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 It was a time when banks were handing out cheap money for any project, work was plentiful and wages were, annually, on the increase. It was a time when Supermarkets were tempting you with cheap plastic patio furniture and six burner gas barbecue grills. Salesmen were calling door to door offering to landscape your garden with fountains, imported limestone flagstones and Italian tufa volcanic rock, framed by decorative pebbles from around the world. So you got your rear garden area upgraded to the status worthy of any ‘person of modern means.’ Yes we put our hands up; we are all guilty of dreaming delusions of grandeur as charged.
Now, with an increasing positive focus on the healthy eating of fresh vegetables, we now do not have enough earth exposed to sow a head of lettuce or an onion, not without having to ‘root up,’ some of our very expensive garden landscaping, fixtures and fittings, or do we?
Have you ever thought of ‘farming,‘ your garden wall? Well it is not as stupid as it sounds and same can really enhance visually the colours in your garden, see the picture above.
All you need is some deep Aluminium or PVC House Gutters secured to a wall as shelving, to grow lettuce plants, scallions, beetroot, parsley and shallots etc.
Note: Not suitable for the growing of long rooted vegetables, such as carrots or parsnips.
Tips:
- When securing your Gutters to an unplastered brick or stone wall, spray the unplastered area with heavily salted water a few days beforehand, to remove any small snails that may be using same as a daytime hiding place.
- Purchase and install a few extra support brackets, as these Gutters will be supporting soil or peat moss, moisture, plus the weight of the produce you intend to harvest. (One bracket every 3 ft should suffice.)
- Allow for drainage by means of a few drilled holes every 3 ft and water your growing produce in the late evening.
Remember Gutters and Brackets are available from all leading Hardware Stores here in Thurles (Stakelums, Ronayne) and can be ordered to your precise measurements. For Seeds, Onion sets and Lettuce Plants (Latter subject to seasonable availability) drop into Frank Roache, Liberty Square or Thurles Co Op on the Templemore Rd.
Surprised that Gutter Manufacturers are not looking to support new ideas like this, to boost flagging sales, caused by the building slump. Come on guys waken up, call in the design and marketing team, or do I have to do all the work?
 The potato, (Word comes from the Spanish, Patata, the former having introduced the potato into Europe in the second half of the 16th century, following their conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru.) to the Irish people, still remains today the most useful of all foods.
The Chip we eat here in Ireland often come from England, as the potato variety “Maris Piper,” from the British Somerset region, makes a great chip. Chippers here are inclined to import them instead of using home-grown Irish spuds. The Irish potato is perfect for mashing, roasting or baking, but not so tasty when deep-fat fried.
During the so called Celtic Tiger years we all lost interest in growing at least some of our own vegetables. Now with more time on our hands, through unemployment etc, maybe it is time to turn that small piece of garden into something more productive. So now is the perfect time to grab your spade, fork and rake and sow a few potatoes, even if only for the exercise.
Potatoes need to be planted on a sunny site, in fertile and slightly acidic soil. Loosen up your soil first with a spade, then with the soil broken using a garden fork, break up the clumps of soil, removing stones and any weeds such as scutch grass, thistles or docks. Whether or not you have poor quality soil you will need to add organic matter. Traditionally, farm yard manure was used for potatoes, but good garden compost can also do the job.
Continue reading Plant Your Own Potatoes This Year
 Thurles Fresh Milk Counsellor and Well-being Coach, Fiona Hoban, will be at The Dome, Semple Stadium in Thurles on Thursday February 2nd next. Fiona will be discussing “A Positive Approach to Well-being,” as part of a health evening organised by the National Dairy Council and Thurles Fresh Milk.
A native of Castlebar, Fiona Hoban runs a private counselling practice in Westport and is a part-time lecturer with the National Counselling Institute of Ireland. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin (MA Philosophy & Sociology), Fiona delivers Communications and Life Skills training to both public and private sector clients.
As well as getting great tips about your health, well-being and diet, those who attend will also benifit from a cookery demonstration by Ailish Maher Hennessy, from from Fiacri Country House Restaurant and Cookery School in Knock, Roscrea. Ailish, who has received numerous accolades ranging from Féile Bia to Georgina Campbell, strongly believes in using the best quality, locally produced food and ingredients, to “ensure traceability and to support much needed local employment and revenue“.
Another specialist speaking at this event is Paula Mee, one of Ireland’s leading independent dietitians. Paula was a presenter of RTÉ TV’s Health Squad programme which ran for five years until 2006 and she makes regular appearances on TV and radio programmes advising on nutrition and health issues.
Fran Curry from Tipp FM will be master of ceremonies for the evening at The Semple Stadium Dome, which it is hoped will also raise much needed funds for Friends of the Community Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles.
Tickets, costing €10, are available from Thurles Fresh Milk by phoning 0504-91900; The Hospital of the Assumption Thurles on 0504 21055 or from any Centenary Thurles Co-op branch.
Tickets will also be available on the night, with doors opening at 7.00pm and presentations begining at 7.30pm sharp.
 Rib World Clonmel Jobs continues to be under threat here in Co Tipperary. This statement is borne out with the news that the Clonmel, Co Tipperary company, STGN Ltd, trading as Rib World, which specialises in the processing of vacuum-packed cooked pork ribs, has now gone into receivership.
The Bank of Scotland have now appointed Mr Liam Dowdall of Smith & Williamson Freany as receiver and manager to the company, which will continue to operate at full capacity, retaining its 65 employees, until same is sold as a going concern. Mr Dowdall met with employees at the company, following his appointment, stating he was confident that a buyer would be found quickly.
Rib World, established in 2004 and situated at Fethard Road, Carrigeen Industrial Estate, Clonmel, is one of Europe’s largest producers of pre-cooked pork ribs. It currently operates an ultra modern processing operation and has a strong core market in both Ireland and abroad.
Founder and Managing Director of Rib World, Scandinavian born Mr Bo Nielsen, had worked in the food industry for over 20 years, prior to starting this enterprise with partners, together with financial and other assistance from the Irish Government agency Enterprise Ireland.
 Christmas Lights - Thurles Town Centre It is now confirmed, Christmas fun and cheer is coming to Liberty Square, Thurles this year, with the first major Thurles Christmas Market, which is being organised by the Thurles Chamber in association with Tipperary animal charity “Cottage Rescue.”
Following the successful Cottage Rescue Christmas Market last year and the Tipperary Food Fayre last August, latter organised by Thurles Chamber, the two organisations have now decided to join forces to host the 2011 Thurles Christmas Market on Sunday 11th December in Liberty Square, Thurles, beginning at 1.00pm to 6.00pm.
There will be an abundance of local crafts people at this market, e.g. Steve Martin’s Handmade Toys and wood turning from Donal Ryan and Johnny McCarthy.
Children can have their faces painted in a festive style by Masquerade Face Painting, while dad can check out a variety of hand-made jewellery on offer from a number of stalls and perhaps choose a gift for his wife or partner.
Among the other local businesses that have confirmed stalls on the day are Angelic Ambiance, Dwan’s Hardware, Fior Skin Care, Anne Hogan Christmas Decorations and Martina Heffernan with her Aloe Vera products.
If it is food for your Christmas dinner you are after, you will not be disappointed, with the best of Tipperary food produce on display to help you plan that special Christmas family menu. You can pick up or order a locally produced turkey from Premier Meats or if its other poultry you are after then Mick Connors will be on hand at his stall to advise. Quality sausages will be available from Peter Small and Two-Mile-Borris beef from John Commins straight from his Piemontese herd. Inch House Artisan Foods will have Nora Egan’s renowned black pudding on offer on the day, along with homemade cakes which will also be available from the Liberty Market stall.
Why not treat yourself to some delicious locally produced cheeses from Triskel Cheese and Cooleney Cheese.
For those with a sweet tooth there will be stalls from Api’s Chocolates and Ginger Bread from Angeli McLoughlin. Friend of Cottage Rescue, local photographer Sinead Ni Riain, also plans to have a stall at the market, so again a perfect opportunity to pick up that Christmas gift for somebody.
It goes without saying that a majority of the shops in Thurles, e.g. Liberty Square, Friar Street, West Gate, Croke Street, Baker Street, Parnell Street, The Mall, Slievenamon Rd, Kickham Street and Mitchell Street, will also have their doors thrown wide open on the day, many offering very special discounts on the day.
Organiser Nikki Veasey of Cottage Rescue hopes this Christmas Market will help bring people together, while showcasing the quality produce presently being manufactured at local level. “Nobody need ever travel to Dublin to experience a Christmas market, we will be hosting the best Christmas Market in the county, while showcasing Tipperary’s finest foods and hand made crafts.” confirms Nikki.
Some of the stall holders are planning on dressing up in period costume, which will bring an old fashioned yet traditional feeling to this market, thus reminding people of a bygone age in this market town. Tom Noone will be “controlling the microphone,” keeping visitors informed of all activities on the day.
As well as the stalls, there will be street entertainment, featuring music by the fast rising local band sensation, Autonomous i. Others entertainment will include pony and cart rides, vintage cars and of course a confirmed visit by Father Christmas. HQ Nightclub Thurles have organised a Children’s Disco for 4-10 year olds, with Santa Claus confirmed as making an appearance on the dance floor.
Thurles Chamber and Thurles Town Council will be turning on the town’s Christmas lights so it is going to be a fantastic occasion for families, friends and the community as a whole, to get together and celebrate all that is good about Thurles and County Tipperary.
It is hoped that local charities like Cottage Rescue, Cabragh Wetlands and Friends of the Children of Chernobyl will raise much needed funds on the day.
If you are interested in participating in this 2011 Thurles Christmas Market, there is still time to contact Nikki at Cottage Rescue on Tel: 087 6310140 or email veasey@eircom.net to book your exhibition space.
Remember shopping locally protects local employment, so demonstrate your loyalty to Thurles Town this Christmas.
Photo courtesy G.Willoughby.
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