Composting and organic gardening, 'what our grandparents did'
 |
| Louise Rankin, Paul Leighton, Nuala Madigan, Ilona Brede, and Martin Sheridan. |
"It's really just getting back to what our grandparents did," says Nuala Madigan from the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. "Every home then made their own compost, and by going back to that, it will save money and also help the environment."
Since she began talking about composting in 2006, Nuala has seen a growing interest in the subject. "If I asked a group of 30 people then how many were actually composting, I might get one or two hands. Now, many more people are willing to give it a go."
Nuala first provided a background to Ireland's peatlands and to the organisation she works with. Then she detailed some of the peat-free products available in garden centres and retail outlets. "It may be that these places have only one brand of peat-free material, so it's a case of consciously seeking that out and using it."
But the better option is to make compost, from any vegetable based garden and household waste. "It's free, it's real easy. Though it does take time, but if you do it, you get a fantastic compost in two years."
For Louise Rankin from Moyleabbey Organic Farm, organic is also the way that everybody farmed and worked in their gardens a couple of generations ago. "It's not a fantasy thing, it's natural and innate. It's the way to get the real taste of fruit and vegetables back. If you're old enough, you may remember the pleasure from home-grown vegetables. It's all about working with nature instead of against it."
Louise is originally from London, and when working with homeless services in the city she became involved in gardening projects. She decided she liked it, and then spent some time WWOOFing — working with the worldwide movement linking volunteers with organic farmers and growers — in her mother's home county of Mayo.
"That's where I learned about an organic horticulture apprenticeship with Liam Ryan of Moyleabbey Organic Farm. I completed that, and then I stayed on to work there."
She believes the methods used on an organic farm can easily be transposed to a private garden, or even smaller. "Even in a window-box it's about the simplest things. Like choosing which seeds to buy, that will help nature and biodiversity. There are ways to grow successfully without using pesticides and herbicides, and they are tried and tested."
Like Nuala, Louise too is finding an increasing interest amongst the general public about her subject. "There's a lot of media coverage which stimulates interest, but I think there are still gaps in people's knowledge, and a reliance on doing things the way they're used to. Change is all about educating, and getting across that this isn't a new-fangled thing."
Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy
