It is on the agenda of many teachers to build or maintain a school garden. The educational benefits of such a project are undoubted. When all the obstacles like suitable space, sufficient school and parent support are overcome; many projects are limited due to a shortage of funds.
Fruit Hill Farm, the Bantry based mail-order company for Garden Supplies, has supported many garden projects in the past. This year, celebrating 20 years in business, Fruit Hill Farm will support Irish School Gardens with €2,000 worth of free organic seeds. Twenty vouchers of €100 each will be available to interested schools. The vouchers can be exchanged against seeds — from seed potatoes and onion sets, to a large range of vegetable, herb and flower seeds. All seeds are certified organic.
Owner Manfred Wandel says: “Irish gardeners enabled us to grow our business over the last 20 years. We want to give something back. Many Irish schools would love to grow a garden – but their funds often don’t stretch to buy a range of seeds. That is where we want to help”.
The School Garden Seed Give-away competition is open to all Irish Schools with a school garden. Entries must be sent to Fruit Hill Farm by March 17, 2014. Details of the anniversary competition are available from www.organicfarmandgardensupplies.ie.
