Community Garden News
Question: What tastes better than locally grown, fresh and organic food?
Answer: Fresh and organic food which you planted, nurtured and harvested yourself.
The old skills of growing food for one’s self and one’s family went very much out of fashion in recent decades, with the increased pace of life not leaving much time for such labours. However it is a hobby which is rapidly growing in popularity once again. This is great news for those involved, who get to enjoy the health benefits of fresh air and exercise, and the vitamins and minerals in the fresh food.
Community Gardens are springing up all over Ireland now. Serving not only the need for fresh and delicious produce but also providing space for activities which serve to bring people together, enhancing local community spirit.
On February 11th 2007 a band of dedicated individuals with enthusiasm, skills and an idea began the initial work of starting off Kinsale’s first Community Garden space. The site of the garden is in the Sean Hales Terraces estate just outside Kinsale town. When we arrived it looked more like an illegal dumping ground than a prospective productive garden. So we set about the recovery. By working with nature we cleared the weeds and overgrowth and converted it into compost. Thanks to funding from West Cork Leader a series of workshops were set-up and people came to learn about preparing the ground, laying mulches and constructing everything from cold frames, to raised beds and raising sheds. Pre-school children, parents, students, teachers, educated professionals and retired elders all came to work and learn together in a spirit of friendly co-operation. A calendar of events was advertised and we ran a series of sessions each Sunday on sowing seeds, salads, and winter veg to name a few.
The heart, soul and drive for the project initially came from ex-permaculture students Dan Benn and Tara de las Casas, who have recently left us to follow their dreams of adventure in West Africa. The baton has been passed on to two new co-ordinators, David Neavyn and Virginia Sterns, a host of new volunteers.
The Community Garden is a joyful place of learning, sharing, creativity and celebration of life. It has arisen out of concerns for the wellbeing of children born into a society which is now largely disconnected from the source of our sustenance. The vast majority of the food consumed in Ireland today comes from abroad on huge boats and even planes thanks to huge amounts of fossil fuels. But rising oil costs means rising food prices. The Community Garden is a space where people can relearn and practise the skills of growing food. Together we can foster a greater sense of community and independence, bringing nourishment to ourselves and the land we tend.
