[landshare]

Picking up the baton from Channel 4 and the River Cottage series, I'd like to suggest the establishment of a similar "Landshare" initiative for Ireland - bringing together would-be vegetable gardeners who have no land with garden-owners who are prepared to share part of their garden.

Does anyone know of such a scheme already operating in Ireland? I've not found one and Channel 4 have declined to expand their own excellent initiative to allow registration of members from Ireland (it appears to be a postcode-driven system and therefore wouldn't work in Ireland). Take a look at http://landshare.channel4.com to get a better idea of how this might work. Transition Town Totnes in the UK is an example of an established, successful and independent scheme - see http://totnes.transitionnetwork.org/gardenshare/home

We will be a long time waiting for our local authorities to meet demand for allotments, particularly for those in the major urban centres. Landshare Ireland is a very simplistic approach to plugging the gap but could be very effective if publicised widely enough.

In an effort to kick things off here in Ireland, a Google Group has been established with the name "Landshare Ireland". The idea is that garden-owners or would-be growers join the group and post a new topic either seeking or offering garden space; connections are then made by searching and replying to topics. If all goes well, nearby garden-owners and growers meet, make a suitable arrangement between themselves and then both look forward to lots of home-grown fruit and vegetables!

Please note that the Landshare Ireland group is ONLY a means of introduction for interested members - it is not a general gardening or allotment discussion forum (this will be actively discouraged) - there are plenty of these around, including the IrishGardeners.com website. Landshare Ireland is also not a commercial venture but a voluntary/community initiative. I'd be happy in due course for one of the established gardening or allotment websites (IrishGardeners.com perhaps) to take up the Landshare Ireland initiative with a view to promoting it properly. In the mean time, their support in this venture will be appreciated and encouraged.

If you think Landshare Ireland might work for you as either a garden-owner or would-be grower, then please visit and join the group here:

http://groups.google.com/group/landshare-ireland

Please be patient - as a group starting out in mid-2009, we have a long way to go to build up numbers and gain some momentum. If you have friends, family and colleagues who would be interested in participating, please encourage them to join.

[medieval knievel]

it's a great idea, but i'd say the bigger struggle will be getting garden owners to register.

[Belfast]

Nice idea. www.Daft.ie might be a good place too.

You might have a problem get old people to register on the web as many do not have web access.

A lot of old Irish people do not use the net.

You may need to use another methond apet for the net to get people in the older age bracket involved.

perhaps notice boards in Churches, post offices or bingo halls might be the way to go engage with the older generations.

[sevenstar]

Richard Corrgan seams to be the poster boy in Ireland. Maybe getting hom on board, a slot on the first Late Late Show in September could have the Landshare on line by Spring???