With the support of Kilkenny LEADER Partnership (KLP), five community gardens across Co Kilkenny have been developed to provide a space for locals to enjoy the experience of gardening, share skills and even cultivate a few friendships along the way. The gardens have now formed a network and entered its next stage of development.
The inspiring gardens located in Urlingford, Piltown, Ferrybank, Callan and Goresbridge are each unique with dedicated people. KLP is focusing on providing training supports, by utilising the gardens as training locations. This support has been used to identify opportunities for self-employment, and as means to supplement the family income through the allotments.
Successful KLP supports have resulted in a number of community gardeners producing and selling foodstuffs such as jams and chutneys. The ingredients for these products come directly from the vegetables and fruit they’ve grown. These new entrepreneurs have branded, labelled and marketed their products at major national food events such as the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival.
KLP now aims to further expand the project by providing ongoing training in horticulture and food nutrition. Community gardening is about more than growing food for the community; it’s about growing the community itself.
