What would it be like if you could no longer garden in the ways that you used to be able to? Or didn’t think that you could garden anymore due to pain or physical discomfort? For many in our community, gardening in-ground and in traditional, low-to-the-ground raised beds is a challenge or simply not an option anymore.

As a result of food and medical apartheid – the intentional, systematic, and racist policies that create extensive barriers to accessing nutritious food and quality medical care – an epidemic of diet-related illnesses persist in East Knoxville leading to chronic health and mobility issues. Recognizing a need from our community, Rooted East began building accessible raised beds in the fall of 2024. These ADA compliant garden beds are raised three feet off the ground in a tabletop style that allows wheelchair access and does not require someone to bend, squat, or sit down to work in it.

An accessible three-foot high raised garden bed filled with young okra, beans, peppers, tomatoes, basil, watermelon, and lettuce.

It is clear just how important this kind of bed is to our community and how many folks can now begin or continue gardening because of it. Our gardeners needing accessible beds include elders, veterans, and people with disabilities, ranging anywhere from 40-90 years old. To date, we have installed 9 accessible raised garden beds and plan to install 10 more throughout this coming year. In our newest cohort of 10 home gardeners, 6 requested accessible beds. For 10 of our returning participants who are part of a new pilot program to help expand their gardens, 4 asked for 1 or more ADA beds. Most of these gardeners became part of the Rooted East family before we were able to offer accessible beds, and now they will finally get the opportunity to have a bed at home that accommodates them and makes garden work much easier.

I am 75 years young and suffer from several aging disabilities. The raised bed has allowed me to plant my garden without any physical discomfort.

In countless conversations, we’ve collected stories of our gardeners experiencing chronic health problems, undergoing surgeries, and/or living with limited mobility. They are so excited to be able to grow their own food and medicine in a way that does not cause them pain – as we all should be able to do. When meeting a new participant’s wife, she told us how her husband used to grow vegetables every year in the in-ground beds along their fenceline. However, in the past few years, he has been unable to do so due to his health and age-related disabilities that have kept him from the garden. They are both so eager to get back to doing what they love together.

Another one of our home gardeners recently told us, “I am so thankful to have a raised garden bed, the guidance in class participation, and the fun in being in the program. I am 75 years young and suffer from several aging disabilities. The raised bed has allowed me to plant my garden without any physical discomfort. I can’t wait for the harvest. I have tomatoes, basil, peppers, okra, and I think green beans. Also lettuce and watermelon. Hope I did not over crowd it.”

A photo of our contractor and volunteers building an accessible bed last fall. Our contractor and a volunteer are leaning over the corner of the 3-foot high bed under construction while our contractor is instructing a volunteer on where to place a block of wood.
A man and woman are standing in front of their new accessible bed. The man has a gray beard and is wearing sunglasses, an orange polo, and khakis. The woman is wearing a headwrap, sunglasses, and a blue dress.
A photo of a completed accessible raised garden bed full of soil with a white truck next to it.

Time and time again, we see how the accessible beds are truly life-changing for some of our gardeners. Not only have these participants expressed an immense gratitude for receiving an accessible bed, but we are incredibly grateful to include everyone in the Rooted East Home Garden Program and for their dedication to and enthusiasm for ending food apartheid in East Knoxville by growing their own food at home. As we continue to grow our organization and to fight for food justice and sovereignty, we hope to be able to build even more accessible ADA beds for our beloved community.