A Guide for Making Community Gardens Accessible for all Members

This guide, created by Melissa Bravo, aims to enhance community garden accessibility for all members using Universal Design principles. It provides guidance on alterations community gardeners can make, focusing on accessible walkways (entrances, width, safety, materials), accessories (ramps, railings, signage), water access, planters (raised beds, vertical gardening), accessible tools, and sensory garden plants. By building accessible gardens, the guide emphasizes providing opportunities for agricultural education, access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, and therapeutic stress relief for people of all abilities through therapeutic horticulture.

The guide promotes the principles of Universal Design to create environments of inclusion in community gardens, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from garden participation. It highlights specific design considerations like operable gate handles, appropriate path widths, and stable surfaces to enable access for people with limited mobility. Appendices offer detailed instructions on accessible features, tools, and sensory garden plants. Ultimately, the guide serves as a resource for gardeners seeking to create inclusive spaces that capture the diversity of their communities.

Bravo, M. (2015). A guide for making community gardens accessible for all members. Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo. Highroad Fellowship Reports.