Testimonials

“Overall this is a comprehensive landscape plan covering many different areas of biodiversity & nature conservation and protection in the garden setting. It offers enormous potential for educating the educators and passing on the knowledge of these biodiversity-friendly practices to be potentially followed in 166 schools throughout the region. A huge amount of different biodiversity-friendly actions & projects have been fitted into the site relative to its size. It is a very efficient design making great us of the space available and therefore giving inspiration to teachers who are working in school spaces that vary greatly in size & layout. The message that room can be made for biodiversity in all our lives no matter where we live & work will be very obvious with this Demonstration Garden.” Dr Fiona Mac Gowan, BSc, PhD Consultant Ecologist & Botanist – March 2023

Dee Sewell has played a key role in developing a number of therapeutic and community horticultural programmes in Carlow town and county. Her depth of experience and practical knowledge underpinned by a community development approach and a firm belief in equality and inclusion has ensured that all the groups and individuals that she has worked with are welcomed with empathy, understanding and enthusiasm. Projects are designed to meet both individual and group needs. It is this bespoke approach that has contributed to the success of the programmes and projects that Dee has led, particularly in working with people with additional needs.” Annette Fox MA, BA Hons, SICAP Social Inclusion Community Development Specialist, Carlow County Development Partnership, 2019

“I am in constant awe of Dee’s commitment and creativity to bring green issues into the mainstream and to include all of us in her vision. Her knowledge and skill in leading her business is rooted firmly in a grassroots approach to her work and a unique approach to spreading the word” Catherine Drea, Foxglove Lane Studios

“I was extremely happy with the community garden project delivered by Greenside Up at Carrick-on-Suir Library. Dee Sewell delivered everything she promised in a friendly and professional manner and with a very short lead time. Dee worked well with the TY boys from CBS Carrick-on-Suir and brought them, step by step, through the entire process of measuring, digging, planting, mulching and constructing raised beds.

We all benefitted enormously from the gardening project learning about the advantages of growing your own food, healthy eating, exercise, fresh air and how gardening can be good for your mental health. Thanks Dee. This project was funded by ‘Healthy Tipperary’. Carol Delany, Branch Manager, Carrick-on-Suir Library. Spring 2019.

“Dee is one of the most inspirational entrepreneurs I know. Her passion, commitment to sustainable practices & generous sharing of her extensive knowledge have benefited local communities and individuals alike” Emma Geaoghegan, Architect & Lecturer, Dublin School of Architecture

Greenside Up really is community based and very inclusive of everybody ~ Anna Tracy, Gleann na Bearu Community Garden

Dee has given me lots of knowledge and skills to get out and get my garden sorted. Maybe I can be nearly as good as my Dad was. He grew everything and I have lots of memories of harvesting fruit and veg as a child. Now it’s time for me to create similar memories for my own kids. Thanks for the knowhow and confidence. Really looking forward to lots more gardening and harvesting. Thanks again ~ Verena Butler, Hugginstown, QQI 3 Outdoor Vegetable Crop Production, School of Food, Thomastown – June 2015

All I can say is that I fell on this course totally by accident and I am so happy as I thoroughly enjoyed it, loved all that we did and I have come away with a better knowledge of how to select, plant and hopefully produce good vegetable crops ~ Carmel Fennelly, Ballyhale, QQI3 Outdoor Vegetable Crop Production, School of Food, Thomastown – June 2015

Dee’s enthusiasm is so infectious. The course really made me want to grow herbs and vegetables! ~ Mary Kinsella, Herbs & Salad Workshop, May 2015

Dee has such enthusiasm for the subject that it is infectious! ~ School of Food, Herbs & Salad Workshop – 2015

Informative course, patient teacher and a lovely group of people attending. No better way to spend a Friday morning! ~ Nancy Parnis ~ Leighlin Parish Garden Course  – 2014

Excellent for beginners, covers all the basics for the newcomer to gain confidence ~ Sean Daly, Leighlin Parish Garden Course

Super course delivered in a very relaxed style ~ Margaret Brennan, Leighlin Parish Garden

Dee has a wealth of experience and knowledge about horticulture and she is passionate about helping and encouraging others to grow their own food ~ Madeleine O’Keeffe, Owner The Tea Rooms at Duckett’s Grove

Dee is one of the most inspirational entrepreneurs I know. Her passion, commitment to sustainable practices & generous sharing of her extensive knowledge have benefited local communities and individuals alike ~ Emma Geaoghegan, Partner MEME Architectured Illustrat

Dee is dedicated & passionate about her business and has great ideas how to benefit organisations through the use of horticulture ~ Brian Andrews, ID8

Dee Sewell is doing amazing work at supporting and promoting positive, sustainable action at community level. Her commitment, enthusiasm and efforts in doing so so should be recognised and supported as much as possible ~ Peadar Rice, Owner, Small Changes

I was lucky enough to attend one of Dee’s workshops last year. Her wealth of knowledge and her passion for gardening was quite obvious right from the start. She conveys the information in a clear, simple and engaging manner. I would highly recommend Dee ~ Mary Gethings, Director, Eco Evolution

I would have no hesitation in recommending Dee having known and worked alongside her on a project and seen her creativity, flair, high level of motivation and engaging personality in action ~ Brian Paterson, Secret Garden Centre

Besides her obvious talent for gardening and building a business from scratch, Dee has the ability to put her customers at the heart of everything, even when they call at the weekend to sort out a crisis ~ Marian Hearne, Co Owner, Herbi & Carni

I am in constant awe of Dee’s commitment and creativity to bring green issues into the mainstream and to include all of us in her vision. Her knowledge and skill in leading her business is rooted firmly in a grassroots approach to her work and a unique approach to spreading the word ~ Catherine Drea, Foxglove Lane Studios

Dee is an excellent source of information, always answering questions in a simple and understandable manner, with a talent to convey a variety of subject in a clear, engaging and informative way. Her passion is very clear and infectious, and she has a great gift of being able to communicate her vast knowledge with people at their own level… a vital talent for a really good teacher/tutor ~ Naomi Lavelle, Owner, Dr Hows Science Wows

Dee is one in a million. She shares her knowledge with many and has a very loyal following for her community garden work, training workshops and social media postings  ~ Bryan Leech, Owner, Kilgraney House, Co Carlow

Gosh it’s so difficult to write a testimonial for someone as passionate about helping people as Dee. Encouraging and teaching people and communities how to be self-reliant and showing them how to grow their own foods is what Dee Sewell from Greenside Up is all about ~ Ena Roynane, Horticultural Consultant, Garden Design Co

‘Droichead Community Garden Project feel very lucky to have a lady such as Dee facilitating our group. Dee has an in-depth knowledge of all things gardening and is a tremendous asset to any gardening group.  Without Dee’s support we would be unable to keep this community garden going’ ~ Olive Maher, Manager, Droichead Family Resource Centre

“Innovative, creative and has a natural flair for business development” ~ Ann-Marie Lehart, Kilkenny Leader Partnership

I did an entry level gardening course with Dee a couple of years ago and couldn’t recommend her course enough. She knows anything there is to know about vegetable growing, is very free with her knowledge. Dee genuinely loves what she does and her enthusiasm is infectious. Her class was fabulous, engaging, fun and brimming with useful tips and hints. It truly takes the mystery out of growing your own ~ Siobhan Jordan, Artist and Illustrator

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