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 26th
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
