Organic Gardening in Ireland

Organic Gardening

The ethos of organic gardening is shared by gardeners worldwide. Organic gardeners look to garden without resorting to the use of chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, using instead organic and sustainable alternatives.

The benefits of gardening organically are many. It is said that the fruit and vegetables grown in this manner are more healthy and nutritious than others. The organic gardener will have a wide range of organic produce that will complement organic products bought from shops.

The Irish organic gardener will produce many familiar fruit and vegetables. The climate is temperate, meaning that it is often mild and wet. Produce such as onions and potatoes grow well outside, whereas other fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers need to be grown under cover.

Finding Organic Gardening in Ireland

To find out more about organic gardening in Ireland, why not visit? Visiting local organic gardens and staying in organic accommodations can make an excellent holiday for someone interested in this lifestyle.

This type of holiday gives the visitor to Ireland the opportunity to see something a little different and to get away from the tourist trail, often getting back to the "real" Ireland.

The Organic Center

The Organic Center was set up in 1995 and is a nonprofit organization. It has the aim of providing information about organic gardening and sustainable living to the public. This includes many wide-ranging education and training activities.

The Organic Center is located on a 19-acre site in Rossinver, County Leitrim, Ireland, and additionally has outreach centers in County Clare and County Wicklow. The Organic Center has display gardens that are open to the public and a green café, making this a good place to visit for families.

In addition to the gardens, the Organic Center also offers a wide range of day courses. These range from organic gardening for beginners through to more unusual courses such as living willow sculpture, mushroom hunting, foraging for free and organic wine making.

The Organic Center also has an extensive seed catalog thatis available in a pdf format on its website. This document includes a range of seeds suitable for green manuring, which is an excellent organic way to improve soils.

Organic Accommodation

There are many organic hotels and guest houses, reflecting the increase in interest in the organic lifestyle.

• The Irish tourist information service can help book accommodations or plan visits. Many hotels and guest houses also have websites, making it possible to book direct.

• Rocky View Farmhouse - Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland. This organic farm guest house uses its own organic produce whenever possible. The guest house over looks Galway Bay, making it a perfect place for someone visiting this part of Ireland.

• Tir na Fiuise – Shannon, Southwest Ireland. A variety of self-catering cottages are based on this organic farm.

Useful Information About Visiting Ireland

B&B's

When visiting the UK and Ireland you will often see reference to Bed and Breakfast or B&B's. This type of accommodation extends from very small guest houses offering perhaps only a couple of rooms and basic facilities through to larger, more sophisticated accommodation offered in a pub. It is normal for B&B’s not to offer evening meals, although some do so it is worth checking. Even if the B&B does not offer evening meals, they will certainly be able to advise on suitable places to go.

Currency

The Euro is used in the Republic of Ireland and sterling is used in Northern Ireland. Sterling refers to the British Pound and is the same currency that is used in the UK. It is easy to change currencies in banks, hotels and exchange booths.

Learning More About Organic Gardening in Ireland

More information can be found at the following websites:

• Organic Matters – Ireland's organic magazine. The website offers interesting articles and information about how to subscribe.
• Soil Association - setting organic standards throughout the UK.