Make the Organic Centre your one stop Organic garden shop for 2012 - with more than 300 varieties of ORGANIC seeds and 100 courses to choose from! Shop online now.....
SEED POTATOES, ONION AND GARLIC SETS AVAILABLE FROM MID FEBRUARY ONWARDS.
Additional Cheese Making course on 23rd and 24th June at Neantog, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo just announced. Book now online!
The complete organic garden course with Jim Cronin in Co. Clare now online. 5 short days with a long lasting effect!
"Skills for Life"- courses for your gardening year
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 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 try to develop a low maintenance garden. You won’t regret it!
New course: Garden set-up and useful structures March 4th
2.Self sufficiency is a great idea, but to come even close to produce all your vegetables all year round you need a specific and detailed plan for sowing, planting and harvesting and you need to start in February.
New course: Plan a year's harvest: start now on February 18th.
3.To save money as a gardener the best way is to improve your skills in sowing, composting, propagating and grafting.Propagating your own fruit trees does not only save you money it can become a very exciting and rewarding hobby.Propagating flowers and border plants can help reduce cost if you develop your own rockery.
New courses: Grafting workshop February 26th and Propagating perennials 6th October.
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 dry 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.
New course: Rainwater harvesting systems 10th June
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 months.
Courses: The Complete Organic Garden course starting 11th February and Organic Gardening for Beginners 3rd March
6.Grow only what you like to eat and work on your cooking skills. Prepare meals in the most nutritional way.
Courses: Soups, Dips and Breads 29th April, Cooking Without 12th May, Raw Food Un-'cooking' 16th June
7.Try something new: Make your own beer, felt your own scarf, make your own soap, learn about micro greens.
Happy growing and living from The Organic Centre Team!
GARDEN JOBS FOR DECEMBER:
Winter Wash for Fruit Trees: Over the years apple and pear trees can suffer from a buld up of pests such as wooly aphids or red spider mites. If so, they will benefit from an application of a plant oil based product called Winter Tree Wash. This should be applied on a warm dry day between October and December and again in late March. This product is available from our online store under Garden Sundries.
Sow Now; Sprouting seeds
Plant Now: Bare rooted fruit trees and bushes, bare rooted hedging, rhubarb.
Harvest Now: Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Celeriac, Chicory, Endive, Kohl Rabi, Leeks, Parsnips, Salsify, Scorzonera, Spinach, Swede, Turnip and Winter Lettuce.
Order Now: Seeds for 2012 season- available online!
If you want to get a head start you can buy our vegetable transplants, great selection at our shop and at Sligo Farmers Market Saturdays 9am -1pm.
Our courses can be booked online or over the phone.
Opening times 2012 11th February - 2nd December. Other times by appointment.
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
