“We grow tasty, beautiful things on our little patch”
Horticulturist Glenn Keelan and florist Aiva Veinberga share a productive allotment in Skerries, Co Dublin. Both studied horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. They live in Clontarf. Glenn began his gardening company, Ivy Glenn Designs, after winning the 2016 Super Garden Viewers’ Choice Award for his coastal-themed garden.
How they got started
“In our late 20s, we discovered a passion for gardening and growing our own food. Aiva grew up on a farm, so having homegrown vegetables and flowers was the norm for her. We both felt a need for our own patch to grow tasty and beautiful things to be more healthy and aware of seasonal changes.”
What they love most
“We love to plant anything you can use for home decorating or cooking. If it does not fit into those categories, then it does not have a place on our allotment. It has to be useful to be deserving of the limited space we have. Our favourite veg to grow last year was definitely the ‘Uchiki Kuri’ pumpkin, the best for roasting.”
How they garden
“We garden with a smile on our faces. It can be physically demanding at times but the rewards of harvesting our own veg, bringing full baskets home to cook, make it all worthwhile.”
We couldn’t be without…
“Indoor gardening over the long, dark winter is something we both love and need. We treasure all our houseplants but if we had to pick, it would be our Boston ferns. Their foliage is very attractive and the lush green brightens up our apartment.”
What to do now…
“It is important to start chitting your early spuds now in a light, cool area protected from frost.”