One of the things I enjoy doing is gardening. My mom has a very big flower garden in our backyard with a water fountain and a gazebo. There’s even a special area with a couple of birdfeeders where you can sit and watch the birds. For the past five years, I have been tending a little area where I grow herbs. My elevated herb garden is raised off the ground so it’s fully accessible to me in my power wheelchair.
Growing Herbs in my Elevated Garden
When I first started my herb garden, I just grew mint, so that I could make mint tea. Then, I branched out with parsley, thyme and oregano. With each new year, I try to add a new herb to my garden. I ended up adding basil and rosemary. To be honest, the basil was the best thing to grow. If you eat a lot of Italian food like chicken parmesan or spaghetti and meatballs, I highly recommend growing basil. Just take one or two fresh basil leaves and add it to a jar of regular tomato sauce. It really is a complete game changer.
The most challenging part about the herb garden is knowing when to pick the herbs, especially the mint. If you wait too long to pick the mint, it goes bad on you and then you can’t use it once it turns. The only good thing is that mint grows quickly. I can pick a few leaves and make tea with them. Within a week or two weeks, the mint grows back to its full capacity.
Using My iLevel Power Wheelchair
When I need to water my herbs, it’s great to have iLevel® technology on my Edge® 3 Power Wheelchair. I can elevate my power wheelchair seat 12 inches so I am above the plants, which watering and harvesting super easy. It also helps when I need to trim the herbs too.
I definitely recommend getting an elevated garden, as it keeps the critters out of my plants, although I occasionally have to contend with some bugs or spiders. Still, it’s nice!
About Josh McDermott: Josh is a brand ambassador for Quantum Rehab®. He is a public speaker and has served as a goodwill ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Josh lives in New York and loves to travel. Click here to learn more about Josh.
For more great blogs from our brand ambassadors and Q Roll Models, visit lifeatilevel.com today!
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