Harvesting a labour of love at Trevi Court aged care home

Essendon aged care residents have been getting their hands dirty to harvest their own fresh produce as part of a gardening programme.

The Bolton Clarke Trevi Court residents are taking part in the organisation’s annual Best in Grow gardening competition, open to residents from across its 88 homes. The competition encourages homes to grow and maintain gardens across a variety of categories in the hopes of winning the top prize.

Bolton Clarke Lifestyle Coordinator Eric says many of the residents bring an encyclopedic knowledge of gardening which they have shared with team members.

“We have a lovely vertical garden, so we are able to move it around depending on where the residents want to tend to it,” Eric said.

“The garden has been here for about five years now and we have tried growing anything and everything over that time, with residents showing us the way.

“Up to now, we have found that silverbeet grows the best and it’s a fantastic source of iron and fibre for residents, so that’s what we have focused on for this year’s competition.”

Now in its third year, the Best in Grow contest has been expanded to include a Paddock to Plate category encouraging homes to create a nutritious meal from the produce they have grown.

With the garden right on her doorstep, Trevi Court resident Maria says being able to continue her hobby of tending to the garden day and night has been therapeutic.

“I am in the garden watering it in the morning and evening – I’m very lucky to have the garden right next to my room,” Maria said.

“I had a big garden at my home before I moved into Trevi Court and I used to grow everything and cook it all.

“I’m used to growing tomatoes, broad beans, spinach, pears, citrus and lots of herbs – I’ve always found it very relaxing.”

Harvesting their silverbeet, residents worked with the team to prepare the vegetables to make cheese, silverbeet and potato filo parcels.