Meet the gardeners and their garden

Opal HealthCare has set a goal to have sustainable, productive kitchen gardens in each of their Care Communities by 2025.  By 2023 they had planting underway in 101 Care Communities and they even launched their inaugural Harvest Awards!  According to Opal HealthCare, residents have a healthier and more fulfilling life due to the sense of achievement that they gain from growing and sharing their own produce, the improvements in mood and social interaction, and the opportunities for physical activity.  The garden at the heart of Inverloch Coast Care Community (part of Opal HealthCare) provides a welcome opportunity for residents to continue what, for many, is their lifelong passion for growing food, while being outside enjoying the sunshine and green space.  With its central location, the garden provides a natural stopping-off point between residents’ rooms and shared areas such as lounges and dining rooms.  So, it’s an opportunity to socialise, to offer advice and to chat, even for residents who do not have green thumbs! 

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Come to see, learn and be inspired!

• Residents are supported in their gardening by the home’s Wellbeing Manager and other team members.  Some residents also enjoy spending time in the garden with family and friends who may be enlisted to help with tasks such as mulching.

• Raised garden beds at wheelchair height level, wide pathways and ramps are designed to allow residents to continue gardening as their abilities change.

• The central courtyard garden is a delightful sun trap.  A seating area with views onto a gently running stream and fern gully provides an opportunity for residents to relax outside after their gardening activities.

• Residents discuss with staff what vegetables they would like to grow, with the fresh food then contributing to what is cooked in the kitchen.  Flowers also have pride of place in the vegetable beds, helping to bring the bees needed for pollination.

• A selection of fruit trees dot the courtyard including lemons and feijoas.

 

Parking and accessibility

Please park in delivery/staff carpark that is behind and to the left of the the facility.  Entry is via the back gate from the staff carpark, rather than through the home.  This is a flat garden with wide concrete pathways that is fully accessible.

 

Address

​119 Cashin Street, Inverloch