On 28 January 2022, Good Sammy cut the ribbon to their brand new Sensory Garden located in the Canning Vale office.
The Sensory Garden is designed to stimulate all senses. When visitors enter the garden, they may see the vivid colours of blooming flowers, breathe in the aroma of fresh herbs, pick and taste the fruit straight off the trees, listen to the wind chimes and feel the breeze that flows freely through the open space. This inclusive and sensory atmosphere allows Participants, employees and visitors to interact, reflect, learn and unwind in a peaceful environment rooted in sustainability.
Importantly, the Sensory Garden will provide opportunities for Academy Participants to learn professional skills in horticulture and landscaping – helping them develop their confidence and experience when working towards their career goals.
Journey Program Manager, Nicole Mola, was guided by an enthusiastic group of Academy Participants, including Karen, Rhea, Megan, Troye and Jackie. Together, they created the vision and plans for a garden that would cater to the needs of people with disability, and contribute positively to their employment journey.
As the appointed team leader, Jackie introduced her pizza oven concept to the garden. Featuring bricks provided by Midland Brick, the Sensory Garden’s pizza oven brings opportunities for communal activities and learning experiences. It contributes to the interconnectivity of the entire workplace, adding yet another opportunity to experience food which has been made on-site.
With the generous grant from the Department of Communities, the Sensory Garden project was able to become a reality. Thanks to the grant, the bulk of the labour, materials, landscaping and installation was provided by local business, Gaia’s Organic Gardens. Together with Troye from the Academy team (who embraced this opportunity to use his landscaping skills), they helped the garden flourish and brought all concepts to life with ease.
The herbs, fruits and vegetables planted in the Sensory Garden were carefully selected by Canteen Manager, Fai, so that they can be used in a “farm-to-table” style within the Good Sammy canteen. The plants were chosen for their durability and affinity with the local environment, and have been enriched with the mulch provided by the City of Canning. Fai has specifically included an abundance of herbs, such as coriander, spring onion, parsley, chervil, rosemary, basil, red chilli, mint, and thyme. A broad selection that will further enhance the canteen’s menu using a sustainable approach.
To further assist in the development of the garden, Green Earth Enterprises eagerly and generously donated enough quality steel garden edging in order to cover the entire project; which was both a wonderful visual and safety improvement. Vouchers from Bunnings and Soils Ain’t Soils also allowed quality resources to be purchased. This local sponsorship makes the Sensory Garden not only part of Good Sammy, but a part of the community. It was truly a collaborative effort with many local businesses, staff and Participants to thank.
The Sensory Garden will continue to grow with the new pizza oven to be installed, a daybed to arrive and many more ideas and concepts to spring to life.
