I had just about given up on gardening with my kids this year. With the news that garden centres and seed suppliers were inundated with sales at the beginning of COVID-19 quarantine measures - leading many, like Brown Envelope Seeds and Irish Seed Savers Association, to stop trading for the time being - I thought I would give gardening a rest.

After all, I am one of the lucky ones who can, and does, work full-time from home. I am quite busy enough with work, children and farm, thank you.

But still, it is a strange year indeed if I'm not planting any seeds. I am very rarely successful in growing vegetables from seed, but God loves a tryer. And try I do - every year!

Home kits

Thank goodness Innocent and GIY have announced plans to make 5,000 of their Big Grow home kits available for families throughout Ireland. They are doing this in a bid to provide some wholesome and healthy family time out in the garden.

The Big Grow home kits contain a pack of seeds, a compost disc and instructions on how to plant and care for your grow.

Growers are encouraged to share their progress on social media streams and Innocent and GIY are asking all growers, whether they have received a home kit or not, to share their funny or creative gardening antics online as part of their Big Grow Initiative.

Three entrants will be rewarded with a prize of a €150 voucher for the GIY online store. You can share your photos and videos on social using #BigGrowShow and tag @innocentIreland to be in with the chance of winning.

GIY founder Mick Kelly says there has been a huge surge of interest in growing food in recent weeks.

"We're delighted to work with Innocent to make this experience available to even more children and families across Ireland as we bring The Big Grow home," he says.

"There is nothing more optimistic than sowing a seed and the fascination that children have with watching a plant grow into something you can eat makes it the perfect activity to stay positive during these difficult times."

The Big Grow kits will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. To order one for your household, visit www.innocentbiggrow.com.