WHITE TWP.—Sporting blue safety gloves and a big smile, Fred Kulick of Washington Borough sorts out pods and sheaths for the new Snip-it's product line of fresh, living herbs from Edible Garden in White Township. The box is assembled and ready for the grocery store.
Abilities of Northwest Jersey is now offering greenhouse, hydroponic and food production training in its job sampling program for special needs adults through a partnership with Edible Garden, and its parent company Terra Tech Corp.
The training is an intense four-week program that involves preliminary food safety standards instruction, but even as Abilities clients learn they are getting paid.
"Warren County is all farms and greenhouses, and this is opening the doors for our guys," said Chief Development Officer Sue Zukoski.
As part of an Employment First grant through the US Department of Labor's office of disability employment, Abilities offers training in electronic recycling, screen printing, vinyl printing and now hydroponics.
"I have to get used to getting up early in the morning, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Everyone here is so nice," said Jesse Brown of Washington Borough.
At Edible Garden, clients in the program are privy to the technology-driven work space that utilizes a digitally controlled weather system, condensing boilers from Holland that work at a 15 percent higher efficiency than the industry standard and a "good bug" anti-pesticide system that introduces predatory bugs like wasps and ladybugs to their edible plants instead of using harmful chemicals.
"It's absolutely been a great fit," said Belvidere resident Joe Chiappetta, director of quality systems at Edible Garden, who aspired to bringing this kind of program to the farm since its launch last year.
Now he hopes to use the success with Abilities to create other partnerships at the company's Lincoln Park location, as well as its farms in Massachusetts, Florida and Indiana.
"The biggest thing with wanting to do that, is being able to provide the opportunity for individuals to get this industry experience, get the exposure to food safety systems, and then have the opportunity to go into this industry where they can really excel, and to be able to build that enthusiasm for programs like this," Chiappetta said.
As the first trial run comes to a close, Abilities clients are on a waiting list to add hydroponics to their skill set and they will soon offer it to their younger clients still in school.
"We've been looking at hydroponic training because we know it's been a successful training skill for people with special needs," Zukoski said.
With a positive attitude, Kulick said he doesn't mind the heat of the greenhouse, adding that the fan helps.
"I love it. I want to work here. I couldn't wait for this job sampling; I was all smiles," he said.
While Abilities serves more than 350 special needs individuals on a daily basis and places an average of 25 to 30 clients each year with jobs at local businesses, Zukoski said their employment specialists are often uncertain of a client's abilities when they come into the program.
"But giving them that opportunity, figuring out what supports they need to be successful and really building from that success can lead to discovery of what career placement suits them best and having many areas of job sampling for relevant and upcoming fields is of the utmost importance. It's really about connecting people to the right job," she said.
As Edible Garden nears an expansion into organic herb trials in August, the farm will be accepting applications from Abilities and the Wounded Warriors veteran employment program.
"Our guys are very dedicated and passionate about what they do," Zukoski said. "They're massive producers, they're doing an excellent job, they're committed and they love to work."
http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/20...dible.html
Abilities of Northwest Jersey is now offering greenhouse, hydroponic and food production training in its job sampling program for special needs adults through a partnership with Edible Garden, and its parent company Terra Tech Corp.
The training is an intense four-week program that involves preliminary food safety standards instruction, but even as Abilities clients learn they are getting paid.
"Warren County is all farms and greenhouses, and this is opening the doors for our guys," said Chief Development Officer Sue Zukoski.
As part of an Employment First grant through the US Department of Labor's office of disability employment, Abilities offers training in electronic recycling, screen printing, vinyl printing and now hydroponics.
"I have to get used to getting up early in the morning, but I'm really enjoying it so far. Everyone here is so nice," said Jesse Brown of Washington Borough.
At Edible Garden, clients in the program are privy to the technology-driven work space that utilizes a digitally controlled weather system, condensing boilers from Holland that work at a 15 percent higher efficiency than the industry standard and a "good bug" anti-pesticide system that introduces predatory bugs like wasps and ladybugs to their edible plants instead of using harmful chemicals.
"It's absolutely been a great fit," said Belvidere resident Joe Chiappetta, director of quality systems at Edible Garden, who aspired to bringing this kind of program to the farm since its launch last year.
Now he hopes to use the success with Abilities to create other partnerships at the company's Lincoln Park location, as well as its farms in Massachusetts, Florida and Indiana.
"The biggest thing with wanting to do that, is being able to provide the opportunity for individuals to get this industry experience, get the exposure to food safety systems, and then have the opportunity to go into this industry where they can really excel, and to be able to build that enthusiasm for programs like this," Chiappetta said.
As the first trial run comes to a close, Abilities clients are on a waiting list to add hydroponics to their skill set and they will soon offer it to their younger clients still in school.
"We've been looking at hydroponic training because we know it's been a successful training skill for people with special needs," Zukoski said.
With a positive attitude, Kulick said he doesn't mind the heat of the greenhouse, adding that the fan helps.
"I love it. I want to work here. I couldn't wait for this job sampling; I was all smiles," he said.
While Abilities serves more than 350 special needs individuals on a daily basis and places an average of 25 to 30 clients each year with jobs at local businesses, Zukoski said their employment specialists are often uncertain of a client's abilities when they come into the program.
"But giving them that opportunity, figuring out what supports they need to be successful and really building from that success can lead to discovery of what career placement suits them best and having many areas of job sampling for relevant and upcoming fields is of the utmost importance. It's really about connecting people to the right job," she said.
As Edible Garden nears an expansion into organic herb trials in August, the farm will be accepting applications from Abilities and the Wounded Warriors veteran employment program.
"Our guys are very dedicated and passionate about what they do," Zukoski said. "They're massive producers, they're doing an excellent job, they're committed and they love to work."
http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/20...dible.html
