Since 2009, GIY Ireland has gone from 100 ‘grow it yourself’ enthusiasts in Waterford, to become a national initiative supporting some 65000 people to grow their own produce at home, school, work or in their community. A new GROW HQ will open in 2016.  As part of the final phase of fundraising for this project, the GIY  not-for-profit organisation  has joined forces with Renault to launch  a competition which brings together the Grow It Yourself ethos with the modern day ‘selfie’ trend!

GIY and Renault are calling on all food growers to snap a #GrowItYourSelfie to help raise funds for GROW HQ, GIY’s new pioneering food education centre. The most popular #GrowItYourSelfie, as voted by the public, will win a 100% electric Renault Fluence Z.E vehicle. This competition, which ties in with the summer growing season,  encourages all  growing enthusiasts of any age group, to take a snap of themselves in their vegetable gardens, patches, nurseries, allotments,and rural idylls –  to those who grow a few herbs in a pot on an urban window sill.  Wherever or whatever you grow – you can snap!  Then  share your snap with the GrowItYourSelfie hashtag. When you  post your selfie, text GIY to 57802 to donate €2.00 to help support the completion of GROW HQ  – and be in with a chance to win this amazing  Renault vehicle.  

A shortlist of the best selfies will be published by GIY and the public will be asked to vote to pick a winner in August. The winner will drive away in their brand new Electric Renault Fluence Z.E. Vehicle from GROW-FEST – the annual festival for grow it yourself enthusiasts (known as Glastonbury for Growers!), held in Waterford from 11th -13th September 2015

GROW HQ will be a place where people immerse themselves in the GIY lifestyle by growing, cooking and eating home-grown food. Plans for the centre include a grow school, cookery school, café, farm shop and food gardens.   GROW HQ aims to help over 500,000 people  live a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle in the coming five years.

Launching the campaign with GIY on July 22nd,  Renault Ambassador Lorraine Keane said, “GIY is such a great message to give our children. My girls got great excitement from growing their own tomatoes, strawberries and peas this year. It makes them realise how much nicer fresh fruit and vegetables are and how important it is – and easy it is – to grow your own food. It was also a lovely thing to do together as a family.”

 Founder of GIY Michael Kelly said, “I love sharing my GIY triumphs and tragedies on social media and can’t wait to see the GrowItYourSelfies coming in from veg patches all over Ireland.  We’re hugely grateful to Renault for putting such a brilliant incentive in place and this funding is hugely important to us to get the GROW HQ project off the ground.”