Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

We are a growing group of like-minded volunteers who, through science and dedication, aim to help the Native Irish Black Bee and Native Solitary Bees survive for generations to come. Ireland has a unique pure population of black honeybees that arrived here 9,000 years ago.   A study Dr. Jack Hassett. PHD., on the black bee has found that the Ireland’s black bee has the purest genetics in the whole of Europe. Ireland had vast forests of Oak Trees and the bee was a feature of this. This is not the case anymore and the IBCP was born to support the declining bee population. It designed and manufactured 20 “Bee Lodges” to provide shelter and breeding facilities for the black and solitary bee. They were amazed to see one lodge occupied within a week of installing it. These lodges were erected in large trees in Fota Wildlife Park and in Waterford. Wild bees are currently occupying these shelters and will propagate over winter and next year to increase the relevant populations.  

  This week we also focus  on Gaelscoil na Dúglaise  who received a Gold Medal for their School Garden. This is and continues to be a wonderful garden and is maturing nicely. The garden covers all the elements including Food Production, Biodiversity, Upcycling Colour and Art and is a fun learning place for all the children. We were very impressed by new wildflower meadow, the new raised beds, great use of the Irish language, co nsider more links to local heritage.    Keep up the great work.   Congratulations to all involved at  Gaelscoil na D úglaise   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

Celeriac Why Grow It? If you like the taste of celery, but find it a little cumbersome, then celeriac is the vegetable for you.  Celeriac has a similar flavour to celery, but is grown for its knobbly, turnip-shaped swollen stem.  As vegetables go, it’s ugly as sin, but don’t let that fool you – it tastes delicious. It’s very hardy and (unlike celery) stores extremely well.  A decent crop of celeriac can see you right through the winter months to late March.  Celeriac is also referred to as knob celery or turnip rooted celery. Sowing Grow celeriac as you would with celery, but because it stores well, there’s no need for succession sowing.  A single sowing in late March or early April is all that’s required.  Broadcast (sprinkle liberally) the seed in to a pot filled with compost.  As is the case with celery, celeriac seeds need light to germinate so do not cover the seed with compost. Place the pot somewhere warm (a sunny windowsill or a heating mat) – it’s slow to germinate so

Many of us have pocket size gardens but would still love to grow your own fruit, then you need to check the quality Dwarf and Miniature trees that will thrive in small garden and even large Pots. The Cornet Apple Trees: The Cornet Apple Tree  is perfect for any small garden, or Patio.  This miniature apple tree can be grown in a pot or in a bed. these are grown on a Dwarf rootstock and will grow to around the 6' mark.  The habit is small and open, they look just like a small apple tree, and the fruit is regular in size. These can be grown in open ground but they soil has to be rich. The rootstock are slow growing so the roots aren't able to go for large distances and source their own sustenance so if your growing in open ground ensure the local area around the tree (1mx1m0.5m) has been well enriched and is well nourished The coronet apple trees  will fruit in the first year which is very unusual for fruit trees. It is also extremely low maintenance and requires no pr