Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY? Biodiversity  is basically a fancy word for nature. It was formed by merging together the two words ‘biological’ and ‘diversity’. It simply means the enormous variety of life on the planet. From the tiniest bacteria to the largest elephant... if it’s alive it’s part of biodiversity.                  Why is Biodiversity important? Aside from the obvious moral reasons for looking after biodiversity, q uite simply without it we would not be able to survive on Earth.  ​That’s kind of a big deal. H ere are seven reasons why: Food             Cleaning Recycling Wellbeing ​Materials Medicine Air School Projects ​How can you boost the biodiversity at your school? We have put together a collection of fun and simple actions you can take to help a wide variety of wildlife.  Wildflowers Birds Bees  Bugs Growing wildflowers  is probably one of the most beautiful biodiversity projects you can undertake at your school. This is not just great

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh  Naofa. This week we focus on Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa from Cork City.  The judges were very impressed by a  great first time entry, lots of upcycling and recycling and 6th class growing  tomatoes. Congratulations to all involved at Gaelscoil Teaghlaigh Naofa National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Gaelscoil an Chaislean  N.S This week we also focus on Gaelscoil an Chaislean  National School from South West Cork.  The judges were very impressed  by their great first time entry, the great variety of veg & herbs, links to other communities,  Sensory element to the garden, Sunflowers for Ukraine and Cooking of the produce. Congratulations to all involved at Gaelscoil an Chaislean National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

The Secret to Success: Ensure the soil is warm. Warm up your soil by covering it with black plastic a few weeks prior to planting. Those extra degrees will translate into earlier tomatoes. If you are planting in a pot or growbag, put a sheet of aeroboard/polystyrene underneath. This is a much warmer environment for the root system by creating a barrier between cold soil and roots (and also a great way to re-use aeroboard). An exception to the rule, tomatoes can be buried deeper than they come in the pot – all the way up to the first few leaves. Tomatoes are able to develop roots all along their stems. If you can't dig a deeper hole, simply dig a shallow tunnel and lay the plant sideways. It will straighten up and grow towards the light! Pinch and side shoot tomatoes regularly. Remove suckers that develop in the crotch joint of two branches (picture) Mulch your tomatoes after the soil has had a chance to warm up.  As tomatoes love heat. Mulching conserve

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Watergrasshill National School This week we focus on Watergrasshill N.S from North Cork .  The judges were  very impressed by the lots of colour, lots of upcycling and great use of arch. Congratulations to all involved in Watergrasshill National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Walterstown National School This week we also focus on Walterstown N.S from East Cork .  The judges were  very impressed by the huge improvement in different Areas. Rainwater haresting and Great upcycling.  Congratulations to all involved at Walterstown Nation School. Enter for 2022/23 here

Now is a great time to start setting seeds. Some seeds can be started in the class room and then brought out when the temperature rises. You will need A mixture of seeds: lettuces, radish, tomatoes, cucumber, chives to name a few Seed and Cutting Compost Seed trays or toilet roll inserts Lollipop sticks or labels to Label your salads ( we love to put the date you set the seeds on the Label so you will easily know how the seeds are progressing) Seeds to be started indoors Peas (sow March to June, also October in tunnel, ready to harvest in 10 weeks). Sunflowers (sow in March to May) Pumpkins (sow April to June, ready to harvest in 24 weeks). Tomatoes (sow February to March, ready to harvest in 20 weeks). Marigolds (ideal for Companion Planting with Tomatoes, if you plant near tomatoes it will reply the white fly, therefor healthier Tomatoes) Spinach (sow March to August, ready to harvest in 7-14 weeks). Mixed salads

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.  

  Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Dripsey  N.S This week we focus on Dripsey  National School from West Cork.  The judges were very impressed  by  the huge amount of work in turning the space into a garden, the fairy tree, h erb garden in the tyres and the great 1st time entry. Congratulations to all involved at Dripsey National School. Enter for 2022/23 here

Cork School Garden 2022 focus on Derrinagree  N.S This week we also focus on Derrinagree  National School from North Cork.  The judges were very impressed  by a  great first time entry, work done to create the front garden, the use of  established tree area and the wildflower meadows. Congratulations to all involved at Derrinagree National School. Enter for 2022/23 here  

 Muintir na Tire Launch Cork School Garden Competition. DSC 4467  Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. Danny Collins and    deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Damian Boylan with Pupils Jonah Canty Eliza Canty and Nathan Canty representing    Ballymoney National School Ballineen Overall County winners in 2022 and    Finn Ó Baolghill and John Ó Broin representing Gaelscoil na Duglaise City overall City winners in 2022 at the Launch of the Cork School Garden Competition 2023 There was an air of spring in Atkins Garden World as The Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. Danny Collins and the deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Damian Boylan joined together to launch the Cork Schools Garden Competition 2023 Sponsored by Cork County and Cork City Councils and organised by Cork County Muintir na Tíre, the competition has a PRIZE FUND of over €5,000. The Annual Cork School Garden Competition is open to all primary schools in Cork city and county who have a school garden or are in the process of develop