Resources

Here are some recommendations for first time allotmenteers:

BOOKS

• How to Plant Your Allotment – Caroline Foley
• Allotment Month by Month – Alan Buckingham
• The Great Vegetable Plot – Sarah Raven
• Vegetables for the Irish Garden – Klaus Laitenberger
• The Ivington Diaries – Monty Don – purely for inspiration this one.

BLOGS

• Observer Organic Allotment Blog: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/allotment
• Organic Growing Pains – by a well established allotment owner: http://organicgrowingpains.blogspot.com
• Dyke’s Edge Allotment in Blackpool – this chap is in his second year owing an allotment: http://dykesedge.blogspot.com
• Fionnuala Fallon writes a good vegetable growing column every Thursday in the Property section of the Irish Times. Available in the paper and online, and always worth a look.

SEEDS

These are all Irish suppliers of seeds:
• www.irishseedsavers.ie In Co. Clare, certified organic and they promote native and heritage varieties. They specialise in apple trees as well as seeds, and if you become a member you can also buy heritage seed potatoes. See their list of courses too.
• www.seedaholic.com In Co.Mayo. They have an organic section, a huge amount of varieties to choose from, they’re quite cheap and delivery is very quick.
• www.brownenvelopeseeds.com In Co. Cork, all seeds are organic.
• www.theorganiccentre.ie In Co. Leitrim. All organic seeds, and other useful things available in their online shop. They also run a large programme of courses.
• www.mrmiddleton.ie Mr Middleton is on Mary Street in Dublin, and they have an online shop. They sell a wide variety of seeds and everything else for your plot.

OTHER RESOURCES

• www.giyireland.com GIY Ireland – this is a nationwide movement to encourage people to grow their own food. A great website, loads of information, blogs etc.
• www.sonairte.ie Sonairte is one of Ireland’s oldest ecological education centres, in Co. Meath. They run lots of courses, there’s a vegetable garden and nature trail to explore, and the café is great.
• Fingal Co Co have water butts for sale at the Estuary Recycling Centre for only €40: http://www.fingalcoco.ie/Water/CustomerServices-
WaterDepartment/RainwaterButtsonSale
• Keep an eye on the free ad websites like gumtree, donedeal and adverts.ie for free/cheap manure.