Grow-your-own courses bloom around the country

Want to grow your own? Here’s where to learn

AS MOST urban farmers will know by now, the road to successful GYO is a mucky and occasionally bumpy one – so very rewarding when everything goes according to plan but oh-so-disappointing when it doesn’t.

Yet while some crop failures are beyond the control of even the most knowledgeable gardeners (professional OPW gardeners Brian Quinn and Meeda Downey, for instance, could do nothing but watch in disgust as the onions in the OPW’s walled kitchen garden succumbed to white rot last year), many others can be prevented.

All it needs is just a little know-how, which is why the expression “I’ll know better next time” is such a favourite catch-cry amongst gardeners.

So if you’re one of those urban farmers who loves getting your hands dirty but still sometimes feels like throwing in the trowel, consider getting a little professional help. This year, there’s a wealth of GYO courses and seminars being run around the country, from day-long to year-long, and on a wide range of related subjects. See below for just a taste of what’s out there.

The Organic Centre, Leitrim

THE ORGANIC Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim is running a huge variety of courses throughout the year aimed at both the experienced and the novice gardener, from the full-time FETAC-accredited level five certificate course in organic horticulture (which trains students in the skills of small scale, commercial organic vegetable and fruit production) to day/weekend courses in organic gardening for beginners.

The centre also holds courses in Co Wicklow (Carraig Dura, Glenealy) and Co Clare (Jim Cronin’s farm in Bridgetown).

Subjects covered include organic food growing for the complete beginner; the complete organic garden; plan your organic allotment now; natural beekeeping for the complete beginner; filling the plate with amazing salads; container growing; producing for a box scheme; how to become a community gardener; grow your own fruit; growing in polytunnels; poultry on your plot; learn how to lead the good life; working with horses and many others.

Prices vary, but start with €90 for a day course.

The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim

071-9854338 info@theorganiccentre hans@theorganiccentre.ie, theorganiccentre.ie

Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co Cork

DARINA ALLEN'S long-established and highly regarded Ballymaloe Cookery School needs no introduction – the short courses available this year include two by the much-respected UK gardener and author, Sarah Raven. Check out: how to grow year-round vegetables with Sarah Raven (March 13th, €185); and grow your own party or wedding with Sarah Raven (March 14th, €185). Ballymaloe Cookery School also offers day courses on how to keep a few chickens in the garden (March 6th, €185); a beginner's guide to beekeeping (March 13th, €185); and foraging with Darina Allen (September 25th, €185). Urban farmers will also find much to interest them in Darina's excellent new book, Forgotten Skills of Cooking, which also gives some valuable advice on foraging and vegetable growing.

Ballymaloe Cookery School Shanagarry, Co Cork

021-4646785 info@cookingisfun.ie cookingisfun.ie

RHSI at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

THE ROYAL Horticultural Society of Ireland (RHSI) is organising a seminar entitled Grow your own – a modern approach to fruit and veg(€65, March 6th) at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.

Speakers will include Helen Dillon on her experiences of urban farming, Klaus Laitenberger on organic vegetable growing and Peter Meleady, the OPW gardener in charge of the organic walled fruit and vegetable garden, on soft-fruit growing. Peter will give a garden tour.

RHSI, Cabinteely House, The Park, Cabinteely, D18

01-2353912 info@rhsi.ie, rhsi.ie

Jimi Blake Hunting Brook Gardens, Co Wicklow

IT'S HARD to believe that it's only eight years since Jimi Blake began to develop his exciting new gardens near Blessington in Co Wicklow. Hunting Brook Gardens have since been featured in many international gardening magazines and newspapers ( Gardens Illustrated, the English Garden, Gardener's World, the Sunday Times, and most recently, Country Life) while Jimi's gardening courses, many given by visiting experts, have featured on most gardeners' wish lists at some stage or another.

Since last year, allotments have also been available to rent (€280 a year) in the gardens. This year, Hunting Brook is offering urban farmers the following one-day courses: beginners vegetable growing with Jimi Blake (Feb 27th, March 13th or April 18th, €120); growing vegetables in polytunnels/ glasshouses with Klaus Laitenberger (March 21st, €120); and wild food foraging with Paul McCulla, (July 3rd, €120).

Jimi Blake, Hunting Brook, Lamb Hill, Blessington, Co Wicklow

087-2856601 jimi@huntingbrook.com, huntingbrook.com

Springmount Garden Centre, Gorey, Co Wexford

ONE OF the very best garden centres, Springmount Garden Centre is owned by brother-and-sister team, Richard and Elaine Warren, who last year were named "Best Specialist Centre" at Bord Bia's National Amenity Horticulture Awards. This spring, Springmount is running a series of one-day courses (€50, March 13th and 14th, April 10th and 11th) entitled a beginner's guide to growing your own with Geoff Stebbings, broadcaster, editor of Garden Answersmagazine and author of Growing Your Own Fruitand Veg for Dummies.

Elaine Warren, Springmount Nursery and Garden Centre, Ballycanew Road, Gorey, Co Wexford

053-9421368 elaine@springmount.ie springmount.ie

MORE COURSES

Gortbrack Organic Farm, Co Kerry

An award-winning centre for environmental education including organic school garden projects, community gardening projects and training for teachers.

Gortbrack Organic Farm, Ballyseedy, Tralee, Co Kerry 066-7137042, 087-9246968 gortbrackorg@gmail.com gortbrackorganicfarm.com

An tIonad Glas, The Organic College, Co Limerick

A small organic college (with gardens certified-organic by IOSGA) founded in 1991 near the village of Dromcollogher, Co Limerick. Runs a range of full-time, part-time and distance-learning courses in organic production as well as seminars, tours, workshops and night classes.

An tIonad Glas,The Organic College, Dromcollogher, Co Limerick

063-83604, organiccollege.com

oifig@organiccollege.com, courses@organiccollege.com

Kinvara Sustainable Living, Co Galway

NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisation run by Anna Jeffrey Gibson and Lynn O’Keefe-Lascar, which aims to encourage small-scale food production in the community through a variety of interesting evening and weekend courses.

Lynn O’Keefe Lascar, Knockakilleen, Doorus, Kinvara, Co Galway

091-638099, 087-7995939 kinvarasustainableliving@gmail.com anna.jeffreygibson@gmail.com

Greenside Up, Co Carlow

Recently established by Dee Sewell, Greenside Up gives individuals/community groups practical advice and information on growing fruit and vegetables in their own gardens or allotments through workshops/home visits.

Dee Sewell, Baunreagh, Old Leighlin, Co Carlow

087-6839172, 059-9723620 greensideup@eircom.net, greensideup.ie

The OPW’s Victorian walled kitchen garden is in the grounds of the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, beside the Phoenix Park Café and Ashtown Castle. The gardens are open daily from 10am to 4.30pm

Next week Urban Farmer in Property will cover cleaning/disinfecting glasshouses in preparation for sowing seed

Fionnuala Fallon is a garden designer and writer