Limerick Seed to Plate Project, Limerick

Limerick Food Partnership (lead) hosted by PAUL Partnership, the St Munchin’s Family Resource Centre and Southill Area Centre

Background to the project

Between the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, the St. Munchin’s Community Garden project and Southill Community Garden Committee were formed, with the aim of identifying the need to nurture relations between the youth in the area and older people through positive interaction in gardening. Both communities had initiated projects relating to healthy eating and gardening, including: Meals on Wheels; healthy eating in creches; ‘Through the Years’ project; gardening classes; ‘Cook It’ classes and a community café. A Health Service Executive (HSE) Health Impact Analysis of the vision document on Limerick Regeneration areas identified that certain areas of high density urban communities would benefit from community gardens and growing spaces.

Aim of the project

The aim of the project is to address an identified need in the community, promoting healthy eating and organic home-gardening practices. Building on the success of a pilot intergenerational project entitled ‘Through the Years’, it became apparent that gardening related activities could be implemented and promoted on a larger scale, reaching the wider community, groups and classes. The project serves as a setting for community education and will be inclusive in helping reduce isolation by providing meeting places for all members of their local communities. Key people being targeted are older people, local families and residents, Limerick Youth Service, After School Clubs, the Garda Youth Diversion Project and the Family Resource Centre.

Overview of the Project

The Limerick Seed to Plate project employs two gardeners, one in each community, whose primary focus is to develop the gardening projects further. There is a strong educational emphasis to the project and it is intended that the learning will be transferred to participants own homes and lifestyles. Southill has a newly opened community café and the food grown in their garden will be showcased and cooked in the centre and café.The Community Food Initiative will strengthen the existing healthy eating habits in the community and aims to result in increased long term health benefits arising from a healthier lifestyle. The gardeners will work closely with the Vocational Education Committee (VEC) tutors and project workers to provide outreach to the community to develop their skills in organic home-gardening practices. Communities will benefit from the project which will create employment, build bridges between communities, promote social inclusion and provide a focus for the local areas.

Objectives of the Project

• To improve access and availability of fruit and vegetables in the community
• To improve relations in the community, especially between older people and the youth
• To increase community knowledge of organic home-gardening practices
• To provide participants with a better understanding of healthy eating/nutrition
• To improve the local environment and garden areas
• To enhance the quality of cooking skills in the community as a whole
• To encourage participation of those in the community who may otherwise be isolated

For more information please contact:
Liz Slattery at eslattery@paulpartnership.ie.
www.paulpartnership.ie