The national program was created in the 1990 Farm Bill and provides help with assisting technology, connections to rehabilitation and financial agencies and helps with adaptation information.

One of the common sense suggestions they have for easier gardening is to add common D-shaped door handles to the top edge of planters to give gardeners something to hold onto when reaching, sitting down and getting up.

Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service suggests other useful tools including many with extra handles such as a Bud-eze Shrub Rake, D and T-grip handles that can be added onto long-handle tools you already have in the shed.

Oklahoma AgrAbility does not provide direct funding but when they receive a call, the occupational therapist gathers information and makes recommendations. In some cases they make an on site visit and referrals.

“We are one of about 30 state AgrAbility projects in the nation funded by USDA grants,” said Traci Naille of AgrAbility. AgrAbility provides services to farmers, ranchers and their families who are impacted by disabilities to ensure they are able to continue their participation in agriculture-related activities. Those services include on-site assessments to determine whether equipment and other work site modifications are needed, as well as educational outreach services to clients and other audiences.

Interested Oklahomans can contact Oklahoma AgrAbility at (888) 885-5588, ability@okstate.edu and www.agribility.okstate.edu.

Hand Helpers (www.handhelpers.com) lists many other tools to make gardening easier, such as the Bionic glove that was designed by a hand surgeon.

Oxo International, best known for their hand-friendly kitchen utensils, makes a Kneeling Mat, a lightweight garden tool carrier, bulb planters and other garden tools with non-slip gel handles.

A company called Upper Hand, www.rakehandle.com and (800) 685-0315, sells a universal ergonomic handle that can be added to any garden tool. It fits in the middle of a rake or shovel handle so the gardener can grip with both hands, reducing back stress.

With support networks available and so many new inventions to help them, gardeners can keep going as long as they still have the love of watching plants grow.