This sub-committee of Sustainable Clonakilty was formed to support and encourage local food production. The group's 'Grow Your Own Food' initiative focuses on the growing of vegetables, herbs and fruit locally and according to organic and sustainable principles and a first community garden training programme has already been successfully set up in Pairc an Tobair in Rosscarbery.  In addition they are encouraging the development of allotments and Community Supported Agriculture projects.
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9 November 2009


This is a not for profit, national organisation and everyone interested in growing their own fruit and vegetables, whether just starting, or experienced, is very welcome to attend, share their experiences and learn from others. The plan is to meet monthly, listen to a speaker and exchange ideas, tips and maybe plants and produce. The first speaker will be well known author and gardening guru Joy Larkcom.

This organisation is entirely separate from Sustainable Clonakilty, but its aims of encouraging everyone to grow some of his or her own food line up with our own aims, so we support GIY and encourage you to do so too.


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29 October 2009

Steiner Kindergarten is overall winner of this year’s local

Community Garden Awards

Reporter: Liam Liao

On Saturday 17th October, the Steiner Kindergarten won the main prize at the inaugural Sustainable Clonakilty Local Food Group, Community Garden Awards.

There was close competition between the Steiner kindergarten, St Joseph’s National School, Scoil na mBuachailli , Gaelscoil Chloich na Gcoillte and Clonakilty Lodge.

The Community Garden Awards were held at the Clonakilty Methodist church hall, which was decorated with photographs, taken at various times throughout the summer, of the participants’ hard work. 

All participants received a vegetable growing calendar and all the schools received a book about growing vegetables throughout the school year.

‘I am re-inspired to go back to my school and double our efforts,’ enthused Serena Corcoran, a teacher at the Gaelscoil.

The overall winner, the Steiner Kindergarten, also received a mini plastic greenhouse and a mushroom growing kit donated by Hosfords Garden Centre. The Clonakilty Lodge received a special prize of a gardening book, donated by Kerrie Liao, for their good use of resources and minimal budget. A book donated by Joy Larkcom was given to Parc a Tobair in recognition of the inspiring growing course for beginners they ran this year. 

Jennifer Sleeman, who set up the Local Food Group was, ‘thrilled with how successful the Community Gardens project had been, and in particular the Parc A Tobair course, which benefited the participants in unexpected ways.’

The hall, with a pleasing number of children present, was buzzing with excitement and conversation before the announcements, and the convivial atmosphere continued afterwards with tea and delicious cakes.

March 2009
In order to support existing community gardening projects in Clonakilty as well as encourage new community-run, food-producing gardens to be set up, the 'Clonakilty Community Garden Awards' scheme was presented at a public meeting on Saturday, March 28 at 2pm in O’Donovan’s Hotel. Interested community groups and individuals are invited to attend and to participate in the initiative. Community gardens can be created and maintained by any group of local people, i.e. schools, colleges, hospitals and care facilities, residents’ associations and other community groups who come together to grow, harvest and enjoy their own produce.