EARLIER this year BEST Employment acquired a block of land on the Warialda Road behind BEST Tree Tenders Nursery, which is now being utilised as a social activity to support local disadvantaged people.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The activity is being undertaken in conjunction with Connection, a local non-profit organisation auspiced by Inverell Shire Council, which provides services to people with a disability.
The BEST Food Garden was developed and is structured around a large vegetable garden established on the land.
Vegetables grown at the garden will be donated and delivered to disadvantaged community members in Inverell.
The project also provides training to a number of participants and involves a Horticulture Skills Training course funded under the Strategic Skills Program, where trainees learn ‘skills in demand’, such as irrigation, fencing, plant propagation and weed control while they contribute productively to the local community.
Tree Tenders nursery production manager, Danny Middleton, said trainees are involved in the whole process of sowing seed, seeing them germinate, planting out seedlings into their garden beds and tending the plants through to harvest.
“Participation in tending the gardens and growing food is a great activity teaching the clients life-skills and promoting healthy eating for themselves and their families.” Danny said.
“BEST Food Garden is a great activity that is inclusive of a diverse collection of community members and has a fantastic social benefit outcome.
“Connections will deliver the vegetables to selected local disadvantaged residents, providing their clients with another rewarding activity enabling them to engage in the local community.”
Danny said the garden has been made possible through the fantastic support of a number of community organisations, businesses and individuals including Bindaree Beef, Bruce and Julie-Ann Tomlinson, Connections Disability Service, Darrell Priest, Inverell Community Men’s Shed along with Sapphire City Steel and Pipe, Inverell Rural Supplies, Inverell High School and Tom Williams.
The project is well under way with participants in the training course having completed the ground preparation and now putting up a rabbit proof fence on the block. Irrigation lines are also being installed and mulch is being put down ready for the vegetables to be planted.
Anyone who would like to support BEST Food Garden by way of donation (especially mulch for the garden), please contact the nursery on 6722 4200.