Forward Emphasis: Rooted in Community, Driven by People
Giving Back Is Part of Who We Are At Forward…
In the wild, untamed beauty of Donegal, where ancient mountains meet the Wild Atlantic Way, there is a whisper on the wind—a call back to something fundamental. It’s a call to remember that we are not separate from this magnificent tapestry of life; we are an intrinsic thread within it. And I believe that when we support the earth, we are essentially supporting ourselves.
But I have a secret to share with you, one that I see play out in the garden every season: and the antidote to the relentless pursuit of “more” may be just beyond your doorstep.
Nature isn’t just a backdrop for a Sunday stroll; it is a pharmacy, a therapist, and a teacher. However, the healing nature offers is a two-way street. To receive its wisdom, we must offer our care. We must move from being consumers of the landscape to being its stewards.
When we look at our mental wealth, the impact of the Irish landscape is staggering. Recent data reveals that nearly 90% of people in Ireland report feeling happier after spending time in nature. In my time spent in many of our community gardens over the years, I have seen the tension leave people’s shoulders the moment they start weeding or planting.
Our physical vitality is equally tied to the land. Beyond the fresh air, trees emit organic compounds called phytoncides. When we breathe these in, our bodies increase the production of “Natural Killer” cells, which help our immune systems and fight off infection.
Even our financial health and future security are rooted in the environment. We often forget that nature is the foundation of our economy. Ireland’s biodiversity alone is estimated to contribute over €2.6 billion each year to the national economy through ecosystem services like water filtration and pollination. Currently, 90% of Ireland’s protected habitats are in “unfavourable” condition; if we don’t protect them today, the Donegal we love won’t be there for them tomorrow.
Giving back to nature doesn’t always require grand gestures. It starts with your time and your care. It starts with choosing natural organic methods that don’t poison the groundwater, or spending an hour volunteering in a community garden through the Donegal Community Garden Network or visiting one of the many gardens on the Donegal Garden Trail that supports local biodiversity. Nature has already given us knowledge that goes beyond what we can see. It has given us patience (you cannot hurry a seed), resilience (the way a sprout finds the light through the cracks), and it continues to give us the beauty of our wonderful seasons to enjoy. When we give back to nature, we are ensuring that this wisdom remains available for the person who comes after to enjoy.
As the founder of OURganic Gardens, my mission is to help people give back to nature and support nature to continue to give back to the people of Donegal. I am thrilled to invite you to join us as we wake the earth back up this spring. As well as our annual membership where people can sign up to attend monthly workshops and support the work we do , from March of this year, our educational garden will be running workshops on growing and cooking food, hosting guided walks and selling organic plants and accessories for your garden. For more information on all our offerings see www.ourganic-gardens.com
We are also a proud member of the Donegal Garden Trail that has been running for 20 years , showcasing parks and gardens throughout the County , where people are welcome to explore. Some parks and gardens are open to visitors all year round, others have regular spring, summer and autumn openings. See https://www.donegalgardentrail.com/ for more details.
We , as well as many like-minded organisations and individuals are building a community dedicated to the “Donegal Giving” philosophy of care and conservation. Nature has been looking after us since time began. Isn’t it time we all returned the favour?
By Joanne Butler, OURganic Gardens
