Two of the world’s most respected gardeners will be in Waterford on the September 10th and 11th 2011 to present at the GIY Gathering 2011. Internationally acclaimed Bob Flowerdew and Joy Larkcom will be sharing their extensive knowledge with GIYers over the two days. The GIY Gathering 2011 is the largest-ever get-together of GIYers and is open to all who are interested in growing their own food, held in association with the Waterford Harvest Festival.
Bob Flowerdew, has gardened organically for over 30 years and is Britain’s and Europe’s leading organic gardener. A regular panelist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, whose books include include Bob Flowerdew’s Complete Fruit Book, Bob Flowerdew’s Organic Bible, The No-Work Garden, The Gourmet Gardener, Going Organic and Grow Your Own, Eat Your Own. An engaging speaker and one not to miss, ‘Flowerdew’s enthusiasm is infectious’ Daily Telegraph. ‘He has a wealth of experience and his writing is straightforward and trustworthy. His enthusiasm for his subject is wonderful and his free-thinking nature refreshing’ BBC Gardens Illustrated
Joy Larkcom is credited with proving that vegetables growing is also a thing of beauty. Says Joy, “There’s something intrinsically satisfying in combining productivity with beauty – a gardening form of having your cake and eating it. ” One of Britain’s most respected vegetable garden makers and writers, her accolades include the Garden Writer of the Year award three times; Lifetime Achievement Award from the Garden Writers Guild in 2003, and the prestigious Veitch Memorial Medal for horticulture in 1993. Currently based in West Cork, her classic books reflect her world travels and pioneering work in vegetable growing, The Organic Salad Garden, Grow Your Own Vegetables, Oriental Vegetables (all published by Frances Lincoln) as well as Creative Vegetable Gardening – Joy expanded our vegetable palate, creating gardens that both look good and taste good. GIY is honoured to have Joy as a patron in the mission ‘to make home grown food the norm’.
GIY is a national organization, and the annual event is a once-a-year opportunity for all with an interest in growing more food to come together. Bring with you your tales of GIYing triumphs and (and those occasional mishaps which made you cry), yourrecipes for chutneys, your prize vegetables to show off, your sunblock and your umbrella!
Other speakers include Darina Allen (founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School and author), Ella McSweeney (Presenter of Ear to the Ground), Suzanne Campbell (Author of “Basket Case – What’s Happening to Ireland’s Food”), John McKenna (Bridgestone Guide and Irish Times writer), Duncan Stewart (Presenter of Eco Eye and About the House), Klaus Laitenberger (Author of “Vegetables for an Irish Climate”), Hans Wieland (The Organic Centre), Síle Nic Chonaonaigh (Presented of TG4’s Garrai Glas), Pat Whelan (author of “An Irish Butcher Shop”) and founder of GIY Michael Kelly (Author of “Tales from the Home Farm”), Kevin Sheridan ( Sheridan Cheese Mongers) and many more.
The GIY Gathering 2010, what will be happening over the two days:
Saturday
- Over 30 GIY workshops, talks and demos including keynote speakers and special guests in the following strands:
- The GIY Drilldown – in depth, focussed “how-to” sessions on growing vegetables led by some of Ireland’s leading vegetable growers
- GIY in the Community – panel discussions on allotments/community gardens, restaurant kitchen gardens, care farming and GIYing in Schools
- Talk Series -“Can GIY Save the World?”
- Food Demos with leading celebrity chefs
- GIY Trends – Expand your Mind and learn about new trends in GIYing
- The GIY Street Feast in Association with the Waterford Harvest Festival – An unmissable event on Saturday night that will bring 750 people together on the streets of Waterford to eat, greet and have a celebratory Harvest hoedown!
- GIY Annual Awards – GIYer of the Year, GIY Group of the Year
- GIY Networking PODs – involving vegetables and meeting people – leave the rest to us!
- GIY Local Champions Get-Together – sessions for the hard-working folk that run our groups around Ireland
- Picnic in the Park
- GIY ‘Demo’ Allotment in partnership with a local community group
Sunday
- The Great GIY Food Debate
- Urban Potting Shed on the Quays
- Photo Booth, Pictures with Your Plant
- GIY ‘Demo’ Allotment in partnership with a local community group
- GIY Forage – Sea and Soil
How much are tickets andwhere can I get them?
- Tickets for The Gathering (all events Saturday and Sunday, excluding the Street Feast) are €25 per person.
- Tickets for The GIY Street Feast are €28.50 per person.
- A combination ticket for The Gathering and the GIY Street Feast is €45.
- Tickets available end July at www.giyireland.com
Where can we find out more about the GIY Gathering?
There’s a link to the GIY Gathering activities on the home page of the GIY website at www.giyireland.com.
