Wheelchair accessible growing?

I was approached about building up a small med grow for an individual who uses a wheelchair.

As I think through the design, I'm afraid that I'm going to miss some basic points of usability, as I have never used a wheelchair for any period of time.

Anybody out there growing on wheels? I'd love to hear about particular challenges that you've faced, or work-arounds that you've developed.

I'm thinking either RW or coco drip to waste, to minimize the amount of water that has to be moved around. Soil/soiless would prob be easier, but I'm hoping to be able to come up w/ a design that would allow the user to run without any assistance, and soil is heavy. RW slabs seem maybe the most practical, as slab trays are pretty easy to move around, even with a stand and a wet slab in them- but I wonder if there's some stumbling block that I'm missing. Also, probabley need to come up with some kind of pulley system to adjust lighting.

Anyhoo, I thought that I'd float the idea, and see if anybody has any relevant experience. If folks are interested, I'll post up whatever I come up with.

Thanks

I would think that the activities a chairbound person performs in the kitchen would be very similar to those necessary to conduct a grow. So when you're searching for ideas, you might want to check out handicapped accessible kitchens. There's probably a lot more overt information available about kitchens than there is about growrooms.

Just a thought - and a courtesy bump. :D

Good luck!

PC :thumbsup:

Good point- and thanks for the bump.

Luckily, I've got a builder in the family who's done a few kitchens for differantly-abled folks. He's a font of info. Also, the state Building Code specs for accessible housing have brought up a few points.

I was actually involved, some years ago, with a program that worked with folks who were returning to the workforce after traumatic injuries. I've done a little bit of work helping people set up work stations to accomodate their disabilities- Sometimes our assumptions and design were pretty good, and sometimes, well, less so...

The input of folks who would actually be using, or were using, the work station was invaluable. I know myself well enough to know that I never think of everything.

Again, good point and thanks.

kind of a kooky suggestion but i think the best way to know how difficult it would be to grow while in a wheel chair would be to experience it.

I also think some ways of growing would be easier than others. Like with what you said with hauling abunch of water. and also your handicaped friend might want to train his plants not to grow so tall; so he will have an easier time inspecting,harvesting, and just seeing his plants.

im interested in how everything works out. good luck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by keeko

kind of a kooky suggestion but i think the best way to know how difficult it would be to grow while in a wheel chair would be to experience it.

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Right there with you- I've got feelers out for an R&D loaner chair. She doesn't have a spare, and I can't afford to rent one.

Hmm... wonder if there's grant money out there for this kind of thing?:D

I'm sure it'll be challenging, but I hope to make it as un-challenging as possible.

Thanks for the reply.

This is a really interesting idea! :) Can we see the final designs and adaptations?

Soon as I have em!

Got some great pointers from a grower over on IC.

Hey Rhiz ,
Much luv. for lookin out for more ppl. like myself :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Please search the words burns / amputations and find my thread w/ contact info- it's in the thread twice and please holler. NOBODY ELSE EVEN DREAM OF SPAMMIN THIS ADDY !!!!!! I think we already talk to a few of the same ppl. , and I think She'll vouch for me . :) I'd feel better about sending indepth pics. , talking about personal issues etc... I'm just your guinea pig , esp. after 6 1/2 yrs. of P/T - O/T = Im the adaptive equip. king .
God Bless man
Crispi :jointsmile:

This is a perfect thread for T/Y.com too , might gain some useful insight there too .

Xcrispi-

Thanks, man. Just the kind of input I was after. Pulled your addy, so if you want to edit it away I'm all good. Have emailed.

Thank you
Thank you
Thank you

A suggestion I would like to add is avoiding large SQUARE tables in favor of longer, narrow tables where you can easily reach over and access any point on the table. Like a kitchen counter... no more than about ~2 feet deep perhaps?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rhizome

Xcrispi-

Thanks, man. Just the kind of input I was after. Pulled your addy, so if you want to edit it away I'm all good. Have emailed.

Thank you
Thank you
Thank you

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Hey Rhiz.
Surrey nuked the info as soon as I got your E mail . :thumbsup:

My set up prob. isn't to viable , but If I had full use of both hands I know I could do everything but raise / lower the lights myself . But hydroton / soil both carry alot of weight which prob. isn't cool . I like it though due to low plant count and huge yields . 2 plants under a single 1000w. cooltube = easy 24 oz. here .

Please holler back w/ more info as to their physical limitations , Completely w/c confined ?
Full use of both hands ?
Any probs. w/ motor skills ?
Is her ailement progressive - any pos. future probs.= plan ahead ?
Did they have a green thumb to begin w/ ?

G/B man
Crispi :jointsmile:

Thanks for the feedback, folks.

She's restricted to wheelchair, use of both arms/hands but tremor and fatigue. Intermittant ocular issues. MS has an unpredictable procession, however hers is severe- best to plan for at least progessive fine motor problems.

Has med card, caretaker. Some concerns about the ability of the caregiver to continue care indefinately ( elder parent). Hence desire to establish fully independant grow.

Don't know about gardening chops of the patient- Dad's a noob.

Limits are two mature, seven immature, two zip ( somewhat negotiable)

" A marijuana plant shall be considered mature when male or female flower buds are readily observed on the plant by unaided visual examination. Until this sexual differentiation has taken place, a marijuana plant will be considered immature." VT s.7 as amended

Have found some great info on kitchen design, highly applicable. Good tip, PC.

Still leaning toward a bench-type layout, prob based on 2x3 trays or RW slab. Assuming that table has enough clearance that chair can be manuvered underneath ( essentially putting the tray in a lap-desk position), I think that a 2x3 will be reachable? Or am I asking too much of reduced motor capacity?

Family home, highly supportive- hard plumbing not beyond the realm.

I'd love, though, to come up w/ a basic design that could be copylefted and distributed- I'm hoping for a design that's not too site-specific. You know, the kinda thing that could go in a spare apartment bedroom.

Thanks again, everybody.

Hey Rhiz.
I know you have access to all kindsa goodies pre fab. and in your position time is money. But if you cant come up w/ a frame for the tables thats the proper height for her w/c to fit under you can make 1 out of pvc easy enough .

2 x 3 tables should be accessable for her - I tried in my basement w/ an old tray from 1 of those oldschool floracarts up on a table and I didn't have any probs.

Also if you can get w/ her w/ a measuring tape handy . Most of us that are perm. in a w/c have custom ones built to match our heights / widths seat depths etc... don't rely on just any w/c for the height of her lap / knees - measure for yourself .

Continious harvest - 2/ flower 2/ veg. ? Or pos. even a proven mother in-house so they could take cuttings as needed w/o crapshoot as far as sex .
Or can the cuttings etc... just mysteriously appear for her .;)

I can't move water BTW . I had a close friend who is also my lisc. electrican add a faucet / hose close to my res. before we started using R/O here lately . To drain res. I have access to a floordrain because of being in a basement .

What kinda lighting and hood are we thinking ? 400w hps. maybe vertizontal style hood so it's lightweight enough to utilize a pr. of plant yoyos - you can add an extra piece of string / rope w/ a loop - 1 on each end of hood so she can raise /lower 1 side at a time from the sitting position ? Or does it need to be aircooled ?

More later bro. this insomniac is ready to sleep - maybe ?

You gotta turn rep on. Rhiz. Your much deserving of it . I applaud you for these efforts . You have no idea how rewarding / theraputic this really is for someone in our position . Not to mention teaching someone to aleaviate some of their own pain . The guy in the sky will have a place for you because of kind works like this !!! :angelsmiley:

G/B Man
Crispi :jointsmile:

speaking as a man thats been in a chair for 15 years these are all well intended ideas.. you really need her to help you build it for her.....just because something is said to be accessible it may not be for all...so thier are no set standard and you really need her to tell what she needs...thats the only way to get it right and give her something exactly for her needs...

just trying to help
indicagrower

Rhizome - Every time I read one of your posts, I feel like Dick Cheney is growling at me. Damn your avatar! LOL

Hey, I'm glad the kitchen suggestion helped. Here's a couple more thoughts.

Think boat shops. Sailboats have all kinds of cool gear for moving stuff with ropes from a single location. Lots of small blocks & tackles, self-locking pulleys - all kinds of good stuff that could be adapted for your needs.

A pedestal base will allow you the most room under the table - old cafe tables often had pedestal bases. If you use pvc/abs, toilet rings are a good way to secure the table to the floor. (I'm completely blank right now on the correct name for this plumbing part - it's the part that goes thru the floor and your toilet mounts on it. For your purposes you would turn it upside down and bolt it to the floor.)

A toilet tank mounted on the wall would be a good way to get nutes up high enough that a hand watering wand could be used. The nutes could be mixed in a tank on the floor then pumped up to the toilet tank (no worry about overflow if you use the tank valve) then exit through a small hose connected to a wand - like from a spray tank.

I don't know how much thought you are putting into the theraputic value of this garden, but you might not want to make everything as efficient, time wise, as it can possibly get. If this lady has to spend a lot of time tending her garden, it might be good for her. If it takes her two hours to fill a pot with soil, is that a bad thing? If she has to struggle a little to accomplish her tasks, is that a bad thing? Minor victories over adversities can be very theraputic.

PC :smokin:

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Originally Posted by PharmaCan

I don't know how much thought you are putting into the theraputic value of this garden, but you might not want to make everything as efficient, time wise, as it can possibly get. .... Minor victories over adversities can be very theraputic.
:

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The journey is as important as the destination and the process is as therapeutic as the reward.

Heya folks- thanks again for all the feedback.

I'm going to meet up w/ her and her dad tomorrow am, have a quick design conference.

The more I think about it, the more a DWC setup like XCrispi's makes sense- but I want to get a feel for her preferances. I'll get comfortable work heights, chair clearances, sense of strength @ reach, etc.

Good point about making things too easy- My gardens have always expanded until they hit the point where I didn't have any more time, but the size of this setup is legally constrained.

Anyway, wanted to check in so folks knew where I was at- more info tomorrow.

Don't know about anyone else but X-C is your man for sure....:thumbsup:

Howdy all- been busy as hell, (and it's been way too hot to hang out with the 'puter in my lap) but I thought I should update this thread.

Believe it or not, she had the luxury of an extra closet available- 4'6â?� x 7'6, with the door opening out into the hall from a short side. Drywall was cut and an â?? old workâ?� outlet box installed @ 36â?�, slaved to an outlet on the far side of the wall. Two dual outlets on GFI's occupy the box. We were able to partition off a 3' x 4'6â?� area opposite the doorway to use as a flowering chamber, with acess provided by a tarp zipper. Partition was created by installing a nailing ridge, to which panda was stapled. A batten was nailed in over the panda to increase durability. A flap at the bottom of the panda contains a length of jack chain, split for the zipper. I used some greenhouse film tape that I had kicking around to bind the flap. The weighted flap acts as a â?? sweep â??, lightproofing the flowering space. There are cutouts in the panda, with another set of weighted flaps acting as self closing intakes- lot like a HomeBox. There's a flap kinda like the one behind the zipper in a pair of jeans that prevents light leak thru the zipper. A short ( 2' ish) length of dowel is attached to the zipper handle, allowing her to open and close it floor to almost ceiling. Adhesive backed velcro holds the other end of the dowel onto the panda when zipper is closed.

Lighting in flower space is 600 hort in a SunSystems Econocool. We're using a light hanging system that works like a mini-blind- height adjusted by cords. Extentions were added to the hanging cords, and a cleat mounted on the nailing ridge so we didn't have to worry about the light slipping.

Ventilation is a Can 6â?� pulling thru the reflector, with an Odorsok mounted over the reflector intake. Exhaust is routed thru the ceiling, up to a crawl space. Closet door is louvered, allowing intake into veg/mom partition.Panda flaps have been installed, also weighted, to lightproof louvers. Control is a CAP Air-1, no co2, wall mounted @ 46â?�. Single fan vents both spaces. 8â?� oscillating fans are wall mounted in each space.

She felt most comfortable working with soil, so a bench of sorts hold two 5 gal squats at a comfortable level for her to water. Bench is about 16â?� high. Water will be moved by the gallon watering can- she does this for her houseplants already, riding the watering can in her lap. Far be it from me to insist on anything else.

48â?� wire shelving has been installed to create a cloning shelf and a mom/veg area. Lighting is a 24â?� t-5 4 bulb ( 6500k) over the cloning area, and a 48â?� t-5 4-bulb over mom/veg. The shelving is just open- no light proofing. The clone shelf is @ 39 â??, with the t-5 24 hard mounted 12â?� higher. The t-5 48 is hard mounted to the bottom of the veg shelf. The mom/veg shelf is @ 12â?�, allowing 27â?� of mom and pot room- kinda tight, but it should work. There's room on the shelf to veg stuff out a bit. The extra space on the clone shelf is used for chemistry.

She's re-potting her houseplants on a low table that she already has, so she'll use the same system to repot these plants. Again, the pots ride around in her lap- I'm impressed. I think she's planning on doing her trim on this table as well- we'll see when we get there.

Wonderful!
That's really neat stuff Rhizome.
By the way, I was thrilled at the chance to have my first real chat with a member of the local med community yesterday.
There's something even more deeply satisfying about the hobby now.

Does she know about treatingyourself.com ? Nice little medical site- I'm sure she'd find some friends there! Since it is a medical site, it's a bit more mature (in a good way) than most other sites. You never get those "Wow! I got so stoned!" type threads at TY. - Granny:hippy:

Too cool Rhizome ,
Aircooled 600w - odor control - Very respectable set up for a first grow :thumbsup:
If she's into the computer - def. have her check out T/Y.com like Granny and I have suggested . Theres a much smaller like minded community there w/ a lot of female growers there too . 4000ppl. or less and most are true mmj users , or their caregivers .
Peace
Crispi :jointsmile:

looks like every idea has been covered. i would have suggested the plumbing too, but if she likes it the other way, good. the word for those fittings you were looking for is flange(flanges) they come in both metal and pvc types. good luck, but it sounds like you have it wooped.

since the plants need to be as close to center, under the lamps, but access is still needed into, and around, the plants, ... I suggest putting the plants on tables (whatever height works for you), and put casters on the table legs, so they can be rolled in and out of the growing area, rather than trying to get into the grow area with the wheelchair ... (hope I didn't repeat a previous suggestion) ... :smokin: