Gardening is a pastime enjoyed by millions of people. But for many residents at Ben Hur Health & Rehabilitation, an American Senior Community in Crawfordsville, the physical demands of gardening may be too challenging.
Several members of Scouts BSA Troop 309 in Pittsboro decided patients should not be deprived of a beloved hobby just because they might be in a wheelchair or have issues with mobility. The scouts took raised bed gardening one step further by building gardening tables.
These sturdy tables were built using weather-resistant cedar, with a gardening area measuring 48 inches long, 24 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Heavy screen on the bottom, supported by wood slats, ensures that soil will stay in the beds while excess water can drain through. Because they are elevated about 28 inches above the ground, patients will be able to sit right up to the side of the tables to do their gardening.
Materials for the project were purchased thanks to a donation from two Ben Hur patients who enjoy gardening, and in cooperation with the Volunteer Adult Guardianship Program of Montgomery and Tippecanoe Counties. The Scouts of Troop 309 who worked on the project were Dustin Pensworth, Trae Hunt, Lucas Spears, Eric Wethington and Logan Spears. With a little adult guidance and after several hours of manual labor, the gardening tables are finished and ready to be delivered and put to use.
