Organic Gardening Consultancy

Roisin Cotter

Roisin Cotter is an organic gardener, growing organic food for her family in her garden in County Louth since 2005. Inspired by her studies in Organic Horticulture at the Organic College in Drumcollogher, County Limerick, Roisin decided to set up a school garden in her son's National School, which became an 8-year growing project. Now a tutor with the Louth Meath Education and Training Board, Roisin teaches a Spring and Autumn Night Class in Growing Organically in O’Fiaich College in Dundalk, runs a Horticulture Module for TY students in St.Mary’s College in Dundalk and works in Community Education with community groups across County Louth. She runs workshops in organic growing from her home in Carrickarnon, using her garden as a demonstration of organic techniques and how to support and build biodiversity. ‘‘I have found growing food for myself and my family really fulfilling. I believe it is something we can all learn to do which can truly improve our overall wellbeing and health, as well as improving the health and biodiversity of our gardens and community spaces. My mission is to help others to start growing some of their own food in a simple and time effective way. I look forward to sharing my knowledge of organic growing with more people each year’’. Roisin Cotter For more information see www.roisinsgarden.com
Founder of Groundswell

Pamela Whitaker

Pamela Whitaker is the founder of Groundswell, an arts and environmental initiative which combines biodiversity and food growing with the art of gardening. She supports seasonal gatherings and the making of nature in community gardens as a form of creativity, promoting skills of resilience through horticulture. She has collaborated with Eileen Carter of Blackrock Park for many years developing a forest garden with Irish wild plants and trees, many offering sustenance as food or remedies. Celebrations of the growing season have featured in their collaboration, which have generated pride of place, skill sharing and experiential learning.
Designer and facilitator

Eimear McNally

Eimear is a designer and facilitator living in mid-Louth. She has been illustrating live at conferences and meetings (graphic recording) since 2010 and also works as a visual facilitator, bringing visual methods to group processes. She has a BA in Art from NCAD and an MSc in Sustainable Development from DIT Bolton Street. From 2004 Eimear has worked with groups in non-formal learning settings, using creative methods to explore global justice and sustainability issues. This work was with NGOs and community groups. Since embarking on a freelance visual facilitation career Eimear has worked with a wide variety of organisations from large tech companies to university research groups to public sector agencies. She is passionate about supporting projects that build stronger communities and regenerative ecological systems.
Farmer

Tony McGuinness

Tony McGuinness runs a modern farm with his brother Pat from their base in Richardstown, close to Ardee in Co. Louth. The farm has been in the family since the forties when their father Paddy purchased it from the McKeever family. In 2013 the brothers, along with their late brother Jack, concentrated on a full tillage programme primarily working with cereal type crops such as barley, wheat and oats. They also produce a potato programme on just over 100 acres of the overall farm. The brothers have always been forward thinking in their approach to the land, always willing to expand, develop and most importantly diversify. Tony came on board with the project from the beginning and is currently growing peas, broad beans, sunflower, Red & White Millet, Linseed and quinoa.

Gardens

Blackrock Community Garden

Blackrock Community Garden has been an evolving and developing space over the last number of years with a selection of gardens to be found in the village park area. From the biodiversity garden to the Sally (Herb) Garden, Sensory Garden and the Orchard, there is something for everyone. From humans to insects these gardens are welcoming and inviting and they are thriving thanks in no small part to the team of volunteers who continue to work and develop it. Working with local schools and the community is the cornerstone to the continued success of the garden space. 

Dundalk Inclusive Gardens (DIG)

Lara Schmidt, one of the founders of the DIG believes that community garden spaces bring people together, alleviates isolation and gives you a sense of reward and satisfaction.  Set up in recent years, this new community garden is being developed in an area at the back of the newly extended Creative Spark building at Clontygora in Muirhevnamor in Dundalk.  With the development of raised beds and a lot of hard work the DIG will trial grow some of the produce on the project including heritage peas, Ginger, Turmeric and Sweet Potato. 

Drogheda Allotment

Drogheda allotment has been going since 2011 on land owned by the council beside the graveyard at Newtownstalaban, started by a group of people interested in biodiversity and growing vegetables. Having faced issues around drainage and soil quality, the council provided measures a few years ago to drain the land and treat the area providing new plots. The community who keeps the allotment going love nothing more than taking the time to harvest the land, surrounding themselves with