The Organic Centre re-launched its ‘Growing in Confidence’ Community Food Project in March 2007, with funding support from HSE West and the Department of Agriculture and Food. The project has now established 6 organic community gardens: In Sligo, at St. Michaels Family Life Centre and the Forthill Men’s Group at the Northside Community Centre; in Bundoran at Glor na Mora; in Riverstown at the Sligo Folk Park; in Rathcormac beside the old National School; and in Rossinver, at the Organic Centre.

Participants, under the guidance of an experienced organic gardening mentor, learn to grow their own organic vegetables, and with the help of trained tutors, also learn to prepare and cook healthy, fresh produce.

The project was initiated in 2004, in partnership with HSE West, and has involved parents managing a tight budget, asylum seekers, older people and people with disabilities. A comprehensive ‘How to’ manual for groups who wish to establish similar community garden projects was launched in Donegal Town, in July 2006, at a public event attended by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan

Community-based organic gardens not only help promote organic gardening skills and awareness of healthy eating, but also have a number of other benefits. There are health benefits from increased physical activity, and from consumption of fresh and affordable organic vegetables and fruit. Taking part in a community garden project is a very positive experience. It promotes social interaction and a great sense of shared achievement. It raises awareness of the environmental benefits of local organic food production, which generates fewer carbon emissions from ‘food miles’, and by using natural fertilizers and methods of weed and pest control, avoids the use of harmful chemicals. Generally, the project is a great encouragement to participants to continue growing organically for themselves, and in some cases, to consider growing commercially.