Gardening with Visual Impairment
The image shows a woman kneeling by a flower bed, about to plant a new flower. She has a trowel in one hand and a flower in the other.
In 1940, a gentleman known as Mr Sharpe received his Dig for Victory Diploma from the Ministry of Agriculture. The “Dig for Victory” campaign was launched during World War 2 to encourage people to grow food in a time of rationing. From public parks to private gardens, every available space was transformed into an allotment. One thing that made Mr Sharpe’s story so special was that he was blind. So, how did he garden?
Like many across the country, Mr Sharpe grew potatoes and beans. He could tell the difference between good and bad potatoes by touch. His sense of touch enabled him to know how many beans would grow and made his potatoes among “the best in the country”. Not only was Mr Sharpe’s visual impairment not really an impairment at all when it came to potato growing… it actually proved to be a benefit!
Gardening is great for the body and mind. It reduces stress, increases vitamin D levels, provides a form of exercise, and encourages healthy eating. Growing plants and vegetables helps the environment, can get you out into the community, provides a sense of achievement, and builds confidence. For all these reasons, it’s widely recommended that VI people pick up gardening as a pastime.
So, whatever the extent of your VI (and gardening skills), and even if you’re someone who prefers the indoors, it’s worth giving gardening a try. We’ve collected some great tips for gardening with VI:
Start small
One great idea is to garden using containers. Container gardening is small-scale, simple, and, most importantly, fun. It makes identifying and locating different plants incredibly easy and helps you to build your skills if you’re not ready for a plot of land!
Plan ahead
Gather your tools, ensure your working space is tidy, stretch your muscles a little, and familiarise yourself with your environment (especially if you’re adjusting to sight loss). Group your plants depending on the type of treatment they need.
Choose your tools wisely
You should tailor your gardening strategy to your VI. For example, when watering your plants, would you prefer a hose or a watering can? If you use a cane, you might prefer to use a hose. If not, you might like to use a watering can.
Use guides
Right-angle guides can be used for digging, raking, and weeding in large areas to make them more manageable. Additionally, when pruning, once you’ve cut the first stem, you can tie a piece of string around it and use it to guide all your other cuts.
Use colours
You might need to highlight your most precious plants with coloured labels or string to ensure that you don’t mistake them for weeds. You can use coloured string to ensure that plant seeds are in a straight line or coloured tape to mark off working areas.
Use sound
A radio or sound beacon can be taken with you or strategically placed in advance to guide you around the garden. When mowing, it can be placed at the end you need to mow towards.
Whatever you choose to do, there’s a wealth of information out there about gardening skills and knowledge, and plenty of support to guide you on your gardening journey!