In today’s world, where people are becoming increasingly conscious about their health and the health of the planet, growing food is becoming more of an important climate action than ever. However, not everyone is confident enough to take that first step, fearing failure or simply not knowing where to start. That’s where GIY comes in, a social enterprise founded by Mick Kelly that supports people in growing their own food.
Mick Kelly is a seasoned food grower with over 20 years of experience in the field. He started as a complete beginner, which is why he understands the confusion and fears that beginners face. To help such people, he has created a 12-week real-time program that takes participants on a step-by-step journey of growing 12 of the easiest and quickest vegetables. The kick-starter course is designed to build participants’ confidence and ensure that they end up harvesting vegetables by the end of the 12 weeks.
The course kicks off from 11th May 2023 and registrations close on Friday 21st May 2023.
The program includes the right kit (a special How Food Grows GROWBox with seeds, compost, and pots, etc.), online learning videos, and weekly live virtual Q&A coaching sessions with Mick Kelly. Additionally, participants get to be a part of a small community of 30 beginner growers to learn from and share the journey with.
The course is designed for complete beginners who want to become a GIYer but don’t know where to start or have tried and failed before. Participants need not worry about the size of their garden or whether they have one at all, as all the vegetables can be grown in containers. The course is for people who want to save money on their grocery bills, show their kids where their food comes from, or those who know that homegrown food is more nutritious and sustainable.
Mick Kelly’s motivation for creating the course stems from his experience of teaching at GROW HQ and talking to GIYers worldwide. He realised that many people find it overwhelming to start growing their food, despite their love for the idea. He also noted that people don’t want to look silly if they don’t get it right. Therefore, he created the course to take the mystery out of food growing and vastly increase participants’ chances of success.
The program overcomes some common barriers that people face in growing their food. For instance, it addresses the issue of lack of time by showing people how they can make food growing fit around their lives with some simple time-saving tricks and techniques. The program also addresses the problem of lack of space by demonstrating how food growing can work in whatever space one has. In just three small raised beds, participants can grow up to 50kg of food worth around €500. Additionally, all 12 vegetables that the program teaches can be grown in containers, making it possible for people with balconies or tiny gardens to participate.
The program also overcomes the problem of lack of skills by teaching participants some core skills around seed sowing, transplanting, managing pests, and so on that are key to growing successfully. Mick Kelly is convinced that anyone can learn to grow food, and this program is designed to teach those core skills that participants will remember forever.
This is an excellent opportunity for complete beginners to start growing their own food successfully. With the guidance of Mick Kelly and the support of a small community of beginner growers, participants can become GIYers and enjoy the satisfaction of putting homegrown food on their table.
