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)

Originally from Cork, Peter started working with the Irish Seed Savers Association in 2007. He has a double first class honors degree in Mathematics and Physics from University College Cork. Peter also achieved a Certificate of Distinction in Practical Sustainability course. Peter’s experience so far is that he has spent a number of months working voluntarily on various organic farms in France 2003 and 2006; He also worked as a volunteer in the grounds of the Centre for Alternative Technology, in 2005.

Matteo Petitti (Irish Native Apple Collection Coordinator)

Matteo was born in Florence some 30 years ago and, has been living in Ireland for the past three years. He graduated in Agricultural science in the University of Florence. He has been working here since January 2008 and in the position of coordinator since 2009.

Joanne Newton (Staff Representative)

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.

Dermot McKinney (Offsite Marketing)

Originally from Dublin, Dermot set up his own retail business in Ennis Co Clare in 1983. After selling the business he and his family went to live in Germany. The call of County Clare was very strong and in 2004 they returned to Clare having applied for the position of manager at Irish Seed Savers Association. Dermot’s experience and training is in retail and marketing and this helped to move the organisation on to the next stage of its development.

Heidi Lammiman

Born in Jersey, Heidi now lives on a small holding of 2.5 acres. Heidi moved here 14 years ago with 3 small children from Whitby, where she worked alongside her father on his fishing vessel; in the evenings taking bookings for the season. Her job here at the Irish Seed Savers Association started within the first year of moving here. 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.