Louise Kitching loves preparing countless pots full of dirt and coconut fibre and popping in seeds, which grow into herbs that are used in restaurants, pubs, clubs and cafes around the region and across Sydney.
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Micro-herbs that garnish pub meals, herbs grown for supermarkets, shoots and sprouts, are harvested, grown, germinated and packed in the Disability Services Australia (DSA) premises in Braemar.
Staff with disabilities prepare the plants from start to finish, as part of the Farm Fresh initiative, which has been running for about a year in the Highlands.
It aims to give employees with disabilities the opportunity to learn different skills and partake in meaningful work.
"I just like doing the dirt," Louise said, who has been working with DSA for five years.
Employees prepare hundreds of herbs at a time, which are lined up in two shipping containers, which have been transformed into pest-free hydroponic, temperature-controlled facilities.
People can find herbs such as basil and parsley in IGA in Moss Vale and The Oaks Fruit Shop, while Mittagong RSL and Paste Thai in Mittagonguse use all types of herbs to add a burst of freshness to their meals.
Each pot is labelled and has a QR code, so people can scan them and learn about the growers.
"Our growers manage every step from planting the seeds to harvesting the plants - it's been amazing to see how involved and enthusiastic everyone is," said DSA Packaging Solutions general manager Stephen Price.
It is not the only way employees of all ages and abilities develop skills at DSA..
They also provide business solution, such as relabelling and repacking work, shrink wrapping for the retail network, third party logistics for e-commerce companies and even recycling to keep waste out of landfill!
"There's always packing to do," said Andy Kalnin, who has been working at DSA for almost 15 years and also learned to drive a forklift.
As a proud employee, he enjoys showing others the ropes and likes the atmosphere.
For Daniel White, the social enterprise has been a "reason to get out of bed", with the chance to gain skills and socialise with others.
"I try and keep as busy as possible, it helps the day to go quicker," he said.
He has been at DSA since 2020 and has had the chance to work up to full-time employment.
"If you have mental health or some sort of disability you don't know you can work, you can just try," he said.
"They will tell you, you're in control of what hours and days you do."
If you are someone with a disability and want to work at DSA, would like to stock herbs in your business or need help with any packaging solutions you can call 1300 372 121, or email customerconnections@dsa.org.au.
Learn more about Disability Services Australia at dsa.org.au.
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Briannah Devlin
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0439142204.
