Active Living - Ballybane Organic Garden Project (Galway)

In 2006 participants from the local area developed an organic garden, learning about organic gardening processes in a supportive environment. The land was provided by Galway City Council. A gardener provided advice and information at each stage from preparing the land right through to harvesting. Foods grown include potatoes, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, scallions, coriander and runner beans.

The Ballybane Organic Garden Project was a joint project between Galway City Council, HSE West, RAPID, NUI Galway, the VEC and Ballybane Mervue CDP. Within the HSE West, Health Promotion Services coordinated the project and the Community Nutrition Department (HSE) and Home Management Department (HSE) provided nutritional education and cooking skills as part of the overall learning process. It was a successful partnership and had a positive impact on those involved and the local community of Ballybane.

Ballybane Harvest Day 2010

Ballybane Harvest Day 2009

Ballybane Harvest Day 2008

Ballybane Harvest Day 2007
Ballybane Community Organic Garden 'Harvest Day'

A celebration of the work of the participants in the Ballybane Community Organic Garden, located opposite Ballybane Church, took place on Thursday 6th September in unseasonable sunshine. The Mayor, Cllr Tom Costello, met with the participants of the project and sampled some of the food grown there. Residents form the local community and children from the local creche also joined in the celebrations.



"It was a great day with over 60 people coming along to take part in the celebrations and have a look at how the project is going" stated Paul Hayes, CDP project worker. "Many people expressed an interest in getting involved in the project next year which is fantastic. The garden has really been of huge benefit to the local community in Ballybane" added Hayes.

As part of the Harvest Day produce from the garden was on display with vegetable soup, salads and humus, being some of the food being tasted. In addition there was gardening tips from the participants and resident gardener Cait Curran, nutritional advice from Ruth Kilcawley, HSE West Community Nutrition Services and cooking advice from Ursula McMorrow, HSE West Home Management Services.



The project will continue to run over the winter on Thursday mornings between 10am - 12am. Anyone interested in becoming involved please contact Paul at 091 768308.

Ballybane Open Day
September 2006
Celebration of participants' work and the vegetables grown.

The project is currently recruiting new participants for this year's organic garden project. The gardener and CDP representative are currently working on the garden every second week preparing the area. This will shortly be increased to weekly, with the possibility of another time slot being offered to accommodate more people. A local school within the Westside area are also in the process of developing an organic garden based on the Ballybane model for the school children and the community in that area.



For more information contact
Paul Hayes, Ballybane/Mervue CDP 091 - 768305 ballybanemensproject@gmail.com
Fiona Donovan - Galway Healthy Cities 091 - 548518 or email: fiona.donovan@mailn.hse.ie

Opening Times

The garden is open:
Monday evening from 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Thursday morning between 10am and 12.30pm.

People are welcome to come visit and become involved in the project.

Limerick Food Partnership Visit Ballybane Organic Garden

A group of 10 people Limerick Food Partnership visited the Ballybane organic garden to learn from the project. "This is the second year of the project and it is going really well" stated Paul Hayes from Ballybane Community Development project. "It's great to share our experience with other agencies doing similar work across Ireland" he added. "The visit was a great opportunity to see the organic garden project in operation" stated Liz Slattery from Paul Partnership. "We hope to replicate this successful model in communities in Limerick".



(above left) Paul Hayes with people from Limerick Food Partnership and (above right) the visitors in the rain!

<< Return to Projects