From The Santa Cruz Sentinel
November 10, 2005

Gardening for all: Local woman a catalyst for rebuilding accessible garden

The word "can't" isn't in Mariann Soulek's vocabulary.

For most of the past 12 years, Soulek, a paraplegic, had tended her garden using the raised beds and gravel paths at the Trescony Community Gardens.

But time had damaged the beds and paths that allowed her access. Faced with the reality that without rebuilding her gardening days would be over, Soulek rolled up her sleeves and asked the community for help to keep her gardening.

Soulek had gotten support from the community before, but she knew this project was a huge undertaking, calling for thousands of dollars worth of materials, including redwood lumber, soil, irrigation fittings and crushed granite for pathways.

And once again, local businesses including Big Creek Lumber Company, Central Home Supply, Scotts Valley Sprinkler and Pipe Supply and Granite Construction Company came to Soulek's aide to supply the necessary materials.

"She was flexible," says Ellen Rinde, human resources manager at Big Creek Lumber. "It was a local project that didn't call for specific materials. It was a good fit because we were able to take her needs and match them with what we had available, to put together a good package. All of the redwood donated was manufactured here at Davenport and is certified material by the Forest Stewardship Council for well-managed forests."

With the materials donated, the Santa Cruz City Parks Department demolished the existing structures, then designed and constructed new beds and installed new paths.

"When she Soulek sets her mind to something, she is the gal to get it done," says Meta Rhodes, field supervisor for the city's Parks Department. In the 21 years Rhodes has been with the Parks Department, a project like this "is few and far between. It was refreshing to work with someone that would do the work of getting all the donations and see it through. Her patience is amazing."

From patio to plot

Soulek discovered patio gardening years ago while trying to keep her live-in mother occupied. After retiring from teaching, Soulek found her way to Santa Cruz and to the community gardens where she was able to start her first large-scale vegetable garden. Modestly she describes herself as "just one of the group at the garden."

"She is a shaker and a mover," says Ben Tinetti, longtime grower at the community gardens. "She is friendly and real good with her garden. She brings you up a peg. It is really inspiring all that she is able to do in the garden."

Over the years Soulek has tried to grow just about everything at least once including tomatoes, corn, horseradish, blueberries, asparagus, kohlrabi, beets and garlic. She dines on the majority of the harvest and shares the rest with others.

Happy memories

Stolen tools and neighborhood kids foraging tomatoes for fighting aren't the memories Soulek dwells on.

"Being out there working in the dirt I have the greatest peace of mind. It is a real spiritual experience. It just makes me feel good," explains Soulek.

Willow Lakos, Cabrillo College horticultural intern at The Cabrillo College Stroke and Acquired Disability Center, agrees.

A former student used to tell Lakos that "gardening is the cure for grumpiness," and Lakos has seen the effects plants can have.

"Some students come into the gardening class quiet and closed off and by the end they are smiling and chatty," she says. Perhaps that's the reason gardening is the No. 1 hobby in the United States according to the University of California at Davis.

Whether you are up to the challenge of a garden plot or just taking care of a few houseplants, gardening "is an activity that can be adapted for people at different levels of physical ability," says Jan Hiley, occupational therapist at Cabrillo's Stroke Center. All kinds of products are available to make access easy for all.

Warren Knox, owner of Knox Roofing and inventor of the Knox Garden Box, was inspired 35 years ago to create portable raised beds, after seeing his grandfather, who was in 80s and had back problems, struggling to garden.

"The demand has doubled each year for the last four years," says Knox.

People with walkers, wheelchairs and back problems are among his customers. Household utensils and simple modifications can create useful tools.

"Lightweight spoons or built up handles for easy gripping, or children's gardening tools" work well, says Hiley. "Gardening has always been a vital part of our program and environment, and I can't imagine the center without it. It is a meaningful activity that engages people."

Soulek is certainly proof of the benefits of a gardening life. Her new succulent bed is planted in the shape of a heart and "LOVE" is spelled out in jade plant leaves.

Thanks to a bumper crop of community support her garden gate remains open.

Abbie Blair, a member of the California Native Plant Society, has a degree in horticulture and has spent 25 years in plant and cut flower production, at one point operating a nursery in Gilroy. She lives on Mount Madonna and is waging hand to vine combat against the ivy and vinca displacing the native plants. Contact her at svreeken@santacruzwsentinel.com.