“People used to come up to look at his garden because it was like a picture out of a magazine,” Deschenes said.

From that garden, she would can 800 quarts of vegetables, and freeze many more gallons, each year.

Fast forward 14 years. Deschenes has two artificial knees and no feeling in her hands or legs from complications from diabetes.

And she misses her garden.

“I can’t get down to tend (the garden) because of my knees and if I fall, someone has to come and pick me up. If I get down, I couldn’t get back up.”

Luckily, her sister, Celine Deveau, is handy.

“She’s like a man,” Deschenes said with a laugh.

Deschenes decided she wanted a garden and her youngest sister was going to help her achieve this dream. She gave Deveau dimensions for a raised garden and a little over two days later, she had her garden back.

“She did such a good job,” Deschenes said. “And it is so solid. You would not believe it!”

The 12-by-4-foot garden sits at waist height on a small patch of lawn next to her Lewiston home. Deschenes can walk all the way around it.

There is no bending involved in tend to it.

“I love it! I love it! It’s coming out so good!”

But Deveau is not just a carpenter.

“We’re the best of friends. We always have so much fun together.”