‘People are amazed when they discover how much food an acre can produce,” says Aimi Pinder , who set up Kinsale Green Growers in 2010 to supply organic veg from a plot of land just outside Kinsale town. “It’s two and a half acres,” she says, “but about an acre is planted at a time.” From this, she supplies up to 50 people with organic vegetables from June to November, and runs a stall during the summer. “The idea is that people sign up in spring, and pay up front for the season, so that I can buy the seeds and tools and get on with growing.” Their reward is a bag of organic vegetables every week or two weeks, depending on preference.
Her idea is now in its fifth season, and Pinder is always refining how things work. “There’s a swap box at the farm, so I can tell if people think they’re getting too many cabbages, for example. And you can always use carrots, but I discovered that while everyone was delighted the first week with kohlrabi, after a while, they’d had enough of it.
"The people who are with me since the beginning say they enjoy the difference it makes to their cooking, as they work out what to make when they see what's come in." There are also seasonal recipes on the website to help. Pinder, who had worked on an organic farm in the UK, came to Kinsale to do the Permaculture Course at the College of Further Education, which attracts students from around the world (kinsalecollege.ie).
You can sign up at kinsalegreengrowers.com. From €227.50 per season.
Around Ireland: Organic Bags and Boxes
Co Clare
Veg boxes available to select from a list (published on Thursdays) for collection on Fridays in Killaloe at goodandgreen.ie. Farm shop opening this summer.
Cork
Free deliveries to Cork city and suburbs, from €20 a box, selected from a range published on Facebook each week at organicrepublic.ie.
Dublin
Delivery of a weekly/fortnightly organic box boxes to select from a range. From €20 a week at absolutelyorganic.ie.
Galway
Fruit and vegetable boxes €20 delivered free throughout Galway and Athlone each week, and nationwide by courier (€5/€8 delivery charge) from beechlawnfarm.org.
