OURganic Gardens - Community gardens are growing in more ways than one !

The seasons pass quickly and sometimes it’s a challenge to keep up with them in the vegetable garden.  If you are interested in keeping the crops growing a bit longer on in getting the garden ready for next years harvest, you might find this day course of interest. 

Day Course Saturday 26^th September

Barrack Hill Park & Community Gardens in Carndonagh is delighted to be welcoming Organic Gardening Expert Klaus Laitenberger to Barrack Hill for a Gardening Workshop on Saturday 26th of September. 9:30am until 4pm. The workshop will be about growing in tunnels through the winter, setting your garden aside for the winter and planning for the following year. The cost of the day including lunch is €40 and open to everyone.

Booking can be done through the Barrack Hill Facebook page page or contacting Stephen McGirr on 0862745886 or Janine Strong

Growing OUR own in Donegal - community gardens are growing in more ways than one !

As I am on the subject of “What’s On” I was chatting to Joanne Butler, who promotes co-operative gardening in the home and Donegal through the OURganic Gardens. Joanne tells us of their visit to the Donegal Garden trail gardens.

Joanne tells us: “What started out like any normal dull and blustery day in Donegal last week ended in sunshine and delight as community gardeners from OURganic Gardens in North West Donegal took a tour of gardens on the Donegal Garden trail in Donegal town, Inver, Bruckless and Kilcar.” 

“Basking in the glory of plants from all over the world the gardeners got a true taste of the passion and enthusiasm behind the glorious gardens, meeting the owners and talking all things green and bountiful.” Joanne was delighted with the turnout to the event and I asked her for a bit more information about the idea behind OURganic Gardens.

OURganic Gardens

OURganic Gardens was started by Joanne in 3013 as a platform for setting up natural vegetable growing courses and promoting community gardens in Donegal.

“At its core OURganic Gardens is about co-operative gardening.” Joanne tells us. “It’s a place where people come together to exchange skills, knowledge and enthusiasm. This year alone the gardeners have not only planned the gardens and produced some lovely fresh vegetables but they have learnt how to grow without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.”

Since setting up OURganic Gardens Joanne has taken charge of seven community gardens in the local area, creating a network of well over 100 gardeners passing through the gates at various locations.  The community gardeners have the opportunity to attend biweekly classes from March through to October learning all there is to know about growing vegetables naturally. 

Hand On

Participants are encouraged to take a hands on approach getting to grips with the planting and digging or they can simply sit and listen to the advice given, by both Joanne and other experienced gardeners. 

Joanne then tells me just how varied the group activities are. “The group members have experimented with different feeding plans on vegetables such potatoes and carrots and have put crop rotation and companion planting into action.”

There is more though as Joanne continues. “Alongside that they have made numerous cakes, quiches, juices and even soups on site, and have gone on educational walks such as the Donegal Trail and showcased floral displays.

Environmental awareness is also something encouraged and promoted at the gardens as climate change most definitely takes hold, the gardeners learn to observe nature and become proactive , making a real difference in their local and global community.” 

Future Plans

Next year Joanne hopes the community gardens continue to grow in Donegal and for OURganic Gardens to create new links with other gardens in the county. 

"I would like to create an umbrella forum for seed swaps , knowledge barters , social enterprises and further special days out around the country , having just taken this group of people away  I can see first-hand how sharing experiences and exchanging tips encourages mental enrichment and wellbeing , the bringing together of like-minded people in an environment where they can not only grow vegetables but confidence, joy and many other things, is something really special and the gardeners currently involved in OURganic Gardens are more than happy to vouch for that "

If you would like more information about the OURganic group you can contact Joanne directly - Joanne.butler@me.com - 0861789971 – or through the website ourganicgardens.ie