Welcome

Hello Gardeners,

April so far has certainly been so cold and wet for us in the garden and the wind hasn't made any less of an impact here in NW Donegal! But as our garden finally starts to shake off the winter , Milo and I feel this is the perfect time to step back and look at the "bigger picture" of how our garden works as a whole ecosystem.

While the urge to "tidy up" can be strong as soon as the sun starts to peek its head out, we’re encouraging everyone to let the garden wake up slowly. Resist the temptation to do a spring clean just yet! Many of our most valuable beneficial insects—like ladybirds and solitary bees—are still tucked away in hollow stems and under old leaf litter.

Wait for the Warmth: Try to hold off on heavy clearing until we have consistent temperatures. If you must tidy, only do the "neat clean up" where it's totally necessary for sowing.

The "Weed" Wisdom: Before you pull those "weeds," check if they are actually early nectar sources for our bees. Dandelions might be a nuisance in a manicured lawn, but they are a vital first feast for a hungry pollinator this time of year. A slightly "messy" garden in April is a sign of a healthy, living ecosystem!

Thank You

First, a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our "Waking the Soil" workshop at the end of March. It was inspiring to see so many of you braving the elements to learn about hotbeds and early sowing of seeds. We do hope your hardy seeds are already starting to show their heads at home and for any of those who made a hot bed - the timing was right just before that cold spell !

April Workshop: The Social Garden

This month, we are moving away from the "lone plant" mentality and exploring how nature loves to work in teams. Our next workshop focuses on the beautiful permaculture principle: "Integrate Rather Than Segregate."

Nature rarely grows in straight, single-crop rows, and neither should we! In this session, we will look at : 

• Companion Planting Basics: Learning which plants are "best friends" (and which ones need their space).

• Creating Plant Guilds: Designing functional groups of plants—like the famous "Three Sisters"—that work together to fix nitrogen, provide shade, or deter pests and Apple tree Guilding where we design in support systems in our orchard. 

• Building Ecosystems: How to move away from monoculture rows toward a diverse, resilient, and self-supporting garden.

Date & Time: Saturday 25th May 11am – 2pm. Refreshments: Will be provided. Booking: Non Members Welcome but Members will need to apply your individual discount codes at checkout to claim your place!

Community Meditation

At OURganic Gardens

We will continue out monthly meditation sessions this with Caroline Burrow from Sea,Stone and Sky for some beautiful meditation in our lovely space at OURganic Gardens. Date for the next workshop will be There is no need to book for these sessions and we are looking forward to seeing you there.
You may wish to bring along with you a meditation cushion or yoga mat, and a blanket.

Summer Garden and Kitchen Workshops 

At OURganic Gardens

Get ready to reconnect with your food from seed to supper this summer!

We are thrilled to host a new series of Summer Garden & Kitchen Workshops at OURganic Gardens in Gortahork. Join Sian from Wild Fuschia Bakehouse and Joanne from OURganic Gardens for a unique, hands-on experience where you’ll learn to grow, care for, and cook seasonal delights.

Whether you're interested in the "Power of Herbs" on July 18th, perfecting fruit tarts on July 26th, exploring the wild hedgerows for foraging on August 8th, or celebrating Heritage Week on August 23rd, there is something for every palate.

Each workshop runs from 10am to 2pm and includes a delicious lunch, exclusive recipes, and a goodie bag to take home. Spaces are €85 per person—perfect for a summer Saturday or Sunday escape into nature!

To book simply log onto our website : https://www.ourganic-gardens.com/workshops-classes/summer-garden-kitchen-workshops or email ourganicgardensdonegal@gmail.com 

PLANT SHOP OPEN

Are you ready to get your own garden growing but not sure where to start?

Our new plant shop is officially open for the season! We are proud to offer organically certified plants and specially curated vegetable starter packs to give your food journey the best possible start. Whether you have a full polytunnel or just a few pots on a windowsill, we have hardy, healthy plants waiting for a new home.

By buying your plants from us, you’re getting varieties that are already acclimated to our local climate and grown from organic seed , in peat free compost and repurposed plant pots.

Shop Online: Browse our current availability and secure your plants through the Open Food Network: 👉 https://openfoodnetwork.ie/ourganic-gardens/shop

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