What happened in GLAS @ TU Dublin community garden in 2024:
The GLAS @ TU Dublin Community Garden has had an incredible year, building on the success of its first season.
GAP’s community garden on the TU Dublin Blanchardstown campus has become a true gathering place for people and plants of all sorts.
During the year, the garden welcomed 48 regular volunteers who attended over 80 gardening sessions, with many more visitors joining in along the way.
In total, we had over 1,900 visits to the garden, with people attending workshops and activities that filled the calendar. Our workshops offered chances for people to learn about composting, growing vegetables and building raised beds. Events like the Volunteer Appreciation Day in April brought the community together to celebrate the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.
Schools also played a big role in the garden’s success this year. Students from four local schools got their hands dirty planting wildflowers, tending compost piles, and harvesting crops like potatoes and lettuce. These sessions not only taught students about gardening but also helped them connect with nature and learn how small actions can contribute to a healthier planet.
The garden itself has continued to grow and improve. A new polytunnel, installed late last year, provided the perfect home for crops like tomatoes, peppers and kale. Raised beds, built by volunteers, made planting and harvesting easier for everyone. Support from local businesses and organisations, like donations of tools and materials, has helped the garden thrive.
Of course, there were challenges. Transport was an ongoing issue for some groups wanting to visit, and a few scheduled sessions had to be postponed. There were also a few incidents of damage to the garden, but these were quickly repaired thanks to the dedication of the team and the staff of TU Dublin.
Despite these hurdles, the GLAS @ TU Dublin Community Garden is thriving.
It has not only become a place to grow food but also a space for people to share stories, learn from one another, and feel connected to something bigger.
As the year draws to a close, the garden team is already looking forward to 2025. We are hoping to welcome more visitors, run new workshops and find even more ways to bring the community together.
If you’d like to get involved, come along to one of the regular sessions, held on Monday, Thursday, and Friday mornings.
There’s always room for another pair of hands — and for new friendships to bloom.