A range of exotic indoor and outdoor ornamental foliage plants, cacti and succulents, medical and aromatic plants — all grown by people with disabilities — are on display at the annual Garden Fair of the Association of People with Disability (APD).
The eight-day fair, which started at the organisation's Horticulture Training unit at Jeevanbimanagar here on Friday, also has on display a variety of saplings, designer pots and bonsai plants.
The fair was inaugurated by Friedrich Rahn, Deputy Consul-General, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, and his wife Mie Rahn, a volunteer with the APD. “The Garden Fair is our annual event and [for sale] are all varieties of garden and medicinal plants,” said Rajni Wadhwani, APD board member.
The Horticulture Training Centre started providing training in plant management for young people with disabilities in 1985. To help fund the centre's work, APD organises the garden fair every year, she said. Speaking after inaugurating the fair, Mr. Rahn said the facility was very impressive. “People with disability need not live their life in the shadows now. It is good that they learn how to cook and fend for themselves here, thereby making them independent,” he said.
The fair is on till November 19 between 9.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the APD Horticulture Training Programme, 9th B Main, LIC Colony, HAL 3rd Stage, Jeevanbimanagar. Ph.: 25288672. All the proceeds from the event will go towards funding the training, education, mobility aids and meals of the trainees.
