By DYLAN BROWN
Staff members at The Disability Trust’s Garden Program have been busy at work with artistic projects to sell to the public.
And they have been inundated with orders for their clever crafty items.
One of their newest items is plaster of Paris pots, which come planted with a variety of succulents.
This somewhat wide array of different pots, such as turtle-shaped ones, and more traditional shapes, in several small to medium sizes, are being produced by the team members at Illawarra Vocational Services, through The Disability Trust.
Another project which has recently started is the creation of nesting boxes for birds made out of recycled pine wood.
IVS Operations Coordinator Shane Sandford put them for sale on Gumtree to get a gauge on interest for them.
And the team has been inundated with orders with some people wanting as many as 20-30 of the nesting boxes.
The bird boxes come in three varieties – Peach Face as well as small and large budgie varieties.
The IVS team has been looking to diversify the type of employment they offer to staff members and this new program is sparking plenty of interest.
The team members have come up with numerous types of art and craft items under the guidance of supervisors at their tranquil workshop setting at Mount View in Balgownie.
The Garden Group have also created a train set and a variety of other small to large wooden pieces of art, as well as some furniture like wooden benches.
These items will also be put up for sale.
The Trust has been operating for 50 years in the Illawarra and the IVS program has helped many people living with disability to find work and remain in meaningful employment.
