Kale in the garden

Some of our plants gone to seed

Kale growing with nasturtiums.

More kale growing note;the soil covered after we spread our own compost on it with old carpet to keep weeds from growing.

Not many Cabbages left,also compost spread and soil covered to stop weed growing.

Hi all,

Bill & Dott took these photos of the kale growing in the community garden on sat. 14/11/09.

regards

Willie B.

LASC Conference

Community Gardens are radical spaces by Seoidín O’Sullivan

During the LASC conference I was re-reminded that community gardens are radical spaces through Alberta Carino Trujillo a Mixtec woman from Oaxaca. I spoke at a workshop about Dublin’s community gardens in which the term 'Food Sovereignty' emerged. ‘The Right to Produce’ explained Alberta ‘ …in South America the term 'Food Security' is associated with Food Aid and GMO crops so is not used by grass root organizations.’ Within community gardens we create and encourage 'Food Sovereignty'. A collective share a piece of land in Dublin’s inner city. We skill share, we grow our own food, we create a positive public space where trust is central. Community gardens provide a way for people to take responsibility for their localities and their means of food production. It gives marginalised and poorer communities access to fresh organic fruit and vegetables and learning on how to grow their own . This leads to empowerment. It provides agency. It’s a space that challenges the status quo and norms often based on fear and only concerned with profit. It’s a place where issues of ‘Food Sovereignty’ in Dublin can be directly addressed. A beautiful anecdote from Alberta during the workshop was that in her culture they do not just think of the next generation but they prepare and think about the next 6 generations of peoples. Now that is sustainability! The learning and solidarity that workshops like the one recently organised by LASC provide are invaluable.

Seed Saving in September

Roisín and her son at the picnic table (top picture). We discuss plans for a project to build a conservatory and water collection system in the community garden. Today we collected and packaged seeds. It was a beautiful warm sunny day.
Bridgette collects cabbages (bottom picture)to take to the sisters of charity local soup kitchen.

Enjoying the Bring and Share in the community garden.

Hi all,

On Saturday 5 Sept.09 the South Circular Road held a Harvest day gathering in our community garden.The day was sunny with abit of a breeze,we all brought food to the harvest and what was in season in the garden we brought to the table in a Bring and Share .Plenty of food was had by all,and a Big Thank You for those who brought along cooked food and special prepared mixtures, as it went down very well along with the wine and bubbly.

The day finished off with a small talk on seed saving,what to look out for when gathering seeds,and how to pot up strawberry runners into pots as a way to increase your supply of plants for the coming year.

Many of our fellow community interested friends chat and discuss the many different topics regarding community actives.

Thank you all for making it a wonderful day and for the pleasure of your company.

Regards

Willie B.

Keeping the garden in shape.

Garden shed been repaired by Jimmy.

Old computer been put to good use in the Hub studio car park in Dublin.

Hi,

A few photo`s on how the garden is doing ,most of the veg.is now fully grown and as it ripens the community garden helper`s have a share in the produce.Will soon be looking into what plans for next year.

Regards

Willie B.

sdcc Friarstown Allotments 25 July 09

Hi all,

I went to the open day in south dublin open day in friarstown allotment,I an enclosing some photo`s of the site.I have put all of the photo`s on a cd which I will bring down on saturday for people to take a look at.I also brought seeds for the community garden for next year,

they are as follows : Peas;Oregon Sugar Pod,Early Onward,Beans; French Bean Dwarf "Tender Green",French Bean Climbing"Blue Lake",Courette Golden Zucchini "Jemmer F1",Carrot; Autumn King,Early Nantes,Cabbage;Greyhound,Red Drumhead,Primo,Lettuce;Lobojoits Cos,Parsley;Extra Triple Curled,Tomato;Ailsa Craig.

Prize giving for best plants,ie Spuds,Cabbages

Good turn out for the allotments.

View of Dublin city from one section of allotments.

Surrounding lands adjoining allotments.

Regards

Willie B.

Video on the garden project

Car Park Cultivation