Trevor Sargent

1 April 2009

Get Ireland Growing event a huge success.

Speaking to a capacity crowd of over 200 in the Cultuivate Centre in Temple Bar, Minister Sargent gave an interesting insight into his views on food production. He even included a short video overview of his own garden in Balbriggan, where he grows much of his own food. See it here.

Below is the full text of his opening address.

“When I was appointed Minister for Food and Horticulture in June 2007,

I undertook to put more ‘soul‘ in our food.

This means

S       -        seasonality

O       -        organic production

U       -        availability of unprocessed fresh food

L       -        locally grown food

The “Get Ireland Growing” campaign is a critical part of that mission.

Even economists admit they could not have known the severity of the fiscal credit crunch.  We can take bets now that the ecological credit crunch with less oil will also be more shocking than expected unless we

• produce much more food locally
• prepare for climate change
• develop new skills

Thankfully, there is hope. From the White House to the Botanic Gardens in Dublin, people are signing up to learn about growing.  The Director of the Botanic Gardens, Dr Peter Wyse-Jackson, tells us 3 people applied there to do the established course on rose pruning recently while 200 wanted to do the organic vegetable growing course.

Minister Sargent speaking at Get Ireland Growing (Photo C.Finn)

Home growing is also a reaction against the needless importation of fruit and vegetables which could be grown in Ireland more naturally.  Gardeners can easily grow onions from sets.  At present Ireland grows enough onions to meet public demand for just 53 days.  For most of the year, Ireland imports onions from Spain to Holland to South Africa.  For 72 days Ireland supplies locally grown apples with just a 68 day supply of Irish tomatoes.  Apart from mushrooms, meat and dairy produce which we export far and wide, our production of fruit and vegetables leaves us short.

So let us fill the hungry gap with home grown healthy food.  Tests show that a naturally ripened tomato for example has higher levels of anti-oxidants than imported tomatoes which are often picked green and ripened artificially.

For the second year I have 2 out of every 3 primary schools growing food thanks to Agriaware, Bord Bia and a host of great sponsors.  Even children who claim to dislike fresh produce tend to eat fruit or vegetables they have grown themselves.

This ‘Get Ireland Growing’ campaign makes financial sense too.  Obesity is costing this country an estimated €5 billion a year according to the Department of Health and Children.  Our 14 year olds are now nearly 4 stone heavier than their counterparts were 60 years ago.

Research shows that people struggling financially opt more for take-aways with hidden oils, fats, salt and sugars – unless they are in tune with the Earth – growing some of their own fresh food in season and appreciating what farmers nearby are growing for the community also.

Meanwhile, Green Party / Comhaontas Glas representatives around Ireland are growing and also showing how people can find an allotment, set up a community garden or even cultivate a window box.

Before I introduce the main speakers, allow me one minute to show you a glimpse of my own back garden where yesterday I was planting strawberry plants, sowing beetroot and radish and planting out lettuce  in window boxes. Take a look at getgrowing.ie with a link to Trevor’s Kitchen Garden if you want to see what Miriam Lord in the Irish Times finds so interesting!”

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