A remarkable veggie garden is a labour of love for BaptistCare resident and his incredible green thumb

When Charlie Shorter finished up as the Vasse Primary School’s much-loved gardener 24 years ago, he never imagined he would come out of retirement at the age of 88 to undertake a new horticulture project.

But that’s exactly what the green-thumb octogenarian has done in growing a flourishing vegetable garden at BaptistCare William Carey Court Residential Care in Busselton.

Nurturing earthy beds brimming with tomatoes, capsicums, pumpkin, spring onions and herbs has not only been a way to create a farm to table experience for those who call William Carey Court home – it has been a way for Charlie to reimagine life after losing his beloved partner Edna last year.

Staff noticed Charlie’s passion for the gardens when they would take him for walks around the facility’s outdoor areas and began encouraging him to spend time among the flowers, shrubs and trees.

It inspired the nature-loving senior to think about establishing a vegie garden and with some trusty tools and the gift of a mobility scooter from his family he set to work.

16 months later and Charlie’s creation is now supplying the facility’s kitchen with fresh vegetables and flavourful herbs.

BaptistCare Therapy Partner Susan Moretti, who helps Charlie plant and grow his amazing produce, says the garden has become a cherished part of life at William Carey Court.

“Ann from the kitchen assists with purchasing some of the seedlings for the herb garden and Charlie’s lifelong friends and family help on the weekend to enhance the vegie garden.
“The residents also love to go outside and admire what is growing in the garden beds,” she said.

“I help with the weeding and cleaning, but Charlie is truly the professional.” 

Getting back to his gardening roots reminds Charlie of the Busselton property he and Edna shared for 50 years.

The couple had 300 chooks and would grow and sell strawberries, dwarf beans and eggs to ‘Pricey’, now known as the local IGA.

Charlie believes the key to his success is using the right fertiliser.

“Knowing which plants and herbs work well growing next to each other is also crucial,” he said.

“Dwarf beans are my favourite vegetable to plant; I would often get called Mr Bean due to the sheer amount that I would grow.”