Welcome to Trevor’s Kitchen Garden.
This is where I will post information and ideas on growing your own food, based mostly on my own experience. I’ve been growing my own food for some years now and find it a great source of pleasure, nourishing for body, mind and spirit.
This is not a political site, it’s just about growing your own food. My political site is at www.trevorsargent.ie.
This site is intended for beginners who want to grow their own food. I know that a great many people want to do this but just don’t know how to get started. I’ll keep things simple throughout; after all, growing food is a simple, natural activity. As well as creating a diary of what I’m doing in my own garden each week, I’ll include some video clips to show you just how easy it is.
So, thanks for visting Trevor’s Kitchen Garden. Come back soon so see how my garden grows. Better still, why not copy what I’m doing and we can compare results!
Trevor Sargent
1 February 2009
Posted by Conrad on April 5, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Hi Trevor,
Great site. Do you know where I can get about a couple of tons of organic manure, for a ‘no dig’ method of organic veg growing we want to try. We live in North Cork, nr macroom.
Posted by Trish Forde-Brennan on April 22, 2009 at 12:41 am
I held my first public meeting tonight on Allotments and Growing one’s own food.Well supported.We are setting up a new blogsite Limerick for Allotments with links to relevant organisations and people.Have identified new sites in Annacotty which will be leased out.There will be a mini bus service availabel to collect and return people to the site, an area set aside for UL personnel, am hoping to have an area set aside for schools to use.I have also liased with Lmk co.co and have gotten a commitment that they will research possible land availability.Have much more to tell -if you link up I will brief you.Am holding further meetings in Castletroy, Raheen and Dooradoyle.Want to bring people to view Fingal sites.
Posted by Paul J. Kiernan on April 29, 2009 at 7:39 am
Hi Trevor. Looking forward to seeing your pictures and videos. My wife and I have just started growing things in the past six months or so, but this will be our first summer season! We have a vine, tomato plants, strawberry plants, basil and coriander. We’re trying to grow olive trees too, but the seeds haven’t germinated yet (just planted on Sunday). Good luck!
Posted by Trevor on April 30, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Hi Paul,
Great to hear from you. I hope you and your wife’s example is followed by many others. As for the olive tree, I have one but to be honest, it needs heat. Let’s face it, Ireland is a fair hike away from the ‘Holy Land’! Mind you it is a curiosity to look at while I chew on delicious home grown plums which do thrive in our climate in a sunny sheltered location. Bon appetit.
Trevor
Posted by sharon lunney on May 7, 2009 at 8:47 am
Hi Trevor,
Looking forward to more updates, we’ve just taken on a private allotment in Wicklow and started to grow our own. We’ve a pretty packed programme and started to blog about it aswell. Maybe you’ll drop by to our blog http://www.plot103.blogspot.com, we could always do with some hints and tips as its our first allotment. Your videos are really useful! We’re growing a bit of everything and just seeing how it goes for our first year, what works and what doesn’t. Best of luck.
Posted by Klaus Laitenberger on June 19, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Dear Trevor,
I’m not sure if you remember me. I met you at The Organic Centre in Rossinver where I worked as the Head Gardener for many years. I have just published a book on vegetable growing for Irish conditions. We are planning to distribute it ourselves. I was wondering if you would know of any suitable or interested outlets for the book. If you e-mail me your postal address I will send you a complimentary copy.
Many thanks
Klaus
Posted by Trevor Sargent on June 21, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Dear Klaus,
Of course I remember you at the Organic Centre, Klaus. Sure you are a bit of a legend! Delighted to hear about your book on veg growing in Ireland. Places like Sonairte, the ecology centre in Laytown Co Meath, garden centres and bookshops for a start would be keen to stock such a book I’d say. My postal address is Trevor Sargent TD, Agriculture House, c/o Leinster House, Dublin 2.
Slán agus beannacht.
Trevor
Posted by Rita Egan on June 21, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Klaus, I’d certainly buy your book. I’m finding it difficult to find information specific to Irish growing. Please let me know when and where it’s available or if I can order from you directly. Rita
Posted by Savannah Madison on July 21, 2010 at 11:04 am
http://www.irishfarmersmarkets.ie/dalkey.html
Note: not involved with the FM; just letting you know.)
Posted by 2010 blog in review « Trevor's Kitchen Garden on January 4, 2011 at 10:13 am
[...] Welcome [...]
Posted by Cecil & Hannah Pearson Leopardstown Co Dublin on August 1, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Dear Trevor Wd like to know where to get cuttings of everlasting cabbage we live in Leopardstown and wonder where the nearest place wd be we had them and gave away to many and lost our plants. Thanking you, Cecil & Hannah Pearson
hpearsons@yahoo.co.uk
Posted by Trevor Sargent on August 2, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Hi Cecil and Hannah,
I have a spare cabbage plant in a pot. I could bring it to the Farmers’ Market in Balbriggan on Friday morning for collection. Email on trevor@balbriggan.net if this is a possibility.
Regards.
Trevor
Posted by Trevor Sargent on February 10, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Lorraine, a Chara,
Send on any invitation you wish to speak on veg growing, and we’ll see how full the diary is. Meanwhile the Grow it Yourself movement has mushroomed around the country. Founder Michael Kelly has a website or check out giyireland.com for advice and contacts.
Le meas glas,
Trevor
Posted by Trevor Sargent on April 21, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Hi Sonya,
Great to read about the diversity of crops you are growing. As for raspberry query, they are a little like mint which sends out underground runners and pops up wherever it can. This dissapates the plant’s energy until the new canes are established. So I’d be ruthless enough, if the new growth does not suit your needs, cut it back below ground. As a result, the remaining canes can consolidate their position and vigour. Regards to you and fellow allotmenteers – not forgetting robin!
Le meas,
Trevor
Posted by Trevor Sargent on April 21, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Hi Rita,
Wow, you’ve hit the ground running. That is a great array of produce you have got there. I have heard of the 3 sisters method, but have not come across an Irish variation as yet. It is really a form of companion planting and Irish crops do well together in certain combinations eg tomato and basil under glass or carrots and onions outside. Let me know if you find other ideas or examples.
Le meas,
Trevor
Posted by Trevor Sargent on September 9, 2010 at 3:56 pm
A Chahail, a Chara.
I wish you well with the SMC project. To sub for garden peat extraction is a good move. Use in my small patch might be a problem however as I am striving to get organic certification so inputs are carefully restricted. Seeds etc have to be certified organic before I can sow them. Nonetheless I’d be glad to discuss the bigger picture for SMC. My Swords clinic is Rivermall off Main Street at 10am on a Sat morning phone during week to check 01 8900 360.
Le meas glas.
Trevor
Posted by Trevor Sargent on May 12, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Dear Demelza,
My aim is to make growing food organically the most normal and ordinary activity. In this way all of us can be great and more to the point feed ourselves and our communities instead of succumbing to a conflict which inevitably will arise as populations expand, if we depend wholly on others to supply all our nutritional needs.
Best wishes,
Trevor