Czajka Care Group's residents always get their five a day

Residents at Czajka Care Group's Brookfield Care Home at Nab Wood and Beanlands Nursing Home in Cross Hills have no excuse for not getting their five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, after they began growing their own organic produce in their own grounds.

Large vegetable patches have been created at both homes, which are being used by residents and Czajka’s gardening team, to grow a wide range of vegetables, as well as some fruits and flowers. They also include paved pathways and raised planter style areas that are fully wheelchair accessible.

Konrad Czajka, managing director of Czajka Care Group, says: “Lots of our residents enjoy gardening and these vegetable patches give all our residents, including those in wheelchairs, the opportunity to plant and grow produce and flowers. Everything that grows in our grounds is fully organic and we are also cooking it in our kitchens, for our residents to enjoy.

“We always provide a lot of emphasis on mealtimes across our five homes, because it’s such an important, social and enjoyable part of our resident’s daily routines. We cater for the requirements of vegetarians, vegans, diabetics and those with religious diets, and regularly ask residents about their favourite meals so we can accommodate them within our menus.

“We therefore strive to offer the very best ingredients and use local suppliers wherever possible. All our meat comes from a butcher in Saltaire village and the additional fruit and vegetables that we need are supplied locally from Keighley, which helps us to maximise the traceability of our stock, and this is something we take great pride in. Being able to grow some of our own vegetables further enhances this and there’s no doubt residents get a wonderful sense of satisfaction knowing they’re eating food that they’ve helped to produce themselves.”