Donal Hickey: More allotments wanted — there's a 2-3 year waiting list in Cork
More and more people are discovering the unique satisfaction of putting their very own home-grown produce on the table, with some digging their early potatoes by now.
However, local authorities in many areas don't seem interested in providing allotments to people wishing to grow fruit and vegetables for themselves.
Community Gardens Ireland has written to Local Government Minister James Browne calling for a new survey of authorities to find out their position on the provision of allotments and community gardens.
Only 16 of 31 local authorities responded to a survey, carried out last year, with no local authority in Dublin completing it.
The intention was that the survey would form part of a broader campaign to encourage consumption of fresh local produce — in line with a commitment in the previous Programme for Government on cooperation between the authorities and local communities.
The current Programme for Government has no mention of community gardens, allotments or urban orchards, despite a campaign by Community Gardens Ireland.
Co-chairperson of Community Gardens Ireland, Dónal McCormack, said it is hugely disappointing that almost half of local authorities failed to complete a short survey.
Community Gardens Ireland — map of allotments across the country
A 2018 survey showed that eight local authorities did not provide any allotments, or community gardens, and that there were 2,500 allotments and community gardens in Ireland. This is one of the lowest levels in Europe. Denmark, with a similar population to ours, has 40,000 community growing spaces.
Cork City Council has allotments in Churchfield (53 spaces) and Ballincollig (84 spaces), but all available spaces are taken up and there's a two to three-year waiting period.
It's a similar situation in Rathcormac, County Cork, where the local community council is inviting people to join a waiting list, adding: 'Write to your TD and explain why more allotments should be made available."
Today community gardens were added to Irish law for the first time.
This important step follows years of discussions & presentations.
More work is needed but huge thanks to @noonan_malcolm @MarcKC_Green @stevensgreen1 & all TDs/Senators for the support.https://t.co/4un0KAQzB0 — Community Gardens Ireland (@CommunityGrdns) October 17, 2024
Identifying land for allotments is a reserved function of elected members of local authorities, so people interested should also lobby their local councillors.
Historically, there has been a surge in demand during wartime when food is scarce. Now, increasing numbers of people like to have a bit of ground to grow their own food, and a large amount of space is not needed.
Beginners often start with, say, lettuce, onions and potatoes. I've seen lettuce shoot up in window boxes; and beetroot in the middle of flowerbeds.
Some people engage in gardening for environmental reasons; others for healthy physical activity and enjoyment, while the ever-rising cost of food is another factor.
Allotment use in Britain is far more prevalent than here. Waiting lists across the Irish Sea for allotments have doubled in the last 12 years, with an average three-year wait.
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