How would you like to grow your own food and share the experience with others in your family or with your friends? Well now you can, courtesy of your local library, and a new Grow it Forward programme.
In partnership with Healthy Ireland and Libraries Ireland, through the government’s Keep Well initiative, Mayo Library is giving away free seed packs and asking participants to share the experience with up to ten other people.
"I’ve been growing vegetables and plants for thirty years," says Mayo Library’s Grow it Forward ambassador Maureen Costello. "I know how satisfying it is to see things springing to life in the garden, and I’m delighted we in the library are able to support this great initiative.
"We’ve also got lots of great gardening magazines in our online library, so there’s plenty of advice for anyone who wants to get started."
Each pack includes seeds for beetroot, carrots, salad leaves, peas, and tomatoes; a guide to help grow them, and a postcard and gift tags to help share them.
Those who sign up will also receive regular e-mails with growing support, video clips and ideas for how to ‘grow it forward’ by passing on seeds, seedlings or produce in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
Mayo county librarian Austin Vaughan stated: "Libraries have long been associated with providing everyone with a great way to switch off and relax, and the Grow It Forward initiative is no different, really. We also have lots of ebooks about gardening and growing on our BorrowBox app – all you need is a library card number and PIN to get started."
So, budding GIYers, all that remains is to let you know how to claim a Grow it Forward pack. You can register at giy.ie/growitforward or contact Maureen Costello at Mayo Library.
Email her at [email protected] or phone the library at (094 ) 9047940. And check out some of the library’s great gardening ebooks on BorrowBox and the magazines (pictured ) on RBDigital.
