Growing interest in gardening in Cornafean

It might come as a surprise to some who know Therese Johnston through the hugely successful Cornafean Community Garden or the Grow Together group she started, that she should be up for an environmental award. The lightness with which she wears her green credentials only enhances her status as an exemplar of how to be an effective advocate for environmentalism. She doesn’t preach it, she practices it.

“When I’m doing a talk I just want one person to go away and say: ‘That paper that comes in from the kids, I could shred that and put it in compost bins’; or ‘I could grow enough garlic in a year not to have to buy garlic’.

“You could do one thing, and that would be your one achievement in the year, and then you could add one the following year – or get your kids to add one. Even a window box of salad leaves – if you can get somebody to do one thing, that they might get their hands in there, and get green fingers and then they can’t stop.”

That “one person” has long been surpassed. Currently 136 members in the Grow Together Group are in daily contact helping each other to grow their own fruit, veg and flowers. Around 10 meet ups a year helps put faces to names.

“It’s a really good resource for anyone who is an established gardener or starting out. You find out about all the gardening meetings around the county and beyond and plant swaps.”

Meanwhile the Community Garden - created within Cornafean GAA grounds across just two hours - is truly a testament to community action.

She describes the delightful circular garden as a place where “everyone can meet, surrounded by nature”.

To join Grow Together, Whatsapp Therese on 087 6747 248.