Filling your Soul with Flowers: An Interview with UCC’s Community Garden

By Features Editor Chloe Barrett

This past summer, I was given the gift of three sunflowers from my neighbour who had set a determined mission for herself: she wanted those seeds to sprout and ascend towards the sky. Gardening has never been a major passion of mine, but I gratefully accepted the already potted seeds, curious to see just how tall they could potentially grow.

In our garden, my mother has always been the one who has maintained the flowers. Sure, I might help plant some and water them semi-regularly, but the flowery ambition was hers, and hers alone. I made a somewhat valiant attempt during the height of COVID-19 to raise a few houseplants, but much to my fearful dismay, they attracted a host of little bugs that flocked to every available surface in my bedroom. As someone who has arachnophobia (the fear of spiders and other insects), it was all too much for me and I promptly evicted the plants. I genuinely still do not know how they attracted so many insects, and I am too afraid to search for a reason online. Some cacti remain on my window ledge, but I will bashfully admit that I have not watered them in a dismally long time, but somehow, they have persevered. Life finds a way, etc. 

Quite frankly, the whole process of gardening has always seemed like an additional chore, something else to jerk you awake at the precise moment when your body teeters on the precipice of slumber. There was also something morbid about the entire ordeal that I could not convince myself to put the effort in: after a few months, the flowers would inevitably die. Winter will come in its frosty glory and freeze those very plants alive, forcing them to retreat into their soil for an unceremonious funeral. Probably not how most people think about their beloved plants, but that is just my strange little mind for you, dear readers.

Regardless, I placed those sunflowers in my garden and did my utmost to water them each day. If I forgot, I found myself feeling a sense of guilt, knowing these plants are helpless without me, and cannot exactly go in search of an alternate source of nourishment. Thankfully, our rainy Irish summer became useful, and when those clouds broke apart, the sunflowers thrived — until they longed for sunshine again, of course. I spent months checking on those three plants every day and found myself excitedly taking pictures of their growth to show my neighbour. I even went out and got bamboo stakes to loosely zip tie their stalks to, so they could be supported, alongside repotting them, ensuring their ultimate comfort. 

The morning I visited the sunflowers and saw a bud on each one of them, I was ecstatic. From there, it seemed an age until they opened up, but inevitably, they did. With their massive signature heads, all of the effort that was put into their growth seemed immediately worth it, simply because they were glorious. The tallest was probably around six feet, and that one was the highlight. I felt like one of those Americans in their attempts to grow giant pumpkins in order to win the local county fair. I completely get it now!

If growing flowers could bring such joy to a somewhat cynical person like me, I think it would be a very enjoyable hobby for others out there. Obviously, many do not have the resources and space to start their garden, specifically students who are residing in rental accommodation. However, UCC does happen to have its very own Community Garden. I spoke with the lovely Irene to learn more about the student-run garden in the form of a little interview.

Where is the Community Garden located?

UCC Community Garden is located behind No. 6 Carrigside, on College Road. Google Maps will take you there! Look out for the big sign at the garden entrance, along the wall to the right of the gate.

(This is a lifesaver for someone like me, who relies much too frequently on using Maps for even the simplest of directions.)

What are you allowed to plant?

You can plant whatever you like - as long as the plant isn't an invasive species. We also try to be mindful of what everyone in the garden is doing by communicating in the garden book.

Is it accessible for people with no gardening experience?

Absolutely. Ella, Greenshoots Garden Intern, is present every Wednesday from 12:30 - 14:30 for those who would appreciate guidance. I also try to make it to these open sessions. I'm happy to provide introductions to the garden for anyone who would like one.

(Irene can also be contacted at inisuilleabhain@ucc.ie if you have any further queries.) 

What would you personally say are some of the main benefits to joining, and gardening in general?

Spending time in the garden has multiple benefits. Whether you're taking time to relax and enjoy nature, build beds, or plant some vegetables with friends, the garden is a restorative and giving place. Participants can learn from each other about nature-friendly gardening while growing fresh, organic produce. Gardening is hugely beneficial for stress alleviation, getting physical exercise, calming the mind, and making social connections.

How can students get involved in the Community Garden?

Students can join open sessions (every Wednesday, 12:30 - 14:30, during term time), or they can contact UCC Environmental Society to reach their garden sub-committee. I'm always delighted to facilitate student engagement with the garden through small group sessions, pitch-in days, and society events.

What does gardening mean to you?

I'm relatively new to gardening. However, I would say that for me, gardening is a way to give a home to wildlife while also sustaining yourself (both physically and mentally). It's a way to take power back from an unsustainable food system. It could lead to a food and rewilding revolution!

I would like to reiterate what Irene touches on in regard to the act of gardening being a positive for a person’s mental health. Checking on the growth of your plants can be a wonderfully positive addition to your day, even more so if your thinking has been increasingly negative lately. For me, the prospect of knowing that I would visit my flowers and more than likely see a bit of growth, no matter how small, was such a motivating factor in my regular schedule. They can also be a good substitute if you are a person who loves animals but is unable to currently get a pet. I have even heard of people trialling themselves by seeing if they can keep a plant alive before they make the big decision to get a furry friend. I do not think I need to mention how much more affordable a few plants are than an animal, either!

Investing in a few vegetable plants is also an incredible idea. If you correctly take care of them, you can reap their delicious awards and even save some money on your weekly grocery shop. 

There are no negatives, so go ahead and plant to your heart’s desire! If you need any advice, Irene is only an email away, and the Community Garden is a highly accessible and wonderful place to visit. We, as students here, have tranquillity practically on our doorstep. It seems a bit silly not to use it.