Meet Our Team

The Irish Seed Savers Team

The work involved here is enormous and we really welcome any support or help you would like to give us..... Our staff are highly skilled and specially trained and are now ready to pass on their knowledge and experience. We are able to offer a wide range of training courses to suit you or your organisations needs. Our staff are also available to give talks or demonstrations to interested parties.

Contact us to find out more.

Chrys Gardener (Project Manager)

Chrys Gardener relocated from Ithaca, NY to County Clare in early 2008, in part because of the mild Irish climate that allows for year-round gardening. In America she was the manager for various gardening programs, including a community gardening project for low-income families and a county tourism beautification program. Since moving to Ireland Chrys and her husband have established an organic landscaping business and are members of the Ennis Farmers Market, selling homegrown vegetables from their small market garden.

Peter Bourke (Garden coordinator)

Peter Bourke joined the garden and orchard team in the summer of 2007. Originally from Cork, he studied science in UCC before attending the Permaculture course at the Kinsale FEC. From there he came to Seed Savers and hasn't looked back since. In 2008 Peter took over the position of Garden Coordinator, and works closely with Jo Newton in the seedbank.

Matteo Petitti (Orchard Coordinator)

Leaving the hills of Tuscany for the hills of East-Clare, Matteo booked a one way ticket to Ireland after graduating in Agricultural science in the University of Florence. He has been living in Clare for the past three years and has been working with the Irish Seedsavers since 2008 being the Orchard coordinator since 2009.

Joanne Newton (Seed bank Coordinator)

Joanne has worked at Irish Seed Savers Association for 7 years from Orchard worker, gardener to coordinating the seed bank. Currently she is Curator of the collection and mentor to new staff members. She has plenty of practical experience, in organic growing, having run her own market garden and small holding in Clare for 15 years. She is also very active in sharing her knowledge teaching workshops such as the Organic Gardening Courses here at Irish Seed Savers, in addition to workshops on sustainable land use.

Heidi Lammiman (Website Moderator)

Born in Jersey, Heidi lives on a small holding of 2.5 acres. Heidi moved here 14 years ago from Whitby, North Yorkshire where she worked alongside her father on his fishing vessel. Her job here at the Irish Seed Savers Association started within the first year of moving here, when the project was first started. Firstly, in the garden where she was known as the earth mover not the earth mother. Now, she works in the office on a part time basis, primarily on the website.