From little seeds a big community project can grow in Bagenalstown
A new project, called LEAF, encouraging people to grow their own food was launched in Bagenalstown Community Garden recently
BAGENALSTOWN Community Garden was the idyllic setting for the launch of Carlow’s Literacy and Food Education Programme (LEAF). Aimed at empowering communities to grow their own food, the programme will see the distribution of seeds throughout the county via the library branch network.
When people have registered online, they will then gain access to a wide range of digital resources that will guide and encourage growing, as well as providing a network of support among growers throughout their localities. Two of the main goals of the initiative are to foster a sense of ‘food empathy’ in the community, whereby the understanding of food production and awareness of waste is increased, and, secondly, encouraging the growing of food at a local level, which is one of the UN’s sustainable development goals.
Bagenalstown Community Garden is a perfect example of what can be achieved when communities come together to grow their own food. At the launch, the benefits of Grow It Yourself (GIY) were outlined, along with the plans for the programme in the county’s libraries. To get involved in the project, members of the public are encouraged to drop into their local library branch at Tullow, Carlow, Bagenalstown or Borris, where they can pick up their free seeds and get started on their growing adventure.
LEAF is supported by the Government of Ireland, Sustainable Development Goals and Libraries Ireland.
