If I had to single out one of the very best things to emerge from the economic wreckage of the late noughties, it would be that, as a nation, we rediscovered the great pleasures and rich rewards of gardening.
The proof is in the success of organisations such as GIY (Grow It Yourself) and the many thriving allotment sites, productive school gardens and community-based projects that have taken root around the country, with such a wonderfully transformative effect upon the lives of so many. In a recessionary world that sometimes felt grey and full of gloom, these gardens brought colour, joy and life.
But now, with the introduction of water charges, I worry that this might all be about to change.
Take, as an example, Holy Trinity School in Donaghmede on Dublin's northside, whose inspirational, award-winning organic school garden features in Bord Bia's Organic Gardening for Primary Schools instructional DVD.
Its dynamic principal, Jerry Grogan, says water charges have impacted heavily on the way in which the school community can maintain its garden – a leafy, green oasis within the city's concrete jungle. And while he remains committed to the principle of having an ecologically diverse, productive, educational "outdoor classroom", Grogan points out another worrying consequence of these charges is that other cash-strapped schools might now question the wisdom of creating something that, even with water-conservation measures, will increase running costs.
Many other Irish gardeners share Grogan’s concern that water charges, as they stand, will do great damage to the resurgent grow-your-own movement, as well as to other projects that help to green our cities and towns.
They also question whether Irish Water have given any proper thought to the ways in which these growing projects are of proven benefit to so many, whether that’s building bonds within a community, empowering people to grow their own food, providing habitats for wildlife, or just generally improving people’s health and quality of life.
The issue of how these charges will impact on community-based growing projects was also the topic of discussion at this month's Dublin City Community Forum seminar organised by Robert Moss, green communities manager with An Taisce and author of The Dublin City Guide to Community Gardening (see dublin.ie).
Over the past year, Moss has been researching ways in which urban growing projects are attempting to overcome the problems of getting a reliable and affordable supply of water (see dcg.ie). Of the 46 Dublin community gardens that he knows of (up from just two such gardens in 2004), a handful have installed their own wells in the last number of years. But the process is costly (several thousand euros), bureaucratic and time-consuming, putting it beyond the reach of the many gardens that operate on a shoestring budget.
Rain harvesting methods, using barrels or larger underground tanks to store water fed from gutters and down-pipes, are another useful option, but aren’t suitable for all gardens. In the case of Holy Trinity School, for example, the building’s “rainwater goods” aren’t accessible.
Water recycling such as using what’s known as “grey water”, is another very useful water conservation method, but only suits certain gardens.
So what’s the solution? While pointing out that the Dublin Community Growers group broadly supports the metering of treated water, Moss says that “members strongly feel that alternatives to its usage need to be encouraged and supported by the companies and local authorities that are introducing this billing for treated water use, otherwise the initiative is all stick and no carrot.”
All stick and no carrot? It’s a rather appropriate horticultural metaphor for the dilemma facing these many wonderful gardens, which have been created through the goodwill and hard work of communities that have given their time free of charge. The result has been something that enriches all of our lives. Hopefully Irish Water will see that as something worthy of consideration.
How to save water in a garden – Harvest rainwater by fitting rain barrels (available from most local authorities or garden centres) to buildings' down-pipes, or install an underground rain-water harvesting tank. – Where possible, re-cycle domestic wastewater, also known as "grey water" by using it to water plants, but avoid using any that contains harmful household chemicals (bleach, oil, heavily perfumed toiletries, dishwasher or washing machine powder). Use straight away, and never on edible crops. – Healthy soils that have been enriched with organic matter and are dug only when necessary are much more resilient to periods of drought, with the result that plants are less likely to suffer. Use mulches, green manures or homemade garden compost as well as products that boost levels of beneficial soil bacteria such as seaweed dust (see fruithillfarm.ie) or Soil Renew (see soilrenewireland.ie.ie) to build soil resilience. – Water plants carefully (directly onto the soil, not onto the leaves), only when strictly necessary, and only in the evening or early morning. This allows the water to properly penetrate into the soil. – Rather than allowing patches of bare soil, plant densely to help slow the rate of water evaporation from the ground. This also protects soil health. – If gardening in containers, use large ones, group them together to slow down evaporation, and add water-retaining granules to the growing medium before planting. – Only cut grass when necessary, and use a mulching type of mower, which returns grass clippings back into the lawn, creating a healthier sward with a stronger root system capable of withstanding periods of drought.
THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN
Consider installing a water butt or rainwater barrel (see main article) as a means of harvesting and conserving rainwater. A typical water butt will hold a couple of hundred litres of water and can be fitted to a building's downpipe and fed with rainwater from the gutters. Water butts are available from most garden centres or local authorities including Dublin City Council, which sells a standard 190 litre capacity rain barrel along with fittings suitable for both round (68mm) and square (65mm) plastic downpipes for €40. Water butt aren't recommended for cast-iron downpipes. See dublincity.ie.
Now is a good time to divide overgrown clumps of chives (pictured below), something that ideally should be done roughly every three years. Use a fork to lift the plant before gently prising the bulbous rootball apart and replanting where required. If soil conditions are dry, give it a good watering. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), like a fertile, moist but free draining soil in full sun or light shade.
Make some blackberry whiskey, which according to Jon Wright, author of River Cottage Booze handbook, is "one of the finest of all infusions." It's also surprisingly easy to make. All you need are some blackberries (enough to fill two thirds of a Kilner jar), sugar (enough to cover the blackberries and fill the jar to half-point) and whiskey (enough to top up the jar). Store somewhere dark and shake once a day, and be patient, it will take six-12 months before it's ready to drink.
It's that time of year when summer bedding plants are coming to an end. So lift them, replenish the compost and then replant with spring bulbs, bedding plants and a few choice evergreen grasses or shrubs. The latter will give months of seasonal interest and can be moved to a permanent position in the garden once they've outgrown their space.
