FUNDING AND FRIENDS OF THE GARDEN

How do we get our Funding?

Day to Day Expenses
We fund day-to-day expenses through an annual membership fee of €20 per person (€10 concessions), tree sponsorship in our Heritage Orchard and ad-hoc donations through sales of vegetables and plants. We also fund-raise during Heritage Week, at Open Days and we take a stall at Flavours of Fingal

 At times it’s a struggle but generally speaking we can keep things ticking over by making sure every cent is fully utilised. We re-use and recyle where ever possible and like your granny used to say, we make do and mend.

 We are always on the look out for materials that other people are discarding – scrap timber is put to good use making raised beds, old garden furniture is revarnished and re-used, pallets become compost bins and we take cuttings and grow plants from seed where ever possible. All this helps to keep costs down.

Because of this canny management, the garden is self-sufficient and financially viable with regard to day-to-day running costs.

We offer produce from the garden 'for sale' in exchange for a donation to the garden.

Can You Help?
If you or an organisation you are involved in would be keen to help us in any way we would be grateful. It doesn’t have to be money (although that would be lovely!).  Offering to pick up materials in a van, the donation of garden furniture, giving us bulbs and cuttings, offering any services … all these things are a great help.

Grants
The following organisations have awarded us grants over the past few years:
Community Foundation for Ireland
Dublin Bus 
Dublin City Council
Tree Council of Ireland / A&L Goodbody
Trees for Cities

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Canada Life kindly sponsored 4 wheelbarrows for the garden - here's one of them in action

Infrastructure Funding
As we are well established it would appear that we need very little investment and support but we run the garden on a shoestring and finding the funds for expensive but vital infrastructure (like irrigation) is a huge challenge for us. The purchase of something like a new lawnmower makes a big dent in funds and the planting and upkeep of the Orchard can also make significant inroads in our finances.

So periodically we have applied for grants to help us. So far we have been able to erect a polytunnel and build raised beds, an apiary and a social area for gardeners.  In 2014 we are installing an irrigation system into the garden and we are working on the construction of more raised beds in a corner of the kitchen garden using old decking.

Fingal County Council supplied us with a shed in 2010 and bored a well for us in 2012. They have also been able to give us a generator. However resources are very limited for them both in terms of finances and manpower and we haven’t been able to rely on them for more than ad-hoc assistance here and there.

Friends of the Garden
A&L Goodbody
Axis Stationery
Cafe by Day (Drumcondra)
Canada Life
Crowne Plaza Hotel Northwood
Electric Ireland
IAFS
IKEA
ICA (Santry Guild)
Sam Hire

Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who is currently supporting the garden – we appreciate every cent and it’s nice to know that with your help we are offering a real amenity to the local community and enriching lives in the process.

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