“Everybody right now who is gardening (and who lives long enough), will eventually be a disabled gardener, it’s just that some of us encounter disability earlier than others do.”
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the physicality of gardening. When I was younger I was well aware of the financial, time, and space limitations that affected me as a gardener, but I rarely thought in terms of physical limits. Here’s what I want to accomplish in my garden and can my body meet those demands?
However, as I age, I’ve awakened to the fact that my body can’t endure what I used to throw at it — and that chances are good that these limitations will not just continue, but evolve and increase with time.
My guest for this episode, Delia Snyder-Haymond is a gardener and self-described plant person who also lives with a chronic pain disorder called fibromyalgia. Our conversation focuses on gardening with disability, but also delves into issues that many of you will relate to: perfectionism; identifying (or not) as a gardener; and the struggle between lofty expectations and being real about our limitations, whatever those limitations may be.
Episode #6: Delia Snyder-Haymond | Gardening with Chronic Pain / Disability
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About My Guest
Delia Snyder-Haymond lives in rural South Central Wisconsin, where she and her husband tend small gardens in a very large space. She has been living with chronic pain since 2002.
Delia’s raised beds. She says that growing up off of the ground so that she doesn’t have to kneel or bend over is one of her critical strategies for gardening with a chronic pain condition.
Chicken wire surrounds the beds to keep critters off of tomatoes, herbs, and other tasty morsels. A soaker hose system woven through the beds makes watering less labour-intensive. Straw mulch protects the soil from drying out too quickly.
Delia’s front garden.
You did such a great job with this, Gayla. If I sounded a little too excited in spots, it’s because it *was* exciting to be able to take part in such a wonderful project. Thank you for being so committed to making the diversity that exists in the world of gardening more visible.
I love scented geraniums or pelargoniums. The ones I’m growing this year are True Rose, Lemon, Apticot, Strawberry, and Coconut Rose. In the early 1900’s, scented water was made to wash hands and scented sugar for adding flavor to baking cakes were made with the scented geranium leaves. I love to bruise the leaves and smell the wonderful scents.
Good subject today, gardening within limits. I struggle all the time with what needs to be done and what I can physically achieve. Always a balance.
I want to thank both of you for the pod cast. It was fun just listening to
you. It as so happy and full of fun just hearing the pleasantness in your
voices. I’m also so limited in my ability but like you I’m having to adjust
and find pleasure in what I am able to do. I live just outside of Jackson,
Ms. so the weather has gotten so hot and humid it is hard to do much
even for much younger Gardeners. Thanks again and I won’t be
letting any more pod cast from you get by me. I truly appreciate all
you do.
Thank you Gayla and Delia for your open and honest dialogue. I garden for a living and have to deal with the disability of peripheral neuropathy. I am open with my clients so they don’t freak when I look like I am tipping over…. and I try to keep things on the planning and supervising side. So hard. I also work with volunteers at the local Botanic Garden who are often into their 80’s and struggling with gardening as they want to.
Great job for you both, Gayla and Delia! May you two increase more awareness and be an inspiration to all who wants to start gardening. Thanks!
Thank you both for this excellent podcast, I was diagnosed with an operable cancer at the beginning of June and of course I had about 20 tomato plants staring at me waiting to get into the ground Without the help of family they would still be sitting in my green house waiting for me!! I feel very blessed to also have a spouse who will tend to the garden for me and enjoys doing so. I have been so frustrated with my inability to get out into the dirt as my recovery will be 2 months long. You have put gardening in a beautiful perspective, especially about accepting ability and changing expectations of what you should and can do. Very refreshing conversation and one I definitely needed to hear!! I wanted to express my sincere thanks to you both for sharing!