Our Story
Sustainable growing, local roots, and a passion for wildlife-friendly gardening in Leitrim.
The Roots of Crann Grá
Our journey began when we moved to Bumble Cottage, a small, neglected plot of land nestled in the rolling clay hills of County Leitrim. As we set about establishing a vegetable garden and orchard, we faced a rude awakening: the soil. The land was sticky, heavy drumlin clay that stayed saturated for months on end. Standard nursery plants bought in big garden centers consistently failed to survive our damp, cold winters.
We realized that standard commercial horticulture wasn’t serving local gardeners. Plants grown in heated glasshouses under artificial lights are soft and vulnerable. We decided to change that, propagating our own plants outdoors, selecting species that naturally thrived in damp clay, and feeding them purely with organic seaweed feeds.
In 2025, we established Crann Grá (which means “Tree of Love” in Irish). Our goal is to provide hardy, chemical-free, peat-free plants grown with deep respect for the earth.
Our Growing Promise
We grow plants that make a positive contribution to our ecosystem. Here are the core pillars of how we propagate at Crann Grá:
100% Peat-Free
We believe bogs belong in the ground. We use premium wood fiber, coir, and composted bark. We never support peat extraction.
Pesticide-Free
We never spray our plants with neonicotinoids or chemical weedkillers, keeping them completely safe for bumblebees and birds.
Acclimated Locally
Our plants are grown outdoors or in unheated tunnels. They survive actual Leitrim winters before they reach your garden.
Sustainable Circularity
We pack our plants in recycled plastic or biodegradable pots, and we reuse any pots returned to us by our customers.