A wise man once said all the problems of the world can be solved in a garden. He obviously never tried growing Brussels sprouts! Seriously though, if he meant the great feeling of togetherness and satisfaction to be obtained from working with others while tending plants you can understand his sentiment. And that’s what the community garden is all about: people working together and doing something positive.
The community garden has been running for almost two years now and we continue to receive new visitors and helpers. This is everybody’s garden where everyone is welcome. The garden is a place to learn and seek advice and helpful tips on growing your own food. You can come along just to watch or get stuck in to whatever activity is happening that day.
2008 was a busy year with some specifically themed days in February including a talk and demonstration on apple tree and fruit bush planting and care, looking at coldframes and how to set up a mini-greenhouse, planting early salads, a demonstration of an ingenious system for making compost and providing heat to the plants at the same time and a day building stone walls for flower and vegetable beds.
March saw the real start of spring and there was plenty of planting happening in the garden and visitors learned about growing new season potatoes and broad beans to name a few. As always there are people there to offer advice on growing food and to give a tour of the garden.
During the summer there was the usual struggle to keep weeds at bay and the grass short, particularly since many regular visitors were away on holiday or at various festivals. But despite the dreadful weather there were spuds, beans, broccoli, cale, shallots, onions, leeks, peas, artichokes, a virtual bouquet of flowers and three apple trees were planted.
In October work days started once again with Aimi Pinder and Oliver Pugh, both students of the Permaculture course at the College, taking over as co-ordinators. On 2nd November, the first Sunday back, we had a fantastic turn out and did lots of great work to clear the garden of weeds ready for winter mulching and a new timber border was laid around a bed. We also planted a beautiful new plum tree and our first crop of garlic. Over the winter we intend to improve the garden structure ready for spring sowing. There will be new paths and beds laid and a new sheltered seating area complete with chairs made from recycled pallets! Work days will continue to be every Sunday 1-4pm (weather permitting) all are welcome to come and share the garden and pick up some useful tips. Come spring we hope to be able to run some short courses for those wishing to learn or be inspired about organic veg growing so, if this is you, it would be great to see you down there.
Finally, a big thank you to Bandon coop for their kind donation of multi-purpose compost, to all the volunteers for their continued support, to Kinsale Town Council for funding and to those who organised and took part in the hugely successful table quiz in the Armada Bar which raised a shedload of dosh, apparently.
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