Vince loves getting his hands dirty. He spends countless hours tending to the fruit and vegetables growing in the gardens of the front and back yards of his Support Independent Living accommodation in Bonnells Bay.
A participant with The Disability Trust, his love for gardening was the foundation for the GOOD Plan that he formulated with his key worker Susan.
The GOOD Plan is a person-centred planning framework and toolkit which provides staff at The Disability Trust with a range of tools and approaches to ensure our supports are firmly focused on helping participants achieve their goals.
Susan said Vince had found his niche as a gardener and the staff members were pleased with his dedication to growing fresh produce.
“Vince moved in here about three years ago and he likes gardening, so it was good for him to continue gardening here,” she said.
“He enjoys it a lot and it’s a good conversation that he likes to have with staff about his fruit and vegetables.
“His plan is to start selling it to staff and his family.”
Vince loves to rattle off his list of produce
“I have oranges, mandarins, blueberries, pears and apples. And I have plum, mulberry and passionfruit out the front,” he said. “Cucumbers, corn, lettuce, tomato.
“I water them morning, afternoon and in the evening.”
And the fruits of his labour never goes to waste.
He eats his own fruit and uses the vegetables to make a healthy salad.
Vince is living on his own for the first time in his life and Susan said his independence was growing quicker than his plants.
As well as tending to his gardens, Vince washes his car and helps to mow the lawns to keep his place looking neat and tidy.
“Vince having his own place and own garden is good for him,” Susan added.
“He has a lot of responsibilities with support to help him.”
