March 2026
And the busy season begins!
Some exciting news! My application for a creative Westmeath Residency in the libraries was approved, so you can expect to see me and my flowers (and some fun workshops) in the 6 Westmeath Libraries over the next few months. Details to follow - I’ll send an interim newsletter when the details are finalised.
Also, I forgot to tell you about a special frogs project that we did way back in February. I got a call from our local Biodiversity officer to say she’d been asked by NPWS to put up signs in 3 specific places where frogs are known to cross roads in large numbers in their search for a mate. Official signs were on order, but in the meantime, drivers needed to be alerted to the frogs.
We had election posters from Ali’s election campaign, and with a lot of help from Emma who created the graphics, and Mariia who helped with the signage creation, we made 6 signs. Brian and Kim went out on a Saturday morning and put the signs in place. They reported motorists slowing down, and several people commented positively on what they were doing.
To get March properly started, I took a trip to Bellefield for International Women’s day- a beautiful location, fascinating speakers and the lightest scones that I’ve had in a while.
Speaking of food, the most recent community supper from Mullingar Gathers was reckoned to be the best yet by Brian. There was a sandwich cake (savoury) from Brazil, a fantastic chickpea curry that was even better the next day (need that recipe), and 2 baked cheesecakes. I was set up for the week with lunches and snacks with the leftovers that I brought home.
Coole Meadow
As is usual on St Patrick’s day, we put planted a few potatoes. The ground was still quite damp and cold, so we focussed on the potato towers. We put in layers of donated donkey manure and the old composted grass from last years mowings. I recently learned that potatoes have the same variants as tomatoes - some are determinate and some are indeterminate. The determinate ones only produce potatoes at one level as it were - most first and second earlies are like this - so earthing up does nothing for them. So I placed determinate potatoes at several levels in the potato tower. I’m hoping that they will figure out to come out to the light, not try to wend their way up against gravity. I needed to push them in quite deeply so that the new potatoes would grow in the dark. It’s all very experimental.
One of our favourite spuds - purple rain - is indeterminate. So we will need to build up the cage over time, adding more layers as the plant grows.
The compost bins that were full to the brim at the end of last year have decomposed nicely, and have probably shrunk down to a third of what they were. As before, we will use that compost for growing potatoes, and also for mulching the trees - all of which are thriving.
We now have hundreds of willows planted which will hopefully produce lots of long skinny branches for making wreaths and baskets.
Lots in bloom there in March. And the odd bumble bee.
Workshops
Back with Womens Community Projects in Mullingar - 2 workshops this month. The first was on emergency preparedness. While we have been promised some kind of guidance by our leaders in they area the current booklet is form when Bertie was Taoiseach. So we spent some time thinking about how to be prepared in a variety of ways, and came up with a good motto - “Don’t be scared, be prepared”.
I also taught a sourdough class, and assisted Emma in a card making class, which was great fun. Another sourdough workshop (the final for 2026 I think) in Red Roots. Claire captured me in full swing.
Flower Farming
The butterfly ranunculus are flying in the tunnel, and the ones outside look even healthier, but they have not produced blooms yet - I’m hoping that the inside/outside and the corms I held back on planting till February will extend my season somewhat. The February starts are going into crates outside - they probably won’t have as many flowers as the tunnel ones, but I’m hoping for a later crop. I’m going to need lots of flowers for my residency!
I’ve gone a bit mad planting seeds and a good few have germinated although I’m struggling with pansies so if you have any tips please leave me a comment. The feverfew, which was one of the first go in (self saved seeds) has been pricked out and potted on, and is mighty. Not ready to go outside yet, though.
I got a bit of weeding done , it’s great to get at it and make space for all the seedlings that are coming along in the tunnel. Some of my beds are so full of scutch though, at some point I’ll have to remove all the perennials and dig everything up to get rid of it. Unless anyone has a better idea?
A few of us Westmeath Flower Farmers got together to place a bulk order of Living Green compost - 82 bags is too much for one, but just about perfect for 4.
Learning
On behalf of Talamh Beo, I attended an event in UCD - Governing for the Future: Institutions and Practices. Organised by Feasta, it brought together civil servants, academics, politicians and other interested parties to think about long term strategy for Ireland. Worth checking out what our neighbours in Wales are doing. I was honoured to be there, can’t say exactly what I learned, it was one of those events that will probably have an effect on me down the line. One of my colleagues from Maynooth days was there, I was delighted to spend time with her.
More prosaically, I attended a sourdough workshop in Riot Rye - a lovely day of learning - there’s always something new to learn about bread.
I’m excited to be going to the Bioregioning event in Borris in April, I’m sure that I’ll learn a lot there, and probably see some old friends, and make some new ones.
Upcoming events
There will be residency events in April, but they are not planned yet, I’ll probably send out a special newsletter to cover those.
I’ll be back in Womens Community protest looking at window boxes. I’ll be in Broadmeadow Community Garden in Swords on April 18th talking about soil, compost and no-dig.
Mullingar Gathers has a few fun events coming up - click here for details. And if you’re a reader you might be interested in Granard Booktown.
Links
A beautiful slice of nature from Clare.
A great explanation of food security and food sovereignty.
Proof that crafting is good for you!
If you’re interested in community gardens:
I’d encourage you to donate to this crowdfunded - it would be great to see Irish wool being processed here.
JP McMahon always on point.
And finally, a call to action.
Music
I’ve been listening to a lot of Dire Straits recently - my son is looking to buy an album that I owned decades ago - anyhow - be sure to watch the video for this one - it’s cute! Groundbreaking at the time, and a bit Minecrafty? Is it a bit problematic? Maybe.