Acorn Farm Project

August 2021

Hayley Doman and her family have been growing their own veg throughout lockdown. “It’s not only great for the kids and I to have our own food supply, but it also looks wonderful growing in the garden, the strawberries have been great this year,” said Hayley, from Derry/Londonderry.

The Domans are just one family involved in The Community Foundation NI’s Acorn Farm Project, run in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Conservation Volunteers and University College Cork, which was awarded £200,000 in National Lottery funding last year.

“We just love getting out in the fresh air, weeding together and seeing what we produce, all while helping the climate and I am delighted that this money has been awarded to Derry and Strabane, as more of this is needed in the area,” added Hayley.

The Acorn Farm, I Can Grow project, mentors 260 families on how to grow their own fruit and veg over an 18-month period. Those involved are encouraged to take up tools and learn the basics of food production at home.

Families are given everything they need to grow food at home, learning from horticultural experts to begin the creation of a more sustainable food system throughout the city. Research into the local food system is also being carried out and the longer-term vision is to create an innovation hub for sustainable food production in St Columb’s Park.

As a Primary 1 teacher and mum of an energetic nine-year-old boy, Aine Kivlehan, has a great grasp of the positive impact of growing-your-own on children and family life.

Following the Acorn Farm, I Can Grow Project’s call out for local people to get involved she signed up to be part of it straight away. Since then, Aine and son John have embraced growing together; reusing old wiring and containers to nurture their very own fruit and vegetables and taking great care of the seeds in the raised bed supplied by the project’s horticulturalist.

“John really loves checking on the veg and watering the plants and I’ve enjoyed getting some tips which I’ve passed onto friends. It’s lovely being able to lift something from your back garden and bring it into the kitchen to cook for dinner,” said Aine.

It has been catching too with neighbours popping over to have a look and being inspired to give growing a go themselves. Aine looks forward to the time when, as a community, they can begin to come together, share produce and have little tasting sessions in each other’s gardens.

She added, “We have to take care of our community and ‘I Can Grow’ is empowering us to be more self-sufficient while cutting out all the pollution involved in transporting food. We hope it’s the start of a wider movement saving families money, helping them eat a bit healthier while caring for our environment & instilling that ethos within our children.”

Shauna Kelpie, Fund Officer from Acorn Farm Project said: “We’re delighted to receive support from The National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund for this exciting and truly collaborative project. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become more aware of how important a sustainable food supply is.

“Our focus is starting a wider conversation on issues and educating local people about their food choices. Take the tomato in your sandwich, this has been imported from another country, but by growing your own at home you get what you need and help reduce the carbon miles of its travel and in turn improve the quality of the air we breathe. Small things together can make a big difference.”

The Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Alderman Graeme Warke, is also a supporter, he said, “Acorn Farm I Can Grow, is giving families in the Derry and Strabane area the confidence to grow their own and it’s having a ripple effect with our growers becoming influencers in their own families and networks. It has become a great conversation starter with people taking more of an interest in where food comes from, its journey from farm to fork. We hope it will make local people more conscious of their eating habits opting for fresher, healthier meals and helping our environment by reducing the carbon miles associated with importing food; all while saving families money.

“This project is taking climate action and is building on a growing movement of people who have connected with nature during the pandemic. We hope it is another step towards building a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable district where people are confident and empowered to feed themselves. Our ambition is to become a sustainable food place as part of the food system movement to work with a network of others to affect change with our goal being the creation of Acorn Farm Geodesic Domes in St Columb’s Park as a practical eco-demonstration venue for learning, growing, and sharing food and culture.”