Amach Anseo was established by Rebecca Strain in 2017 and occupies The Potting Shed; a place for the propagation and fortification of creativity created by artist Christine Mackey in 2013 as part of the Resistance and Rebellion residency at Fort Dunree.
The aim of Amach Anseo is to develop a group that cultivates community and creativity through growing to encourage sustainable living, encompassing holistic health and wellbeing. In 2022 the garden group continued to meet on a weekly basis, this year exploring a planting technique called Three Sisters. For many Native American communities, three seeds – corn, beans, and squash – represent the most important crops. When planted together, the Three Sisters work together to help one another thrive. Despite nurturing, the climate in the community garden was not suited to these plants. However it was a useful learning experience and will inform future planting choices.
Early in the year Amach Anseo completed the Buncrana Miyawaki Forest planting, begun in 2021, at two more housing estates in the town: The Woods and Cornmill Avenue. In total over 400 native trees and shrubs were planted and signs were made by repurposing the signage from Art in the Park.
In August, on a field trip to Glasgow, members of Artlink Creative Team visited Urban Roots, Woodlands Community Garden and Hidden Gardens to find out more about how these community gardens were set up, how they have evolved and what programmes they run. At Urban Roots we participated in a photography workshop that aims to document the changing seasons. Upon our return we sent seeds we had saved from our garden to continue the connection.
The home-made bench and the compost area in the garden had seen better days. With funding from Donegal ETB Amach Anseo ran a garden pallet furniture course where participants made individual projects to take home as well as replacing the furniture in the community garden. Led by Michiel Verspuij, the course was attended by seven women who had no previous experience with hand or power tools.
Next door to the community garden is the Garden of Reflection, developed as part of the Laurentic Memorial. In Autumn, through Donegal ETB, Amach Anseo ran a course to make ceramic tiles to identify the plants. Participants collected samples from the garden, researched the names and created tiles that will add interest and meaning to this special space.
Every Thursday since the Autumn 2021, a group of home schooling families visited the community garden to take part in arts, crafts and horticultural and nature activities. The children enjoyed a variety of pursuits including foraging, drawing, ceramics, seed saving and a long term project to build a friendship seat from Ecobricks.
In June Amach Anseo welcomed Donegal Women’s Network for their annual Women’s Wellness event at The Potting Shed. Over twenty women from across Donegal spent the day in and around the garden exploring the positive impact of green spaces on our health and
wellbeing. The day was rounded off with a dip in the sea.
- December 06, 2022
