Popularity of Thomastown allotments is growing!

From silver berries to willow hedging for basket-making, a budding allotment community in Thomastown is embracing the joy of cultivation.

Located on a site looking over the town, the community allotments have brought new life to the former School of Food garden.
Now a new community is bringing activity to the plots and growing friendships as well as plenty fruit and vegetables.

The allotment group was first set up as a community project three years ago, after the closure of the School of Food. It had already been used to grow fruit and vegetables for the school and the allotmenteers have inherited some beautiful, stonewalled raised beds and their first poly-tunnel.

Olivia Goodwillie, chairperson of the allotments, said that with a lot of goodwill and some support from Leader the project got off, and into, the ground.

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As more members joined the group the area covered by allotment beds was expanded and they have just erected a second polytunnel.
The new polytunnel was supported by Kilkenny County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Community Recognition Fund. A grant also allowed for the installation of a watering system in the polytunnels, much to the appreciation of the growers.

Inside the new polytunnel the beds have just been put in. The group will be trying the ‘no dig’ approach in here. Two or three layers of cardboard have been put on top of the ground and then topped with manure and topsoil. Olivia explained the plan is to sow winter cover or ‘green manure’ over this to suppress weeds and bring life into the soil. It will be ready for planting in the spring.

The ‘no dig’ approach emulates the natural process of decomposition and the soil structure is not disturbed by being dug over, all of which leaves the soil’s ecosystem intact.
Trying to avoid the use of plastics, the paths between the beds in here will be covered with bark mulch.

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The group has had about 25 members a year, since the start, with a lot of new people joining and discovering their own love of growing.
Everything from tomatoes to marigolds, peppers to courgettes, peas, pumpkins and potatoes are grown at the allotments.
Beets, chard, brassicas and cucumbers are popular crops and the communal pumpkin bed is a favourite.

As autumn comes to the allotments the growers are starting to tidy up the spaces for winter, but still can be seen crops of kales and courgettes, and, in the polytunnel, heavy vines of tomatoes slowly ripening.
Around the perimeter of the allotments can be seen rows of willow and bountiful fruit trees.
The willows were planted by a local woman who has a small workshop on the site where she makes traditional baskets. She cuts and dries the thin branches for the craft.

Local man Pat Fitzgerald of Beotanics has planted a mix of unusual fruit trees along one side of the plots. Among them ‘silver berries’, a small, whitish berry that can be eaten fresh, and a beautiful red variety of apple that has flesh almost as red as its skin, the ‘red love’ apple.
Growing alongside them are blackberries and gooseberries.
The area also has pollinator-friendly beds.

The social aspect to being involved with the allotments in Thomastown is huge. The growers come from all ages, races, colours and abilities and are welcome to meet around the big tea and coffee table to chat, share tips and excess produce. Learning from each other is a natural process when working side-by-side with other allotmenteers, who share experience of years or just experience of a particular crop.

Pictures: Allotments in Thomastown - a growing community!

Complementary to the shared learning, KCETB tutor Monica Fleming holds classes for 10 weeks in the spring and summer. Sometimes there are also cooking classes to give ideas on how to use the vegetables you’ve grown.

The personalities and backgrounds of the growers can be reflected in what their allotments produce. For example, Olivia pointed out, some growers of Syrian background are cultivating a lot of herbs like parsley and mint which are used a lot in their traditional dishes.

If growing your own vegetables appeals to you there are allotments and polytunnel space available for cultivating next year. No experience needed! Olivia urges you to make contact and put your name down now, because come the spring you’ll be busy growing!
Allotment plots are very reasonable to rent, with a cost of just €25 a year for a 1 metre x 2.5 metre bed. Two square metres in the polytunnel is €40 for the year. To find out more, or to put your name down for an allotment, ring Bríd on 087-2570735.