Bruce Darrell was educated as an architect and has been actively involved in developing sustainable communities with Dublin Co-housing and more recently with the Village Project, where he is active in the areas of education, food and land use. Co-founder of the Dublin Food Growing initiative, he has a keen interest in developing urban and small-scale agriculture systems, and in exploring the many possibilities and benefits of reintegrating human habitation with food production. He runs several courses on how to grow food, and is working to establish a series of research and educational gardens.
Where do you GIY?
I grow food in an allotment (well actually on 4 separate allotments) and in a polytunnel – as part of the RED Gardens.
Why do you GIY?
I aim to be mostly self-sufficient in vegetables, but I also grow food in order to learn, research and explore, and to share knowledge with others. I grow food to reduce my ecological footprint, to build the resilience of my community and to change the world.
What do you grow? – tell us what you grow
I grow a huge range of vegetables throughout the year. I also grow some fruit and herbs.
Your favourite veg to eat / grow
Peas are still my favourite vegetable to grow and eat.
Your least favourite veg to eat /grow
Turnip and radishes are likely my least favorite veg to grow. The taste is fine but no one else in my house will eat them. This is frustrating as they are so easy and quick to grow.
Your favourite GIYing moment each year (and why)
My favourite GIYing moment is the first fully self-grown meal of the season, when the early potatoes are ready.
Your most useful gardening tool (and why)
If I could only have one tool, it would be a spade with a long handle, as long as it is kept very sharp. I use this tool for digging, earthing-up, adding compost and amendments, preparing beds, weeding, chopping material for compost, etc. It is also useful to lean on when enjoying quiet time in the garden, or while in conversation with others.
What do you know now about GIYing that you didn’t know last year?
In the past year I have learned so much, but I recently discovered the extent to which the high calcium soil that I grow in needs to be managed differently that most soils.
My finest hour in the veg patch was when…
My finest hour in the veg patch was when I realised I did not need to follow only one method of growing, and by trying out a number of different methods, my knowledge and usefulness to the community could significantly improve.
Which Good Life cast member are you? Tom, Barbara, Jerry or Margot?
I have never see ‘the Good Life’, so wouldn’t know.
