We can fix the future with food growing

Founded in 2008, GIY supports people around the world to live healthier, happier and more sustainable lives by growing some of their own food. Our mission is to educate and enable a global movement of food growers whose collective actions will help to rebuild a sustainable food system. We are a proud non-profit social enterprise working in Ireland, UK and USA from our base in Waterford, with reach globally through our partnerships, media and advocacy work. By 2030, GIY aims to inspire over 100 million people to grow, cook and eat some of their own food at home, school, work and in the community.  Around 1 million people currently grow their own food each year through a GIY programme and our TV series Grow, Cook, Eat and Food Matters have been seen by over 12 million people around the world on Amazon Prime and RTE.

The Garlic Story

In the early 2000’s founder of GIY Mick Kelly (at that time working in IT) was shopping in his local supermarket and about to buy a 90-cent bulb of garlic. But he paused when he read the label: “Product of China”. Staring at that garlic, which had been on an epic 5,000-mile journey, was a pivotal moment in Mick’s life. He left the supermarket and immediately set about growing his own garlic, beginning a lifetime’s passion for food growing and food system change.  And so began the story of GIY.

TO GROW NOW


GIY stories

Meet some of our GIYers (that’s people who grow some of their own food) who all champion Food Empathy – a deeper understanding and connection with food from their experience of growing. If you want food done right, then grow it yourself.

Newsthyme

Get hints, tips, articles, videos, and news directly from the GIY team every week.