Coolock food initiative provides healthy option

A LARGE number of children and their parents gathered in Coolock last week for a community food initiative.

The Doras Bui CHANGE Community Garden Family Open Day was held at the Coolock Development Council (CDC) site on Bunratty Drive.

Over 100 parents and children enjoyed the wonderful sunshine while learning about the many benefits of healthy eating and how to grow their own vegetables.

The children also enjoyed face-painting, bouncing castles and a BBQ with salads made from the vegetables grown in the garden.

Over the last number of months, nine raised beds and a poly tunnel have been built in the garden.

Parents and children have been learning how to sow, transplant, care for, and harvest a range of herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables. They have also been learning about good dietary and nutritional choices for themselves and their families.

Deputy Tommy Broughan, one of the directors of the Coolock Development Council, said he was delighted to attend the event.

“This is an excellent initiative,

? he said.

“It highlights the importance of empowering young families to get involved in gardening and making healthy dietary choices.

“Wednesday’s event was an example of community spirit coming alive with local people putting their talents and energies into a really worthwhile project.

?

Funding for the project is provided by the Community Food Initiative Programme, which receives funding from Safefood and is managed by Healthy Food for All.

CHANGE is one of 10 island-wide community food initiatives. It arose out of concerns surrounding food poverty and how best to empower families to make healthy food choices for themselves and their children.