Growing your own is best way for Nigel

Growing your own is best way for Nigel

9 January 2013

WHEN it comes to growing your own vegetables, one local man is helping to lead the way.

Nigel McKinney, who lives outside Kilcoo, has transformed a patch of rough ground at the rear of his home into a vegetable garden.

With the price of food continuing to rise and people shopping around for bargains, Nigel is tilling the land at his home to produce an array of superb fresh vegetables.

A member of the Grow It Yourself Ireland (GIY) organisation, green-fingered Nigel is hoping to launch a branch in South Down and the early signs are good.

A public meeting to discuss the issue held in Newcastle last November was well attended and more talks are planned next month to outline GIY’s vision for a healthier, more sustainable and more connected world where people are inspired and empowered to grow their own food.

In April last year, having moved to Kilcoo from Seaforde, Nigel created a number of planting beds and to date has grown rhubarb, chard, sprouts, runner beans, sweet corn, onions, parsley and celery.

Someone who has always grown little bit of salad, Nigel explained the opportunity to do something with the land outside his home was one he just couldn’t miss.

“I have always tried to grow little bits of salad, but when you have a bit of space as we have here, it seems a real pity not to put it to productive use,” he explained.

“I have always been interested in growing things and the move from Seaforde to our new home where we have a small holding gave me the chance to do a lot more.

“I wanted to put the land to productive use and not long after moving I came across the Grow It Yourself organisation which was founded in Waterford by Michael Kelly in 2009. It’s estimated there are 30,000 people involved in over 100 GIY groups across Ireland,” he continued.

Nigel explained GIY aims to connect like-minded people who have an interest in growing and hopes plans to establish a branch in South Down will ultimately prove successful.

“Increasing numbers of people are interested in growing their own produce. People also have a growing interest in where their food comes from and environmental issues, with GIY helping marry these together.

“There is also a healthy social interest in growing your own and having lots of space is not a prerequisite for doing so,” he continued.

Nigel said various salads can be grown in window boxes for example, suggesting that’s a great way for people to get involved in growing their own, watching and eating the fruits of their labour. He said there is nothing like seeing something grow from seed, to picking it, cooking and eating it.

“Growing your own is fun and more and more people are choosing to do this. It is also rewarding,” he added.

There is currently at least one Grow It Yourself group in every county in Ireland, with people coming together socially or online to share information and to learn from and support each other.

Nigel hopes it won’t be long before a group is established in South Down so people with common interests can come together, enjoy each other’s company and also swap ideas and techniques.

• For more information about Grow It Yourself Ireland contact Mick McEvoy on 07772 838227 or email mick@giyireland.com.