GIY International - Together We Grow!

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In the news

Follow these links to articles about the project in other publications

Couple who grew baby’s first meal win GIY award - Operation GIY Nation 2013 Winners

The O'Donoghue's GIY Nation family receive their prize at GIY Gathering

Leading families down the garden path - Irish Times

Encouraging families to grow together - Environment and energy management

Get Help and Inspiration

Benefits of GIYing

Eat healthy, organic, seasonal food
Eat food that tastes the way food used to taste
Save some money on your grocery bills
Eat food you can trust, free of traces of nasty chemicals
Get empowered! Teach yourself and your children a valuable lifeskill
Fun activity to do with kids

Follow progress at Operation GIY Nation on facebook

Operation GIY Nation 2014

Think you wouldn't be able to grow your own vegetables? Cast aside your doubts, stick a seed in the ground and grow with us!

Operation GIY Nation is about growing some of your own food with a bunch of people just like you - making a few mistakes, mixing up your seeds, forgetting to water on the hottest day of the summer, and still managing to land some of the freshiest, tasties food right onto your table.

This years campaign was launched by Lorraine Keane and Ian Dempsey... but why is he sitting in a car boot?

Exciting new sponsor

This year GIY have teamed up with Renault to really electrify this programme! Four pioneers will be chosen to take on the monthly challenges and to share their experiences with the rest of their followers. In addition to their growing challenges, they will also each be given the use of an electric car - the Renault Fluence - for the four months of the programme! Not only that, but the winning pioneer will be allowed to keep their car.

The signup process for pioneers is now closed (14 April) but you can still sign up below to take part in the growing projects and to follow their progress.

4 Projects. 4 Months. 1 Healthy, Happy Grower

The aim of Operation GIY Nation is to start you on your GIY journey - we know that growing your own food can be a little daunting at first, but we are going to hold your hand and help you and your family to get started.

GIY want to help you get a couple of quick GIY "wins" under your belt to build your confidence.

How it works:
When you register we will email you one project a month from May to August. We will email you a pdf of all the growing instructions you will need.

The projects are designed so that you can get stuck in quickly, and written with complete novices in mind - they take things right back to basics, so you will be able to get involved, regardless of how little experience or knowledge you have.

The monthly projects start at a basic level and each month will build up your experience level. The vegetables we have chosen for the projects are easy to grow and can all be grown in pots/containers if required - so even if you don't have much of a garden (or any garden at all), you can still take part!

Is there a cost involved?
No. Taking part is completely free. Each month, we will give you a list of materials you require to do the project - but don't worry, all the projects can be done very cheaply – basically a few pots, some seeds and compost and that's it.

How do I get involved?
Simply click on the SIGN UP button below to register and we will send you the first monthly project.

What if i need support along the way?
Follow the Pioneers on Facebook and Twitter to see how they are getting on and to join the conversation. In the knowledge section of this website there are also a range of video tutorials or you can visit your local GIY group.

Operation GIY Nation Family of 2013

The O'Donoghue's from Bishopstown, Cork.

Congratulations to the 2013 winners of this year’s Operation GIY Nation, The O'Donoghue Family from Bishopstown in Cork.

Having always wanted to grow their own food, Aidan and Caragh O’Donoghue were spurred in to action by the arrival of newborn bundle of joy Luke, and a call out from GIY looking for families to participate in a 6-month food growing challenge.

The O’Donoghues joined hundreds of other novice growers from all over Ireland, and over six months took on the GIY monthly growing challenges.

The O’Donoghues received their GIY Nation prize of a €250 Voucher for Woodies and a weekend stay at the Tower hotel, Waterford at the GIY Gathering in Wateford and met Ballymaloe founder Darina Allen

Operation GIY Nation 2012 Winners

The Phelan Family from Macroom, Co. Cork, joined Operation GIY Nation to encourage their three kids to eat more vegetables. Mum Fiona has always been reluctant to start growing her own in case it doesn’t work and she ends up disappointing the kids! “I think that growing our own vegetables will help the kids to appreciate food and cooking more than they do now,” she says.

Pictured left at the 2012 Gathering they said they were delighted to have been involved and will continue on the food growing journey inspired.

The Phelan Family Profile

GIY Ireland, Together We Grow