Get the Cheep, Eat the Cheap: Why Kildare Students Should be Growing Their Own grub!
As the great Irish philosopher, Dervla Kirwan, once said, "I’m not a morning person, I’m not a night person, I’m an ‘I’ll get to it eventually’ person." But when it comes to growing your own grub, "eventually" might just become "now" with a little help from the lads and lasses at Kildare County Council. At least, that’s what Newbridge councillor, Noel Heavey, is hoping.
Growing a movement, one sprouted seed at a time
Noel, a man of the soil (or at least, a man with a fantastic sense of humor), wants to get Kildare’s secondary school students and communities behind the (garden) wheel to learn the art of food production. Why, you ask? Well, for starters, it’s a grand way to get lads and lasses outside, getting their hands dirty, and reaping in the benefits of some fresh air, exercise, and a sense of satisfaction that comes from watching a humble seedling grow into a thriving, veggie-filled bonanza.
The power of the soil
Now, you might be thinking, "But, Noel, I’m not exactly the next Alan Tichmarsh when it comes to horticulture." Fear not, young one! Noel’s got a plan. He’s calling for Kildare County Council to identify scheme opportunities that’ll help students and communities learn the ropes of food production. That’s like saying, "Hey, mate, let’s get this seedling party started!" And, who knows, you might just discover a new passion, a new talent, or a new sense of purpose. After all, there’s no feeling quite like biting into a juicy, homegrown tomato, listening to the whispers of the soil, and thinking, "Ah, I’ve got this!"
The potato-ential benefits
Growing your own grub has all sorts of benefits, me boyos and girlies! For starters, it’s a great way to get people thinking about where their food comes from. Maybe you’ll start asking, "Who’s the distributor of my daily bread?" (That would be the bakery, of course!) Or, "Who’s checking the soil and ensuring it’s PPSA-qualified?" (That would be the, ahem, farmer, of course!)
A pitch-perfect plan
Noel’s idea is a pitch-perfect plan, if you ask me. I mean, what’s more Irish than soaking up the sun, getting your hands dirty, and tucking into a plate of homegrown, mouth-watering delights? And, let’s not forget the environmental benefits! By growing your own food, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint, using fewer pesticides, and breathing in that lovely soil fragrance.
The soil-ution to Ireland’s food challenges
We Irish are known for our love of food, but let’s be real, we do love to overdo it, don’t we? I mean, have you ever seen an Irish table without a mountain of colcannon, a lake of champ, or a plateau of… well, you get the idea. It’s a wonder we don’t need a forklift to get the mashed potato to our dinner plate! But, with Noel’s plan, we might just find ourselves with a net reduction in carbon emissions, a rise in biodiversity, and a decrease in, ahem, "famine" (get it? Like, less of that "what’s for dinner?" panic!).
The final sprout
In conclusion, Kildare students and communities, take heed of Noel’s call to arms! Let’s get behind the (garden) wheel and start growing our own grub. Who knows, you might just find yourself rooting for the humble seedling, feeling like a master chef, or, at the very least, a happy, contented human being. Now, go forth, me friends, and turn those seeds into harvests, those seeds into meals, and those seeds into memories that’ll last a lifetime!
