Three Galway Growers to Know (And Support)
Green Earth Organics
Kenneth and Jenny Keavey started Green Earth Organics’ box delivery scheme in 2006, farming on 40 acres of organically certified land. They also dedicate an additional ten acres to wildlife biodiversity, native woodland forestry and re-clover grassland.
“From the beginning, everything Jenny and I did was about growing food without chemicals. My background is in pharmaceuticals and the biotech industries for many years, so the idea of growing food that was sustainable, coupled with mainly being outdoors and wanting to eat whole foods, the vision for the business and our lives were built around that.”
“We wanted to bring our children up naturally, showing them where their food came from, how it was produced, and we wanted to do that in a way that kept the land and biodiversity safe. Basically, I thought the best way to do that was to grow vegetables and to grow them without chemicals.”
“The biggest challenge always is the cost. We have seen it in conventional food production right across the country, where the bottom line is supermarkets sell fruit and vegetables below the cost of production, and they frequently go back to the grower looking for cost savings. As a result, it is very difficult to subsist.”
People feel very passionate about local food production.
“But I think we have a very loyal and dedicated customer base, and we certainly wouldn’t be here without them. There is huge support out there and I think people feel very passionate about local food production. Something we have learned is you cannot talk about it too little, and that has really helped us as a farm and a business.”
greenearthorganics.ie | By Elle Gordon
An Garraí Glas
As passionate about educating others on the benefits of more sustainable growing as they are about growing themselves, Aonghus O Coistealbha and the team at An Garraí Glas regularly run tours, events and workshops aimed at helping others discover the benefits of growing your own from their base in Connemara, this year celebrating 10 years of serving the community.
Supplying some of the best restaurants in the city and county, as well as selected stores and selling directly from their roadside shop, they use practises that regenerate the land and have worked hard to build a sustainably business on a small amount of land.
@angarraiglas | By Nathalie Marquez Courtney
The Veggie Patch
At The Veggie Patch in Gortanumera, run by husband-and-wife team Damien and Nicola Kiely, vegetables are grown with organic methods and a no-dig approach. The latter means minimal structure and ecosystem disturbance, which improves soil life and makes nutrients more available to plants.
Instead of tilling or digging, no-dig gardeners add layers of organic matter, like compost, directly on top of existing soil and plants are then grown directly in this enriched top layer. This continues to break down and feed the soil beneath.
After years of serious ill-health, Nicola is a firm believer in the healing power of locally-grown, freshly-picked organic, no-dig plants, and Damien grows and picks to members’ orders.
The couple plan to double the patch in size, but that’s it. Their human-scale agriculture approach means individual plants receive individual care and attention, and this will continue. If only we could copy and paste the patch for every village in Ireland.
@the_veggie_patch_portumna | By Amanda Kavanagh
Delivered straight to your inbox every month.
