GIY (Grow It Yourself), founded in 2009 by journalist Michael Kelly, when he wanted to grow Irish garlic, has become an important international organisation that encourages people  to grow some of the their own food, and provides them with advice and tools on how to do so.

With over 50,000 members, its groups, campaigns and online resources have really put the fun back into growing again. Local groups meet on a regular (usually monthly basis) and provide a chance for growers and prospective growers to share tips, seeds and even tools. Meetings often feature guest speakers and it is common for GIY groups to organise ‘meitheals’ where  the group will go to work for a day on a member’s garden or veg patch. Meetings in Monaghan are usually in the market house and Monaghan GIY can be contacted at giymonaghan@gmail.com  or you can visit their facebook page here. 

They run a number of campaigns and in the last two years they have funded 200 local food growing projects from school community gardens to allotments via their Get Ireland Growing Fund. Even if you can’t make it to meetings, their website is packed with tips and suggestions and gives a monthly and weekly ‘calendar’ of what to do in the garden.

Click here to check out the GIY website.