Accessible Raised Garden Bed Design Plans

The Placer RCD has completed and released design and construction plans for an improved version of an accessible raised garden bed. This garden bed is designed to be longer lasting, improve the reach for those who use chairs, and is capable of recycling water and nutrients!

Garden beds, whether on the ground or slightly raised, are important and symbolic elements of a traditional garden site. Seniors and persons with disabilities, who otherwise find it difficult to garden within a grounded or raised bed, require a special kind of raised bed that better meets their needs. Many accessible raised beds, though helpful, often compromise accessibility for longevity or longevity for accessibility. However, thanks to an Urban Ag and Community Initiative Grant made available by the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Placer RCD (and Hamilton County SWCD) took up the challenge of creating a bed that is longer lasting and more accessible for seniors, those who use wheelchairs, or those who generally prefer standing to kneeling.

The primary goals in designing an accessible raised bed included:

To increase access to the bed for those in chairs and for those who prefer/benefit by standing.
To design a bed that most people, with basic tools and experience, can build.
To design a bed that doesn’t fail due to weight and decay/rotting over time while offering plenty of soil depth for roots.

Other advantages include its nutrient and water recycling capabilities. With a drain to prevent water logging, a bucket can be used to collect the water and all the nutrients in it, then reused to water the garden plants, thereby reducing nutrient loss over time.

The construction plans for the design include a 3D Sketchup model, an Excel document with a complete list of tools and parts, a construction document with instructions, and a complete video guide that you can follow along with.

An illustration of an accessible raided garden bed.

DISCLAIMER: Use of the plans is at your own risk. The Resource Conservation District (RCD) makes no promise and gives no guaranty or warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or functionality of the plans, or of the accessible raised bed identified within the plans. RCD does not assume responsibility for any impact that the use of the plans, or that construction of a raised bed pursuant to the plans may have on your or any third party’s site, existing buildings, or personal safety. In addition, RCD does not promise that the plans are free from defects, whether in design or construction, or that the plans comply with any local or state requirements.

Accessible Raised Garden Bed Plans and Instructions

Instructions and Guide

This is a PDF document of illustrations and dimensions. It compliments the video below.

Parts, Prices, and Tools List

This is a Microsoft Excel document that outlines each part, price, and tool needed to complete the project. This was last updated on 3/03/2025.

Sketchup Model

Sketchup is a 3D modeling software that allows you to build and view models in 3D on your computer. The online version of Sketchup is free with an account and requires uploading the file linked above (Sketchup Model). You can download a free Sketchup Model Viewer here.