April 2005

Edible garden for Community Residential Unit

There are no silver bells and cockle shells in the Nancy Street, Cheltenham, Community Residential Unit Garden of Opportunity.

There are, however, pumpkins, capsicums, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, chillis, peppers, onions, silver beet, corn, peas, eggplant, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, zucchini and wide variety of herbs.

The garden is nourished by a compost of horse and chook manure and recycled produce.

Nancy Street is home to Rebecca, James, Kelvin, Stephen and newcomer Jade, who have moderate to severe physical and intellectual disabilities.

House supervisor is Eileen Cook.

Piloting a Department of Human Services Community Inclusion project and providing sensory stimulation and a new activity, the Nancy Street house residents established the organic garden in memory of house-mate Robert who died last year.

As well as gardening tips, the local community helped through a donation from the Rotary club and tools from Total Tools.

As well as producing organic food for residents, the garden has attracted interest from a local café although nothing has been finalised yet.