Ireland: Plot to plate ethos from a charming Kilkenny kitchen garden
The Goodwillies helped start a conversation about organic gardening and food culture
By Fionnuala Fallon
The Irish Times
Nov 27, 2021
Excerpt:
College sweethearts who met at Trinity where they both studied botany, Goodwillie says even as a young couple they were both painfully aware of the fact that “Earth is a planet of limited, dwindling resources.
“It was one of the things that motivated us to move from Dublin to Lavistown so that we could lead a more sustainable, self-sufficient life.”
They no longer live in Lavistown House itself, having moved into its converted stable-block in 2013 to allow their daughter Claire, her garden-designer husband Des Doyle and their children take up residence in the main house. But they continue to manage its busy farm and to lovingly tend its walled kitchen garden, sharing the joy of its delicious homegrown produce amongst the three generations.
Even now in late November, they are still eating a wide array of vegetables from it including leeks, onions, potatoes, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, pumpkins and squash.
“It took time to learn and hone our skills but we’re now 100 per cent reliant on our garden throughout the year for all of our vegetables. I’m really proud of that.”
