The Organic Centre

What The Organic Centre does

The Organic Centre is a registered Irish charity and not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (Charity No. 20031930, Company No. 233736) that operates a 19-acre organic horticulture and education site in Rossinver, County Leitrim, on the banks of Lough Melvin in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands. It delivers its mission through four interlocking activities: (i) hands-on education via weekend workshops, masterclasses (€80–€260), and a now-part-time Organic Horticulture Course covering ~20+ topics ranging from dry stone wall building and fermentation to wild mushroom foraging, willow weaving, and fruit pruning; (ii) retail via an on-site shop and a BigCommerce-powered online store (shop.theorganiccentre.ie) selling organic seeds, food products, eco-store items, gardening tools, and curated books; (iii) visitor experiences including self-guided garden access (Robin's Garden, Kitchen Garden, Orchard, Willow Forest, Wetland System, Senses Garden, Peace Garden, meadows), the Grass Roof Cafe, guided tours, and venue hire for weddings and corporate events; and (iv) outreach including consultancy, garden design, bespoke workshops, and biodiversity training for schools and community groups.

The underlying 'technology' is organic horticultural practice and traditional craft expertise, with a small in-house team of ~9 staff covering general management, communications, administration, finance, sales, tours, garden supervision, and education coordination. The business model is hybrid: earned income from course fees, e-commerce transactions, membership subscriptions, donations, consultancy, and venue rental is supplemented by grant funding from POBAL (Community Services Programme), MSLETB, the Irish Environmental Network, and the Department of Rural and Community Development. Customer segments span individual gardeners/hobbyists (primary), schools and community groups, tourism and hospitality visitors, and local businesses seeking advisory services — with no publicly disclosed revenue figures.

Name

The Organic Centre

Legal name

The Organic Centre

Website

https://theorganiccentre.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Organic Centre is a registered Irish charity operating a 19-acre organic horticulture and education site in Rossinver, County Leitrim, offering weekend courses, workshops, organic seeds, eco-products, garden visits, and venue hire to individual gardeners, schools, community groups, and tourists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Horticulture Education Centre

NAICS

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Horticulture, Nursery & Greenhouse Operations (EDAOAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic Floriculture & Nursery Crop Production (Ornamentals, Seedlings) (AFAGAKAJ), Organic Produce & Farm Market Retail (CRAHAEAD)

Keywords

• Organic horticulture education
• Organic seed retail
• Sustainable gardening workshops
• Heritage seed varieties
• Eco-tourism experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Rossinver

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Workshop Fees: Weekend courses and workshops ranging from single-day sessions (€80-€130) to multi-day masterclasses (€220-€260). Covers topics including dry stone wall building, fermentation, wild mushroom foraging, fruit pruning, candle making, and willow weaving.
2. E-commerce Product Sales: Online shop selling organic seeds (vegetable, herb, flower), food products (pulses, grains, teas, honey, preserves), gardening tools, eco-store items (bathroom, kitchen), and books on organic growing and self-sufficiency.
3. Membership Program: Annual membership offering benefits to supporters of the charitable organisation
4. Donations: Charitable donations from supporters; organisation is a registered charity
5. Consultancy and Venue Rental: Consultancy sessions, garden design services, room rentals, and bespoke workshops for schools, community projects, and businesses

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Organic Centre runs a 19-acre organic horticulture education and visitor centre in Rossinver, County Leitrim, Ireland. It sells organic seeds, organic food products, eco-store items, gardening tools/supplies, and curated books via an on-site shop and BigCommerce online store, and delivers hands-on organic horticulture training through weekend workshops, weekend masterclasses (e.g., dry stone wall building, fermentation, wild mushroom foraging, wine and cider making, willow crafts), and a multi-year Organic Horticulture Course, complemented by garden visits, tours, the Grass Roof Cafe, venue hire for weddings/events, and consultancy/outreach to schools and community groups.

Product overview

The Organic Centre operates as a charitable organic education and retail center in Rossinver, County Leitrim, Ireland, offering a diverse portfolio of products and services centered on organic and sustainable living. The core offerings include an extensive range of organic seeds (vegetable, herb, flower seeds), organic food products (pulses, grains, honey, seaweed, teas), eco-store items, gardening tools and supplies, and curated books on organic growing and self-sufficiency. Educational services feature structured courses (Organic Horticulture Course, weekend workshops) and seasonal workshops covering topics such as wild mushroom foraging, fermentation, dry stone wall building, candle making, and wine and cider making. Visitor experiences include access to 19 acres of organic gardens, the Grass Roof Cafe serving garden-to-table produce, and venue hire for events and weddings. The organization is supported by a membership program and donations, operating as a not-for-profit charity registered in Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic Seeds Comprehensive range of organic seeds including vegetable, herb, flower, bee meadow mixes, onion and garlic sets, seed potatoes, willow cuttings, green manure, and sprouting seeds. Sold via the on-site shop and online shop to home gardeners, hobbyists, and smallholders in Ireland and beyond.
• Organic Food Products Organic food range covering dried and tinned pulses, flour and grains, honey and preserves, organic herbs/spices/seasoning, pasta and sauces, seaweed, snacks and confectionery, and teas and beverages. Sold via the online and on-site shop to individual consumers interested in organic and ethically sourced food.
• Courses and Workshops Weekend courses and workshops covering organic horticulture, dry stone wall building, fermentation, wild mushroom foraging, fruit pruning, candle making, willow weaving, wool handspinning, wine and cider making, and mushroom log inoculation. Single-day workshops €80–€130, weekend masterclasses €220–€260. Targeted at adult learners and hobbyists.
• Organic Horticulture Course 2026/7

Quantifiable outcome

• Courses available throughout 2026 covering 20+ different topics
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Garden Organic (UK): UK charity dedicated to organic gardening research, education, and heritage seed conservation, with demonstration gardens and training programmes. Closely comparable mission, charity structure, and educational product mix to The Organic Centre.
• Seed Savers Exchange: US non-profit focused on heirloom seed preservation, member-supported seed catalogue, and educational programmes. Comparable seed-retail-plus-education model but at larger US scale.
• Centre for Alternative Technology: Wales-based charity running visitor experiences, courses, and residential education on sustainability and organic systems. Comparable hands-on education venue, charity funding mix, and eco-tourism positioning.
• Irish Seed Savers Association: Irish charity conserving heritage seed varieties and running educational courses on seed saving and organic growing. Direct overlap on seed catalogue, organic horticulture education, and charity funding model in Ireland.

Broad incumbents

• Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens): Global botanical garden operating visitor experience, conservation, and educational courses. Overlaps The Organic Centre's garden tourism, education, and plant conservation functions at much greater scale.
• Soil Association: UK organic certification and education body with programmes for growers, schools, and consumers. Larger and broader but overlapping on organic education, certification, and policy advocacy.
• Royal Horticultural Society: Large UK horticultural charity running gardens, shows, formal qualifications, and public courses. A scaled-up analogue in horticulture education with significant brand and curriculum depth.
• The Eden Project: Major UK eco-attraction with educational programmes, themed gardens, and venue hire. Comparable eco-tourism, education, and venue hire model at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• Ballymaloe Cookery School: Irish heritage skills school offering short courses on food, fermentation, and foraging. Direct overlap on skill-based Irish short courses and physical school venue, primarily competing for the same adult learner cohort.

Emerging players

• Permaculture Association (Britain): UK charity supporting permaculture design education, courses, and networks. Adjacent to organic horticulture education with overlapping course topics, but focused on design principles rather than gardens-as-venue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/organiccentreie
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheOrganicCentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Organic Centre