Kids’ TV presenter, writer and first-time mum Muireann ní Chíobháin is learning that less is more when it comes to what babies really need, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

This Christmas remember that there is no such thing as cheap food.

THIS CHRISTMAS remember that there is no such thing as cheap food, says Clodagh Finn.

JB Dubois is Head Chef at GIY’s GROW HQ in Waterford City and his wife, Shona Dubois, is the Head of Operations with the organisation.

Cork GIY is holding a bring-and-share Harvest Day on Saturday, August 31, from 2pm-5pm in the Hydro Farm Allotments Tower/Blarney.

A FEW months after Caitriona Kelly’s father died, she got an overwhelming urge to grow tomatoes just as he had done.

Firms in Cork have been encouraged to practice so-called ‘social innovation’ by engaging in community projects and not only raising funds for good causes.

Fiann O Nualláin identifies the veggie varieties best suited to our climate.

Certainly, there were vegetarian restaurants in Ireland before Café Paradiso but you’d be hard-pressed to imagine any of them being accepted into the fine dining club at the upper end of the market all of 25 years ago when it first opened.

If there is a case to be made for GIY being one of Ireland’s most progressive food activist organisations, then The Menu is always happy to testify accordingly, especially taken as he is with this latest initiative, a social eating programme for primary schools, called Eat Together, that begins to address the crucial issue of food education in primary schools.

Here’s what’s going on in the world of Irish food... 

Food news with Joe McNamee

Any fundraising initiative supporting the ISPCC and Childline will always have The Menu’s support but one that introduces a spot of baking to the equation is especially commendable. 

The chance to have their own soup recipe to get selected for commercial production is on offer for teenagers who take up a challenge to grow their own vegetables.

The Menu has always found Castletownshend in West Cork an intriguing spot and relishes the prospect of an evening there for some fine dining courtesy of one of his most beloved chefs, Caitlin Ruth, of Deasy’s Harbour Bar & Restaurant.

One out of every seven children believes that fruit and vegetables originate in supermarkets, according to a new survey of attitudes to fresh food.

Delicious rendition of truly local food, writes Joe McNamee.

Keep up to date with events.

Not quite on the scale of the biblical Road to Damascus moment, Michael Kelly’s supermarket epiphany nonetheless sowed the seed for an idea that has blossomed into a €1.45m food initiative.

Fiann Ó Nualláin meets a food grower whose seed of an idea has blossomed into a wonderful movement.

Sharon Ní Chonchuir reports on ‘Give Peas a Chance’ — a competition that encourages workers to grow food at their desk and in turn get them to grow their own food at home

Discussions on the future of the food industry, featuring more than 30 experts, will form a new addition to next week’s Bloom Festival in Dublin thanks to the Grow It Yourself movement.

Bord Bia and GIY (Grow It Yourself) have announced details of a nationwide competition for potato growers.

The Irish Food Writers’ Guild announced the annual selection of the best of Irish producers and food heroes.

Ladysbridge and District Flower and Garden Club will have a stand at this weekend’s Ballymaloe Garden Festival, 9.30am-5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday, August 22/23.

Those beards will certainly need a liberal dousing in flame retardant as The Big Grill BBQ & Craft Beer Festival (Aug 13-16) returns once more to Dublin’s Herbert Park. 

Waterford-based GIY are joining forces with Bord Bia to search for Ireland’s favourite potato, a quest for inner ‘spudlove’, encouraging the growing, cooking and consumption of the National Tuber and participation in a ‘Spud-Off’, whereby local winners compete in a national competition at the GIY GROW festival, in Waterford, in mid-September.

BOYNE BECKONS

Mitchelstown Flower & Garden Club are presenting a Floral Demonstration with Teresa Collins on Thursday, April 30, in the Town Hall at 8pm. Everyone welcome.

A talk by Mary Angela Keane, historical geographer, on ‘Springtime in the Burren’ takes place on April 9 at Ashton School at 8pm.