Grants available for DIY food growing

Applications from local community and voluntary groups are now open for grants from the 'Get Ireland Growing' initiative which has a €75,000 fund available, writes Brian Byrne.

In partnership with the Grow it Yourself (GIY) movement, the Energia Get Ireland Growing Fund will be split across three categories ‘Sow', ‘Grow' and ‘Harvest' with awards ranging from €500 to €2,000. One very special group will receive a €5,000 grant for their project.

Together GIY and Energia will support at least 85 community food growing groups in 2018.

Applications must be in by 19 January 2018, and will be considered from any community group, school, NGO or Not for Profit, community garden or allotment group, GIY group, hospital, crèche, direct provision centre, men's shed or similar.

In the last five years, the initiative has provided €340,000 to groups all across the country.

Pictured is Karen O’Donohoe, GIY Community Manager; Amy O’Shaughnessy, Energia Sponsorship Manager; with Saoirse Harvey (4) and Nathan Cullen-Delsol (3) at the launch of the initiative.