Grow your own series returns
GROW COOK EAT returns to RTÉ One for a second run of this very practical series aimed at helping people with little or no knowledge of growing their own food, but who like the idea of being able to grow something themselves.
The series is anchored at the home of GIY (Grow it Yourself), at Grow HQ in Waterford City, and each week GROW COOK EAT sees presenters Michael Kelly and Karen O’Donohoe visit expert food producers, chefs and community food growing projects all across the country.
In this second series, Michael and Karen share their knowledge on how to successfully plant and grow onions, pumpkins, sweetcorn, courgettes, kale, beans and chillis for all shapes and sizes of gardens and containers.
Every week chef Katie Sanderson uses the freshly grown produce to create seasonal dishes which are easy to make
and delicious to eat.
GROW COOK EAT highlights serious issues including plastic packaging and food waste, and the series also sees Michael and Karen visiting a large scale water harvesting project in a Dublin fire station, and a Social Eating Programme in Educate Together National School in Tramore.
In the first episode, Michael and Karen focus on a household staple – the onion. Easy to grow and very low maintenance, both red and white varieties are sown in the raised bed with Karen holding back some of the sets for container growing.
Michael is upstaged by his young son Nicky who gives a masterclass in keeping hens, and Karen heads home to Cork to visit one of her favourite places, Mahon Farmers' Market to meet the people committed to growing and cooking fresh and seasonal food.
Chef Katie Sanderson creates Berber Eggs – a really simple but delicious meal that uses both onions and eggs, and is a perfect Brunch dish.
GROW COOK EAT is produced by David Hare of InproductionTV for RTÉ and is sponsored by BORD BIA and StopFoodWaste.ie
GROW COOK EAT(New seven part series, programme one) - Wednesday 13th March , RTÉ ONE, 8.30pm.
Bord Bia is associated with the programme which will demonstrate gardening as an activity that anyone can do and how its healthy produce can be used in many tasty and convenient ways. The programme will also help to build awareness of the horticulture industry in Ireland. Bord Bia promote gardening as a healthy and enjoyable activity which contributes to a person’s wellbeing as well as enhancing the environment we live in. Bord Bia also promote the consumption of fresh produce as part of a healthy balanced diet.
The Environmental Protection Agency established the Stop Food Waste programme in 2009 and has been working since with businesses and consumers to reduce food waste – which delivers a win-win on cost savings and environmental benefits. The programme website is www.stopfoodwaste.ie which includes an A-Z of foods with tips and advice on avoiding wastage.