden chores. Laboring
together in the sun-warmed dirt
brought not just the rewards of
more exercise but the larger les
sons of how to care for living
things.
I’ve learned too that for many
“older” gardeners physical limita
tion does not mean abandoning
the garden. Healthy gardening
means experiencing the pleasant
garden sensations of smell, sight,
touch, taste and often sound. Here
are suggestions provided by a
book entitled: "Backyards and
The World’s Most Important Part
It could be any part. Because the most important part is the one you
need right now. Don’t be frustrated with unnecessary down time. Get
your fertilizer application equipment up and running as fast as possible
with quality parts, speedy service and fair pricing from Stoltzfus.
Equipment and Parts for:
Spreaders
Truck Spreaders
Spreader / Tender
Tenders
Loaders
Blenders
Conveyors
Sprayers
Post-emerge Sprayers
Truck-Mount Sprayers
Truck Chassis
Air Spreaders
Air Sprayers
Tanks
Pumps
Valves
Rate Controllers
Nozzles
Foam Markers
Sprayer Accessories
Call today for the world’s most *■ OAA_D
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parts - the ones you need right now. Morgan Way, P.0.80x 527, Morgantown, PA 19543
Butterflies: Ways to Include Chil
dren with Disabilities in Outdoor
Activities" by Doreen Greenstein.
The key to making gardens ac
cessible to all ages with or without
a handicap is organizing the space
to mesh with the physical limita
tions of the gardener. Proximity to
the house so it’s easy to get to
and fro is the first considera
tion. Integrating the plot with the
rest of the family garden, so
everybody can work together, is
the second.
For adults and children who use
wheelchairs, make a path that
leads to the garden and to wher
ever tools are stored. It should be,
at least 36 inches wide. A 60-inch
in diameter space is needed for
wheelchair turn-arounds. Form
the path with two rows of scrap
lumber (spacing the rows to match
AG CHEMICAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT
Stoltzfus, Willmar (1.5 ton to 15 ton)
Stoltzfus, Willmar (10 ton to 22 ton)
Stoltzfus, Willmar (5 to 8 ton)
Willmar (6 to 24 ton)
Willmar (20 to 36 cf buckets)
R & R, Speed King
R & R, Speed King
Agrotec, Jacto
Willmar Air Ride
Precision, AgChem (slip-in)
Stahly
Overum Tive
Willmar, Spray Air
Snyder, Ace, Mid-State
Hypro, Ace, Defco, Shurflo
KZ, Banjo, Precision
Mid-Tech, Raven, Micro-TVak,
DICKEY-john
Tee Jet, Lurnjark, Delavan
RHS, Richway, AgChem
Strainers, pressure gauges, solenoids,
nozzle bodies
the distance between the wheels of
the chair) or with plywood sheets,
conveyor belting, or any material
that provides a smooth surface.
The traditional raised bed
where soil is built up inside a
wooden frame (often made from
stacks of railroad ties) —can offer
additional reach to those in wheel
chairs. For others, elevating the
garden to waist level works best.
A homemade planting table,
which allows a wheelchair to slide
underneath the table, makes it
comfortable to work the soil in a
seated position. Seeds or seedlings
are planted in large plastic dish"
pans with holes drilled for drain
age. Purchase extra large pans at
restaurant supply stores.
Five-gallon plastic food storage
buckets hung from the sides of the
planting table (again with holes
drilled for drainage) make ideal
containers for growing herbs.
Cover protruding nails with a slit
tennis ball.
Smaller raised beds made of
stacks of tires bolted together,
even window boxes attached to a
porch or deck railing, make work
able miniature gardens. Old
wooden barrels can be used to
grow strawberries, tomatoes, and
vine crops. Vegetables can also be
grown in plastic trash bags set out
on an old picnic table or bench.
Choose plants carefully for
maximum success. Consider the
STOLTZFUS
Precision Safety Equipment
Masks
Repirators
Spill response kits
Decontamination kits
Gloves
Goggles
TVvek suits
Buie Necessitie*
Bearings
Bushings
Hydraulics:
Pumps
Motors
Hoses
Cylinders
Couplings
PTO units and shafts
Universal
Gear boxes
Spindles
Sprockets
Roller Chain
Lancaster Firming, Saturday, May 27, 1995-B5
size of seeds or transplants (big
ones are easier for weak hands to
manage) as well as the garden’s
location. Seed tape is easier to
handle for lettuce and other vege
tables where the loose seeds are
fine.
Check varieties. Certain ones
do better in containers; ask for re
commendations at your local nur
sery or county extension office.
Dwarf fruit trees can be pruned or
trellised so the fruit is within easy
reach. Vining varieties also make
for easier picking. Of course,
avoid all poisonous plants, patti-
Food Service
Sanitation Course
LEESPORT (Berks Co.)—The
National Restaurant Association
Applied Food Service Sanitation
Certification Course is planned for
Monday, June 12 and 19 from
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and on June 26th
from 8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon. The
two and a half day course will be
held at Berks County Agricultural
Center. Lunch will be provided on
the full days. The third day will
end upon completion of the
National Restaurant Certification
Examination.
BUILDING & REMODELING FOR—
DAIRY RESIDENTIAL
SWINE POLE BUILDINGS
BEEF STORAGE
® Featuring I
i 1 • Solid one-piece cast-iron bowl Bit
P • Coated with Baked On Top Grade Polyester fNH
| TGIC Powder IS"
n - Smoother finish stays cleaner g
CM • more durable than paint 9
BnJ -- Chip resistant ra
Bfl • Stainless steel nose pan Be
S • Improved brass valve assembly fNB
g - Softer washer for better seal S'
g - Lighter spring for less required pressure g
- Approx. 1.3 gpm at 40 psi 9
i\J • Plastic plug and smaller water chamber for |j
ag frost protection t ' {js
H • 3/4” top and bottom water inlets INI
g • Screen on valve water filtration S"
| PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC. S
295 Woodcorner Rd. Houra (ji
I LltltZ, PA 17543-9165 Mon. Thru Frl. M
I 1 Mile West of Hphrata 7to 5 S’
| 717-738-7365 s.t.7ton |
| CaN or Write For AddWonolMonnotton And Your NwrattOoil* §
cularly those with toxic sub
stances in the flowers.
Those who arc vision impaired
often enjoy fragrant plants includ
ing aromatic herbs and flowers
Consider texture, too. There’s a
remarkable diversity in feel of leaf
and stalk.
Todng tools around is a hassle.
Bags and buckets of various
shapes, sizes, and materials can be
attached by Velcro to a wheelchair
or walker, keeping paraphernalia
easily within reach.
Registration will be on a first
come, first-serve basis. Course
will require reading of textbook
and independent study. Cost for
the course is $B5.
Registration is requested and is
due on or before June 3. Please
send a check made payable to
Berks County Extension Special
Account. Mail to: Food Service
Course, Berks County Coopera
tive Extension, Berks County Ag
Center, PO Box 520, Lecspc.t, PA
19533-0520. Please include your
name, address and phone number.
KEN CLUGSTON
(717) 665-6775
CRAFT-BELT
CONSTRUCTION INC.
FARM-HOME BUILDING
1242 Breneman Road
MANHEIM, PA 17545
PH: (717) 665-4372