Gardener – My Inaccessible Life

This entry is an update on my previous post – Green Green Grass. In which I talk about the state of my garden and trying to get on the local scheme in my area to get it sorted.

I had a response today, to my re-inquiry of the issue from several days ago. Which basically gave me no update. Only that my request had been passed on to the relevant team. Which was the same update I received when I first made the enquiry to get on the scheme months ago.

I’m slightly frustrated that they didn’t give me any new information. But at least I have written proof that they have not forgotten about me I suppose.

I’m torn with what to do with my garden in the meantime honestly. I could probably get a few family members to sort out the garden this once, and trust me it needs doing. But I’m worried if I do that, they somehow may not think I need to be on the scheme if that makes sense.

Having others around you that could help you, can be scary when you need government provided help. It feels like a risk to take a one off, that may cost me something I need. This is something that I also have to be careful with the day to day help I receive from my sister. I have to have just the right amount of help from my sister, to ensure that my council provided care isn’t compromised in any way. Or that no one suggests that I need more care from official sources.

The concern that I could one day be placed in a care home, if the amount of care I need to receive officially costs the council to much, is very real to me. That is to say the care I receive and from where I receive it is a balance to say the least.

The help I receive is always a balance, as it seems like it may end up costing me my independence in some way. I hope that makes sense.

Anyway in terms of the garden, I’m no closer really. But I hope I find out where I stand soon with this.

So I have been trying since January to get on to a local scheme which allows gardens of the elderly and disabled in the area to be cut several times a year for a fixed fee. Taking care of my garden is something I am unable to do and is therefore in accessible to me. And in all honesty it is not something I can afford to pay for as often as it needs doing, for reasons alluded to in my previous post.

Though I do live with and near by family they themselves are unable to help keep on top of the garden, either due to there own family commitments, disability or age. So the reality is that I really need to get myself on the scheme, before my garden gets a lot worse.

Honestly I’m not liking how bad it is already. But I have now tried several times to get on this scheme, recontacting them and recontacting them, but I don’t seem to be getting anywhere. All I can really do is keep trying though.

Thinking about my garden, gardeners and this scheme, brings me to an interesting topic that I was discussing the other day with my dad. As I’m waiting on a shed to be delivered, but have not paid to have it moved to where it needs to be, as I did not want to pay extra. Neither me nor my sister are able to move it, and he was slightly concerned about what would happen to in the interim of a family friend coming to put it together.

We were talking about how some services that are advertised as extras to able bodied people, like gardeners, who usually come with the social (lack of) understanding that you could do your garden yourself, and are simply paying for the luxury of not having to. Are often not luxuries and are in fact necessities for disabled people.

Still they are expected to pay for the service as if it is a luxury. Sometimes those who need a service are able to get it cheaper than those who would see accessing it is a luxury, and perhaps this in recognition of the necessity of such support. As could said to be the case with gardening scheme. But this still leaves disabled people having to pay because they can’t do something for themselves.

This at the very least is something to think about.

My Inaccessible Life

Tag: Gardener

The Grass is still Green

Green Green Grass.