Welcome

Hello gardeners,

Welcome to your October update from the garden!

As the golden foliage deepens across the hills of Donegal and the evenings draw in, autumn is firmly with us here at OURganic Gardens. September was a wonderfully busy month filled with harvest celebrations, canning workshops, and preparing our soil for the colder seasons ahead.

October invites us into the heart of the autumn rhythm. It is a time for planting garlic, tucking the garden beds in with rich mulch of seaweed , and gathering the final harvests into storage. The garden is slowing its pace, but the earth is still full of life and learning.

We have a thoughtful selection of workshops and community gatherings planned for this month focused on seasonal wellbeing, soil health, and autumnal crafts. Grab a warm cup of  tea, browse the details below, and do get in touch if you have any questions.

We also have a few changes ahead for us here at the garden with Joanne taking on a new work role away from the garden during the week,  and the changes that this will bring will slowly develop over the next few months but we will evolve and continue to support our growing community in whatever way we can and we look forward to the next adventure together! 

Warmest wishes,

Joanne & Milo

Thank you

Earth Tenders meditation

We are delighted to host our monthly meditation gathering with Caroline Burrow from Sea, Stone and Sky for mindful grounding at OURganic Gardens. Join us this Saturday 17th October and get in touch if you would like to be added to our dedicated WhatsApp group.

All are welcome and you can let us know by simply clicking on the link below.
Please bring a warm blanket, a meditation cushion, or a yoga mat.

Preserving The Harvest at OURganic Gardens

Discover the final session of our Autumn programme masterclasses, offering deep dives into practical self-reliance and seasonal skills for the kitchen and garden!

Whether you want to refine your home fermentation skills or discover restorative herbal preparations for the colder months, this focused Saturday intensive workshop will provide invaluable hands-on guidance.

Workshop: Autumn Pickles and Chutneys

• Date: Saturday 17th October 2026 | 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Focus: Learn how to make vibrant, flavourful pickles and chutneys using the season’s abundant fruit and vegetables. We’ll cover essential preserving techniques, balancing spices and acidity, safe jar sterilisation, and storage so you can confidently stock your pantry for the months ahead.

• Investment: €40.00

October monthly workshop: Putting the garden to bed & winter preparation

As the growing season winds down, this month’s workshop explores the permaculture principle: "Obtain a yield & apply self-regulation".

Preparing the soil and tending the garden during late autumn sets the stage for a thriving spring. In this practical, hands-on session, we will discover how to protect soil microbiology, plant resilient cold-hardy crops, and feed the earth using organic mulches and cover crops.

In this hands-on workshop, we will explore:

• Garlic, shallots & overwintering crops: Selecting varieties, soil prep, and planting for strong root systems before the frost.

• Living soil & mulching: Creating protective seaweed blankets and adding compost to prevent winter leaching PLUS building a leaf mould area for over wintering next years mulch. 

The details:

• When: Saturday, 24th October 2026 | 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Location: OURganic Gardens, Gortahork, Co. Donegal (F92TV06)

• Investment: €15.00

• Booking: Everyone is welcome! Members, remember to enter your discount code at checkout.

About us

OURganic Gardens is an outdoor educational garden focused on food, wellbeing, biodiversity, holistic connections and community.

Using permaculture design principles and hands-on learning, we have been running onsite workshops since 2016 and offsite community garden classes since 2013!

We continue to run workshops on all things growing and restoring our home and grow food for participants to enjoy.

We also cultivate organically certified produce, seeds, and plants across the seasons.

We are based in Gortahork, Donegal, Ireland.

Open when running workshops or seasonally when available. Reach out by email at:

ourganicgardensdonegal@gmail.com

OUR Community • OUR Future • OUR Food

The team

Joanne Butler • OURganic Gardens

Role: Coordinator & facilitator

Milo Butler • OURganic Gardens

Role: Coordinator & facilitator

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