Let's Grow Together in 2010 - Next event: 10th annual POTATO DAY Sunday 14th March 11am - 5pm
Growing your own organic food is becoming a healthy lifestyle choice for more and more people, while many others have started their own small scale organic production business. With fifteen years experience and a team of expert organic growers the Organic Centre Course Programme and Seed Catalogue has something to offer everyone. Hobby gardeners, school gardeners, complete beginners with tiny gardens and commercial producers will all find the training, support, tools and resources, including organically certified seeds to help them grow successfully.
View our courses and browse our catalogue online, or call 071 9854338 to order your free copy of our 2010 Course Programme and Seed Catalogue
Blacklion Community Garden, Co Cavan is managed by the Organic Centre as part of the International Fund for Ireland’s ‘Growing Together’ Programme 2008-2010
Organic on Course – 7 ideas for your gardening year
If we can learn anything from the cold frosty weather with ice and snow in recent weeks, it is: Be prepared! So looking forward to another growing season we should take time to prepare, plan our rotation, order our seeds, clean the pots and trays, oil the tools and read up the latest news on organic growing in books and magazines and maybe book a course at The Organic Centre.
We offer plenty of courses for the absolute beginner and many new and revised courses for the more experienced growers. We hope you find our new combined course programme and seed catalogue useful. Feedback so far has been very encouraging.
Here are 7 ideas for your new gardening year:
1.Gardening is addictive and as soon as the days get longer and the weather warmer and the garden centres and plant suppliers offer the latest new of this variety, that new seed and the must have plant this year, we go over board and buy or order, but are we prepared? So if you think you won’t be able to resist the latest trends, prepare your special bed now, 10sqm, for all the impulsive buys and new things you want to try out. You won’t regret it!
2.Spend a night in your garden and be woken by the first rays of the sun and the singing of the birds. I know we are living in Ireland, but I can assure you there will be those balmy nights or at least one in May or June.
3.Plan your lettuce supply for the summer, so you don’t have a gap or need to buy. 7 plants of various varieties, sown and planted every 3 weeks will be enough for a family of four.
4.Water as little as possible in the outside garden and you will save money (water charges are looming) and time. Mulch your beds, hoe in try weather and so keep evaporation down, have good soil that enables plants to send their roots deep down and find water. Try to save rainwater for all your garden needs.
5.Get your compost right and be a real pro. Collect green and brown materials separate and mix 2 to 1, once you have enough for a compost heap of 1m X 1m X 1m. Cover the top with plastic. Speed up the composting process by rebuilding the heap from top to bottom after 3 month.
6.Try to live one full week only on produce from the garden. The best time for that challenge is July or August. To keep an element of fun the following are allowed: bread, butter, spices, vinegar and oil.
7.Try this real challenge: Don’t do anything against aphids! I know it is hard to see them crawling all over your lettuces, beans or roses, but by observing this pest throughout the season, you will learn which plants really suffer, which varieties are worst affected or which predators will feast on them and help you. The healthier your plants are the least susceptible are they to pest and diseases. Good nutritious soil, feeding with compost, correct spacing between plants and rows, sunny position, the right companion plant will all lead to healthy and strong plants, that are less likely to be infested by aphids, who prefer weak and sickly plants. (Might not be a great challenge after all, because of the Big Freeze.)
THE ORGANIC CENTRE & GLENISK LAUNCH 'GROW YOUR OWN ORGANIC GARDEN'
The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim has joined forces with Glenisk, the family owned and operated organic dairy company to encourage Irish people to grow their own organic vegetables this summer.
Under the scheme, entitled 'Grow Your Own Organic Garden', Glenisk will give away ten thousand packs of organic vegetable seeds. The packs will be accompanied by expert sowing and growing advice from The Organic Centre, and recipe ideas.
Anyone wishing to avail of the free seed packs can apply at www.glenisk.com.
The scheme was launched in Dublin by Trevor Sargent, T.D., Minister of State for Food & Horticulture. Commenting on the initiative, he said: “This is an important opportunity for people to become involved in growing at least some of their own food and avoid the need for long distance transportation of imported fresh produce. I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the Glenisk organisation in fostering and encouraging the organic message. The technical expertise and commitment of the Organic Centre must also be applauded.”
Vincent Cleary, managing director, Glenisk said: “The recent revival in gardening and allotments makes our Grow Your Own campaign a timely initiative, and we hope that it will encourage people to think about their food and where it comes from. Local and organic are founding principles of our business - in this case, the seeds are organic and you can’t get more local than your back garden.”
Andy Hallewell joint manager of The Organic Centre, added:
“We want to send a message that with a little help, anyone can grow their own food. For more than 10 years we have developed a public service to help people to grow organically. We offer training courses and demonstration gardens for the enjoyment and benefit of the public. We are really excited about this joint venture with Glenisk and look forward to guiding people young and old through the very special experience of growing your own food.”
This year, the organic vegetable seeds available are French Beans in many different varieties, all suitable for sowing between May and July outdoors. Popular with organic growers, French Beans are productive, resistant to disease and delicious in salads, stews and stir-frys.
Further information is available at www.glenisk.com.
About Glenisk: Glenisk was established in 1987 by the Cleary family in Killeigh, Co Offaly and converted to organic production in 1995. Today, Glenisk continues to operate from Killeigh and is run by five of the Cleary siblings, producing organic yogurt, milks, butter and goats’ milk working with small organic farmers on both sides of the border, Glenisk procures 90% of the organic milk produced in Ireland and with strict adherence to fair trade practices, the Clearys pay farmers the highest milk premium in Ireland. Glenisk has received many awards, including Green Product of the Year at the 2008 Green Awards; Repak Award for Outstanding Practice 2008; Overall Winner, National Organic Awards 2008 and the Making a Difference Award at the 2007 Bord Bia Food & Drink Industry Awards.
We would like to thank all the staff, volunteers, supporters and friends who made Friends' Day such a great success. With the sun shining, children enjoying the new play area and everyone excited to learn more about organic gardening for themselves and their families we couldn't have asked for more! Thanks again for your ongoing support!
