Adventures in Public Speaking

We have a guest writer this week. Mary Reilly from Greenhill farm near Malin stepped into the spotlight recently at a gardening club meeting and found things to be very different that she imagined.

Adventures in public speaking

My name is Mary and I'm an organic farmer...
That's about as far as I've ever got in front of any group of people before my knees take on a life of their own and try to bring me down to floor level.
But when, on a stormy day in January 2010 I got a phone call from the secretary of Inishowen Gardening Club asking if I would be guest speaker at their January meeting 2011, I thought “ah, sure we’ll work something out by then. It's a whole year away.”

Fast forward one year...

The day before I'm due to give this talk that I've had a whole year to prepare for, what am I doing? Yep, frantically scrabbling through old notes and textbooks, even trawling the net to see if I can find some kind of straightforward presentation that I can offer to the group!

And it's written right there, on their annual flyer: Topic – growing organic vegetables. Guest speaker – Mary and John Reilly. I Know John has no intention of helping. No, it's up to me to do the public speaking – he'll chat all night when I've finished the nerve-racking part...

So, armed with a certain amount of trepidation, and a gin and tonic from Mickey McClure's bar, I head for the meeting in the Wesley Hall. I am fully expecting (from past experiences) to be met with a barrage of hippy related questions and comments, so I hasten to inform the surprisingly large group that the pioneers of organic principles were in fact, peers of the British Realm. Lady Eve Balfour and Lord Northbourne both wrote books highlighting the merits of natural farming methods and raising concerns over what was then (1940's) cutting edge technology, that is, poisons that killed everything in their path, and fertilisers based on wartime technology intended to create weapons of airborne destruction. These books provided the basis for the organic standards we have today.

This was a far cry from the peace loving, bearded hippy, dressed in faded denims and loose fitting t-shirts...then I realise that I've just described the man on my left, John! That broke the ice. We (I) press on.

Why be organic?
Lots of hands go up, people mutter about pesticides and chemicals. No sarcasm, no snide remarks about overpriced food. Goodness, these people are on my side! And they all seem to know lots already about organic growing. I'm waiting for the usual challenges: “what harm will a drop of baby bio do on my roses – sure I'm not going to eat them” and “I wouldn't want to eat a lettuce that had a slug in it” I waffle on waiting for the hammer to fall, but then I realise it won't, because most of the people here actually want to know more about gardening without chemicals. They're interested!

Settling in

So I get more comfortable, taking questions and having a laugh. And all along, one elderly lady in the front row is studying everything I do and say, and occasionally asks her friend to ask a question for her. Of course, as things become more relaxed, John joins in and soon I discover I can't get a word in edgeways. There's tea and a draw for plants, and I even won a small conifer.

Eventually I get to meet the elderly lady. She's introduced to me by her friend who tells me she's 90 plus and grew all her own veg last year in pots outside the back door! She promised to visit our place later in the year when things are growing well. I realise that I'll need to be up early that day, with answers as well as evidence!

Relaxing in McClure's with another GandT, I ponder the evening's events. I expected to be standing in front of a group of rose and lawn specialists defending organic growing and trying to convince people that their roses would be better off without the baby bio or the greenfly spray, and I could not have been more wrong. To be fair, if I'd been there 5 years ago things might have been different, but over the past few years, there has been a huge change in attitude among the public. Organic gardeners are admired rather than laughed at, and many people who wouldn't have dreamed of doing anything in the garden now have a couple of hens and are growing a few spuds for the dinner.

The Carndonagh Gardening Club are a forward looking bunch, eager to know more about new methods of growing, and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Tools and seeds

When Mary isn’t entertaining the crowds you will find her and her husband John very busy in their organic farm in Fawn, Malin tending to their seedlings, plugs and vegetables that will be for sale in the coming weeks and months as well as preparing for training courses coming in the summer. They have a large range of tools on stock at the moment to get you started in the garden and look out for their organic vegetable seeds. John makes small packets of seeds to suit your own garden. CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE

Gardening Courses at Milkwood Farm

Gardening Courses at Milkwood Farm,

Co. Leitrim

2011

Milkwood Farm is the home and garden of Klaus, Joanna and their four children with Benwiskin on one side and acres of wild bogland all around. With draining the land and composting the soil a garden can be given birth.

Details

Saturday 19th March: Beginner’s hands-on Gardening Course
A practical workshop on how to start your vegetable garden. This workshop will involve digging, sowing, planting, making beds, composting. It is aimed at the complete novices to vegetable gardening.


Saturday 30th April: Your Self-Sufficient Garden
Learn how to grow nearly all the food your family eats. Learn how to set up, prepare and plant your own organic vegetable garden. Practical demonstrations will be carried out so all participants get hands on ideas for their own gardens.

Saturday 14th May: Growing in Polytunnels/Greenhouses
A polytunnel or glasshouse extends the season for many crops, providing something to harvest all year round. It can also be used for tender vegetable crops, cut herbs and unusual tropical plants. This course will cover ground preparation, crop rotation, propagation, soil fertility management, pest and disease prevention and control.


Saturday 18th June: Grow Your Own Vegetables and Fruit
This course will take you through the season from garden to larder. Learn of the wide variety which you can grow on your doorstep. This will cover crop rotations, sowing plans and learn how it is possible to grow any vegetable and fruit that takes your fancy.

Saturday 17th September: Growing in Polytunnels/Greenhouses
Course details see Saturday 14th May.


All courses will be held at Milkwood Farm, Tawley, Co. Leitrim by Klaus Laitenberger former Head Gardener at the Organic Centre and Lissadell House.

All courses run from 10.30am – 4.00pm

Price €80 which includes coffee and scones on arrival and a home cooked organic lunch washed down with a glass of wine.

For more information and booking phone Joanna or Klaus at 071-9131855 or 087 7612251

SEE THE WEBSITE or e-mail us on: milkwood.farm@hotmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Complete Vegetable Gardening Course

8 full days - €600

This course is aimed at anybody who wants to learn how to grow healthy organic vegetables, salads, herbs and fruit for the home garden. It is suitable for the complete beginner as well as for the more advanced gardeners. During each day there will be a practical element where participants will learn what to do in their garden each month. There will also be theoretical and practical sessions on topics such as planning, rotation, soil fertility, composting, green manuring, organic pest, disease and weed control, growing in tunnels and greenhouses, fruit and herb growing

Day 1: 12th March

Day 2: 2nd April

Day 3: 7th May

Day 4: 11th June

Day 5: 2nd July

Day 6: 6th August

Day 7: 3rd September

Day 8: 1st October

Courses at other locations for gardening groups can also be organised. Please CONTACT US for more details

Barley Grow

Filling odd socks with barley can have its drawbacks.

Foot Warmers

During the cold spell we took positive action to keep warm. I got a bit fed up of looking at the oil level in the tank going down like the barometer mercury and layered up. I have a thick cardigan with a fluffy hood which I have worn since before December last and will probably be with me for some time yet (I do wash it occasionally). Another measure I took to keep my feet warm in bed was to fill old socks up with barley, we have plenty of odd ones so it gives them a use before going to odd sock heaven. I got the idea from a cuddly teddy bear filled with seeds that you put in the microwave for two minutes. Not wanting to do things by half I went to the Co-op and bought a 25 kg bag of barley animal feed for the job, we have big socks in our family.

Tie the Knot

I filled the socks up and tied them in a knot, one sock probably weighed in around the 1kg mark, maybe a bit more and there was plenty to go around to make a few. Some of the bought warmers have lavender in them to take away the smell of barley, but I quite liked the smell –it was comforting to a beer drinker, so I didn’t add any to the mix. The idea is that the moisture levels within the barley gets agitated in the microwave and stores the heat for long enough for us to get to sleep. Then like most hot water bottles they are pushed out of the bed as they lose heat. This method of warming things is all right until there is no moisture left.
But through over time and over use, the barley started to dry out. One night I heated the barley filled sock for 8 minutes in the microwave (it was very cold) and took myself to bed. During the next couple of hours I got restless and found that unlike most nights the bag wasn’t getting cooler, it was actually heating up. To the extent that I could no longer put my foot on it, I could also smell a crop burning. Thinking this was a bit strange I pulled back the covers, grabbing the sock. It was roasting and making strange crackling noises so I took it into the bathroom and ran it under the tap. There was an almighty hissing noise and steam filled the room. I had set the barley alight and the only thing to stop it, and the bed bursting into flames was the fact that there was no air circulating around the barley. I’ve resorted to the age old method of warming my feet now and move them to the other side of the bed. It’s always warmer.

Going spare

I have now found myself with about 20 kg of barley and although it would be tempting to turn the garden into a cash crop this year I did a bit of research and found that they are a bit of a superfood, apparently Greek athletes and Gladiators drank it’s juices and ate it’s sprouted seed. The seeds can be sprouted and eaten or grown to about 6 inches high then cut back and juiced.
Barley has high levels of copper, phosphorous, calcium, selenium, magnesium, lysine, vitamin B3 and 5,. It lowers cholesterol, gets rid of pesticides and insecticides that have been added fruit and vegetables. Barley boosts the immune system, rejuvenates cells, slowing down the aging process, eases inflammatory conditions like arthritis and builds bone strength as well as controlling eczema and rough skin. It’s really good news for me and it’s just as well, with 20kg of it to get through. I have a cup full soaking already to sprout. Just as a tip if you do cook dried beans or pulses, you need to soak them for 2 days to get rid of the natural anti-nutrients and growth inhibitors.

Could you be a Super Gardener?

I was contacted by a company making programmes for RTÉ this week to see if anyone in Inishowen has what it takes to design a great garden. I’m sure we do, but have you got the bottle to go in front of the cameras? Here’s what they have to say about the television series Super Garden’. (Last year’s series is being shown at the moment).
“Are you passionate about gardening? Is it your ambition to be a garden designer? Do you dream of winning a Gold Medal at Chelsea?
'Super Garden' is seeking 5 amateur garden designers to compete for the title of 'Super Gardener' in the new RTÉ series, to be broadcast in May 2011.

What you need
A passion for gardening is a must, as is creative flair, and the ability to design a garden to a budget and deadline. So if you feel you have what it takes, this is what you need to do.
Email supergarden@vipmg.tv and tell them briefly why you love garden design, and what your dream design would be. Where possible, please enclose basic plans or drawings. Only amateur garden designers are eligible to enter this competition. Filming will take place during the months of March and April 2011, so applicants must be available for filming during this time”. You can also check out their web page on the RTÉ website. Good luck.

What's Your Favourite Tool?

If I had a screwdriver with a motor when I was four, who knows what I would have taken to bits.

Favourite tool

If anyone was to ask me what my all time favourite tool was they might be surprised. I have raved on about particular tools recently, such as the hoes from Chillington and the small hand tool I picked up for 2 euro in Lidl that is perfect for getting creeping buttercup roots out. But it’s not those. My all time favourite tool was a penknife, given to me, in hindsight, rather irresponsibly by a friend of the family...for my fourth birthday. The four inch blade was finely forged Sheffield steel and the beautiful tortoiseshell handle shimmered in the sunlight as I took the tool out of its box.

That penknife was the best present ever I thought, as I made my way outside to see what I could carve up. I learnt a lot from that penknife. It showed me that you can’t cut backwards as the knife folded up and trapped your fingers. I learned that you could easily shave slithers of wood from the dining chair backs and also that parents were horrified when you ran down the stairs with the blade open chasing flies. I only managed to keep the penknife for a day, maybe that’s why it was my favourite tool, because it was forbidden for me to have it. It spent ten years in a secret place until ‘I was old enough to use it properly’. I was given a screwdriver instead and this remains number two in my list of favourite tools. The fun I had with that, taking the afore mentioned dining chairs to bits, seeing what happened when you took the screws out of the back of the television and poking it into electrical appliances. I didn’t have that present long either as I recall.

I’m reminiscing because I was recently talking to James Kilkelly from the GardenPlansIreland forum. He has started a weekly questionnaire for gardeners to fill in and I thought I would give it a go. After all I spent a happy year or two asking gardeners around Inishowen questions about their gardens when for the paper. I thought it was time I had a go to see how difficult it can be to think of answers.

Questions and Answers

Your favourite qualities in a garden.
To be practical and edible. I like the idea of incorporating a well to avoid water metering. I also like gardens to be versatile and adapt to different stages of people lives.
Your favourite garden.
Mapperley allotments in Nottingham. There are all nationalities together, some living on the site permanently. There are also organisations set up for people with mental health issues to undertake horticultural therapy.
Your favourite colour.
I like contrast in the garden so it depend on the backdrop. I tend to sway towards natural colours in the hedgerows.
Your favourite tree.
Hazel and willow are great and very useful. I will say the oak tree though. We live on the coast and these hardy trees survive anything, most of them grow sideways because of the wind.
Your favourite shrub.
Garrya elliptica (the silk tassel bush) is a great winter favourite. I suppose it’s because I have never managed to grow one here. For practicality though I would plant blackcurrants, they are easy to propagate and if you don’t eat the berries the birds will.
Your favourite flower.
As a kid it was the white trumpet bindweed flower. As a gardener it’s the cheerful spring flowers of crocus, snowdrops and daffodils. The promise of things to come.
If you could grow only one vegetable, which one would it be.
Curly Kale. It’s both hardy and versatile. You can eat it from autumn to late spring and I especially enjoy the small broccoli like florets.
If there was one plant that you never had to see again, which one would you consign to history?
Leylandii. They are a menace. They grow too quickly taking all of the nutrients out of the soil, no wildlife lives in them, they cut out neighbours light and they go bare on the bottom.
The main fault you come across in gardening/garden design.
Builders don’t put enough topsoil in gardens when a new house goes up. The poor owners spend years digging out rubbish.
Your least favourite part of gardening.
Digging. That’s why I don’t do it. I prefer to work with a ‘no dig’ policy. I add to the top of the soil so that the structure remains intact for the worms to do their magic.
If you were not involved in the gardening trade what would your ideal occupation be.
A presenter on Top Gear. -as long as I could still have time to garden as a hobby.
Your top gardening tip.
Incorporate vegetables into your garden, even if you don’t have vegetable beds. Grow them in the borders as you would ornamental plants.
Your life motto.
Work smart, not hard and leave something to do tomorrow.