Over the past few months, Gifted Ireland has been exploring fresh ways to connect people to the benefits of urban and community gardening, with a particular focus on sustainability and youth participation. As
part of this, we successfully completed six piloting sessions involving twelve dedicated youth workers.
The sessions were intentionally varied to give participants a rich experience – from classroom-based learning to hands-on visits and even a trip to Northern Ireland to revisit a beautiful walled garden we had explored earlier in the year. The garden itself is a perfect example of multifunctional community growing – flourishing with flowers, apple trees, vegetables and herbs. Beyond food production, it acts as a lively hub of engagement, hosting summer events such as chili and onion competitions alongside cookery displays that highlight the value of seasonal, homegrown ingredients.
What made our piloting sessions especially rewarding was their intergenerational element. Our youth workers facilitated activities where young people worked directly with older generations, learning together how to create and care for vegetable plots. The shared aim was simple yet powerful – to grow vegetables locally and then use them in cooking, reinforcing a sustainable “seed to plate” journey. These moments of collaboration showed clearly how gardening can bridge generations, while strengthening both community wellbeing and environmental awareness.
Along the way, many practical themes surfaced that linked into our wider sustainability goals. Visits to greenhouses and local gardens allowed participants to explore topics such as:
- Organic vs. non-organic growing – understanding how choices impact both health and the environment.
- Pesticide use – weighing up different approaches and their long-term consequences.
- Composting – experimenting with techniques like tumbler composting to see how waste can be transformed into nutrient-rich resources.
What emerged was more than just a set of pilot activities. It was an encouraging demonstration of how youth engagement in urban and community gardening can spark wider conversations about food systems, health, and sustainability. By blending practical garden skills with education and intergenerational learning, these sessions have laid the groundwork for a programme that is not only about planting seeds—but about cultivating future leaders in sustainability and community resilience.
