Coolum Beach local Nathan Freney is the owner of Swallowtail Nursery and he is on a mission to create opportunities for people living with a disability through gardening.
Nathan lives with a disability called Asperger’s syndrome and has created workshops designed to teach individuals gardening skills.
He recently collaborated with the Coolum Community Garden to design wheelchair accessible wicking beds that will be part of the new Coolum Common project in Jack Morgan Park.
“It was a great opportunity for people like myself who are living with a disability, to get back into community garden’s and to get hands-on experience,” he said.
This project has highlighted the need for all gardens to be accessible for the entire community and Nathan is excited to continue designing for other projects within South East Queensland.
He is looking for community gardens or private garden spaces who are wanting to make their facilities accessible.
Nathan is qualified in both horticulture, land care and revegetation.
He provides training and workshops for people who are living with a disability and individuals who would like to learn more about horticulture.
This hands-on experience will open the doors for future employment opportunities and give the participants an immersive experience.
The workshops operate in a four-week block and run for two hours.
Studies have shown the benefits of being outside and connecting with nature.
Often people living with disabilities are overlooked and not given the opportunity to experience gardening.
Nathan is single-handedly changing this with his incredible workshops.
