Donal Hickey: Here's how schools can sign up to get free growing packs
The SuperValu and GIY 'Let’s GROW' initiative enables school children across Ireland to grow their own food using free growing packs which will be distributed by GIY and SuperValu. Schools across the country can register online at supervaluletsgrow.ie to get a free classroom growing kit. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland
People will be catching up on weather-delayed gardening work this bank holiday. However, for a country with ideal growing conditions, we import an astonishingly large amount of our food.
Though there are signs that things are changing. New research shows one-third of families are growing food at home, with more than four-fifths saying they would like to do so.
A random survey by yours truly in a local supermarket, the other day, revealed carrots from Holland, apples from France, onions from Peru, with cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli from Spain.
Unsurprisingly then, Teagasc says there’s ‘significant potential’ for local production here, pointing out that 19% of potatoes, 95% of apples, 80% of onions, 37% of carrots, 89% of tomatoes, 50% of cabbage, 90% of lettuce and 53% of soft fruit are imported. Yet, many of these can be grown in Ireland.
A large number are glasshouse-produced, have to be transported long journeys and require scarce water resources in some countries. The question of emissions and carbon footprint arises, leading to the obvious conclusion that many such foods could be grown far more sustainably here.
Research quoted at the outset — published by SuperValu, in conjunction with GIY (Grow it Yourself) — found 80% of Irish children are consuming fruit and vegetables every day, with 63% achieving the recommended daily allowance.
Of families growing food at home, 88% are doing so in their gardens while a further 4% use their balcony.
Upwards of 55% of children have grown food in school, with an overwhelming majority of parents supporting this and saying learning to grow food is a life-skill all children should learn.
Anyone who grew up in mid-20th century Ireland will remember how the great majority of people then grew their own vegetables. While still in national school, it was my job to ‘set the garden’ at home every spring. For many years since then, however, that practice seemed to die away. So it’s encouraging to see it returning.
Research shows that nine out of 10 parents agree that children learning how to grow food at school is important to them, with 89% agreeing that growing food in school would help their child to make healthier food choices. A similar number of parents believe children are less likely to waste food if they understand where it comes from.
The SuperValu Let’s GROW programme will deliver a food-growing programme in primary schools, this year. More than 100,000 children have been reached to-date. Seeds, compost discs, knowledge guides and all the tools needed to grow food at school are delivered to primary classrooms nationwide for free.
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