Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Scoil Mhuire Junior School This week we focus on Scoil Mhuire Junior School from Cork City.  The judges were very impressed  by  this great use of tiny space. Lots of colour,art and  flowers.  Congratulations to all involved at Scoil Mhuire Junior School. Enter for 2022/23 here

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Maria Assumpta Primary School This week we also focus on Maria Assumpta Primary School from Cork City. The judges were very impressed  by  this wonderful Garden, the s ensory element & outdoor classroom, l arge apple tree and conifer used for Christmas, reindeer sculptures & wildflower. Congratulations to all involved at Maria Assumpta Primary school. Enter for 2022/23 here

How to Make Fairy Doors Craft Stick Doors 1 Use seven craft sticks for one whole door.  Glue five of them together side by side. 2 Glue one craft stick across the top of the door.  Glue another one on the bottom. Cut off any excess. Glue these to what will be the back of the door, so that they won't be seen from the front. These cross bars strengthen the door and ensure that it stays held together. 3 Allow the glue to dry completely before decorating. 4 Paint the craft stick door.  You can use any color or a combination of colors. You could even paint a rainbow of colors. Allow to dry completely. 5 Use a bead for the door knob.  You could add a small bell too, for tinkling instead of knocking. Dollhouse miniature knockers can be purchased for adding to the door. 6 Decorate.  As preferred, use stickers, pens, flowers, glitter, etc., to make the door appear pretty and inviting.

Special Awards for the following elements Up-Cycling Upcycling in the garden helps lessen the amount of waste going into landfills. Upcycling helps reduce CO2 emissions by using old materials instead of new ones. Schools are encouraged to rethink, repair, refurbish along with reusing & recycling items e.g. Fairy Houses made from recycled materials, but don’t damage trees. Food Production Being able to grow food without pesticides and eat it straight from the garden is superior in every way to produce that is pumped full of additives, packed to prevent it deteriorating, transported and then sold as ‘fresh’. Schools are asked to grow in raised beds and containers, Plant Fruit Trees, Fruit Bushes, Practice Rotation, Weeding, Labelling, Use of Composting, Rain Water Harvesting, Wormeries etc. Biodiversity / Wildlife/ Native Flowers and Plants . It is now widely recognized that climate change and biodiversity are interconnected. Biodiversity is affected by climate change, with neg

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Scoil Chlochair  Mhuire   This week we focus on Scoil Chlochair Mhuire National School from East Cork . The judges were very impressed  by  this wonderful Garden, the huge amount of elements, lots of art  colour, great play area and composting. Congratulations to all involved at Scoil Chlochair Mhuire National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on School of Divine Child    This week we also focus on School of Divine Child National School from Cork City. The judges were very impressed  by the raised bed planted with vegetables, the Sunflower's and Strawberries  growing and Smoothie making. Congratulations to all involved at School of Divine Child National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

   Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Gaelscoil na Duglaise This week we focus on Gaelscoil na Duglaise  from Cork City.  The judges were very impressed  by this wonderful garden, the Wisteria arch, fruit bushes, Sensory  garden, Biodiversity knowledge (ladybirds) and Link to cooking. Congratulations to all involved at Gaelscoil na Duglaise. Enter for 2022/23 here

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Gaelscoil Carraig Ui Leighin This week we also focus on Gaelscoil Carraig Ui leighin  from West Cork. The judges were very impressed  by an unbelievable new garden, whole school involved, each class -  colour art, and upcycling. Congratulations to all involved at Gaelscoil Carraig Ui Leighin. Enter for 2022/23 here

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Carriganima  National school This week we focus on Carriganima National school from Cork City. The judges were very impressed by this new well laid out Garden, the raised beds, outdoor classroom and the plentiful use of colour. Congratulations to all involved at Carriganima National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Castlelyons  National school   This week we also focus on Castlelyons National school from East Cork. The judges were very impressed with the  wonderful garden that included so many elements. They liked the bird boxes and tables, the sunflower garden, the germination of pine cone seeds in the Art class, the new sensory garden, pumpkin garden and the various raised beds. Congratulations to all involved at Castlelyons National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

Designing a Garden theme of blue can be both ideal for both your Family and Also helping the bees A Blue  themed garden bed can create a cool soothing effect in your garden.  Adding a splash of silver or white though this bed or container can the   blue  in the flower pop right out. Also did you know that Bees have favourite Colours and Blue is one of the best. Bees can see and therefore attracted to blue and Violet Flowers Here are a few of Our Favourite blue flowering Plants that will come back year after year Geranium Johnson Blue  One of the most popular blue-flowered geraniums, 'Johnson's Blue' forms dense, spreading mounds of neatly cut leaves, topped with abundant clusters of large, saucer shaped sky Blue Flowers. Geraniums are versatile perennials that flower for several months through early summer and are at their best in July. One outstanding cultivar is Johnson Blue easy to grow with gives masses of mauve flowers which emerge through the vigorous an

  Cucumber Why Grow it? Cucumbers are the quintessential salad addition and once they have started cropping, you know its summer.  They are very prolific plants – a single plant can produce 30 cucumbers.  Nothing makes you feel like an award winning GIYer than growing an 18 inch cucumber! Sowing Cucumbers need heat to germinate so you must sow them in pots and keep them indoors until the ground warms up.   Sow from February  over a heated propagation mat.  Sow two seeds in a 8cm pot – place the seed on its side to prevent rotting. Sow at a depth of 2cm.  Remove the weakest seedling. Growing Seedlings will be ready to plant out about a month after sowing but delay if weather is poor – harden them off well by bringing them outdoors each day for a few hours.  You can plant cucumber plants in the polytunnel or greenhouse, or with some varieties you can sow (very successfully) outdoors.  Dig a hole of about 30cm wide and 30cm deep and fill it with well rotted compost – draw the soil back ov