FOOD Spring Fair at Inver

GREEN SHOOTS The first Inver Spring Fair sprang to life on Saturday. Pictured is a small sample of the produce that was on offer.

First Inver Spring Fair a success


Growing your own
Chris Brown

Where the Owenduff River meets the sea at the edge of Broadhaven Bay lies Inver Hall. Last Saturday, April 16, this beautiful location was the venue for the first Kilcommon Parish Spring Fair, which attracted people, particularly those with an interest in plants and vegetable growing, from all over  the county and beyond.
Children, with faces all painted brightly, were shown how to make small plant pots out of newspaper and plant their seeds, real promise for growers of the future. Adults had the opportunity to acquire potted herbs and flowers, found alongside great crafts, baking, eggs, ready-to-cook winter kale and more. This really was the place to be for those with an interest in seeds and growing fruit and vegetables, with loads of interesting seeds available – everything from lettuce, pea and carrot to oats. Many Mhaigheo strains of oats are now thought to be extinct, so these are valuable seeds!
There was a delicious running buffet table available throughout the five-hour fair to keep everyone nourished as growing vegetables was discussed and knowledge shared.
Kate, one of the organisers of this excellent event, enthused: “We wanted to organise an event to celebrate spring to show that the recession isn’t all doom and gloom … that there are great things happening in the garden.”
The excellent travelling performance-poet Catherine Brogan arrived on her way from London to Donegal, and this talented Omagh girl’s own poem about Omagh’s recent tragedies was simply outstanding.
Great credit to all involved in this excellent event. The Harvest Fair planned for later this year promises to be a great occasion.

Chris Brown runs Brown’s Farm, a small farm in Louisburgh. He is an advocate of sustainable, natural farming methods and buying local.