Get Ireland Growing Day: How to Participate & Win Prizes For Your Community

Community groups across the country have until July 3rd to submit their entry to the Get Ireland Growing Awards.

First launched in 2016, the Get Ireland Growing initiative provides support to community food growing groups all over Ireland. Over the years, several different kinds of groups/spaces have received funding, including schools, not-for-profit organisations, community gardens, GIY groups, crèches, and more. The initiative is organised by Energia in partnership with GIY.

In April 2022, they supplied 300 community growing kits to groups who had registered for the campaign on the Get Ireland Growing website. Now any group — regardless of whether or not they have registered — is encouraged to host a local gathering on July 2nd to celebrate Energia Get Ireland Growing Day.

How to Participate in Get Ireland Growing Day

Good news: You don't have to be part of an established group to get involved!

All you have to do is find some like-minded people in your community and begin your food growing journey. This can be done in a public or private space, depending on what is available to you. Get Ireland Growing Day is all about taking those first steps and connecting with other community gardeners across Ireland. 

How to Enter the Competition

And although it's too late to get your hands on one of those growing kits, there's still time to enter the annual competition.

Prizes include:

1. A GIY annual subscription for a community hero from each of the four provinces.
2. A €500 GIY voucher for the winner of The Best Energia Get Ireland Growing Day.
3. A cash grant of €1000 for The Best Space Transformation.

To enter, showcase your community garden on social media by posting a photo/selection of photos and a description of what you do. NB: Use the hashtag #GetIrelandGrowing and tag the handle @energiaGIG to make your submission count.

Full T&Cs, as well as more information on the campaign, can be found on getirelandgrowing.ie. 

Note on prizes:

Irish non-profit Grow it Yourself (GIY) aims to provide people with the seeds, gardening advice, and recipes they need to embrace 'growing your own.'

A GIY subscription or voucher could give your group access to growing kits, online courses, in-person events at GROW HQ, seed packets, and a wide range of gardening, sustainability and cookery books.

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to your local garden centre, stock up on supplies, and start building your own growing community before July 2nd!