• Tours of Gardens all afternoon

• Information on Organic Farming and Organic Gardening

There is no admission fee and all are welcome

If you would like more information you can contact us on 06383604, you will also be able to find us on Facebook.

In a wide ranging address to graduates of An tIonad Glas the Organic College, Dromcollogher last Friday, Minister of State with responsibility for Horticulture, Mr Shane McEntee said that Organic Food Production was a good news story and the skills that the graduates learned will be in demand even more so in the future as a growing population will need more and better quality food.

Minister McEntee commended the College on the provision of quality courses in Organic Growing and Sustainability over a 21 year period since its foundation in 1991.  “The practical elements of the courses combined with the theoretical knowledge gained are invaluable” said Minister McEntee. Referring to A tIonad Glas as the original driving force for Organic Education in Ireland, Minister McEntee acknowledged the vision of the college and its partners in developing a Distance Learning initiative which continues to be such a resounding success.

“My job is to encourage you to use the knowledge and expertise that you have gained in this College, to avail of the market opportunities that clearly exist and by doing so, maximise your potential income” said the Minister. Minister McEntee also stated that he is pleased that applications are now being accepted for the 2012 Organic Farming Scheme.

Commending the students for their enterprise in forming an in-house co-operative to add value to food and set up the College Shop, he said the range and taste of food we had could hold its own with any in the world. As a farmer, he noted the great joy of watching crops grow and bringing them to market and he was encouraged that more young people are looking to horticulture for a meaningful career.

His Department appreciated the vision and learning provided by the V.E.C. and wanted graduates to get the best possible education for the future.

Eimear Brophy Adult Education Officer with Co. Limerick V.E.C. said it was vital that adults considering returning to education have a wide range of options. There is she said so much to learn from nature that can sustain us on the lifelong learning journey. Drawing on the theme of the College’s Quiet Room urging us to; “Be still as a mountain and flow like a river”; this was a great motto for any adult thinking of personal growth.

Noting that the college had gained a reputation nationally and internationally, she congratulated the staff and learners who had been leaders in innovation from developing courses for National Certification, to setting standards for added value to a range of food products, many of which were available for all to taste before and after the Award ceremony.

She particularly thanked the family members who were present and supported the learners to allow them the time to return to study.

Brendan Burke Principal of Hazelwood College thanked the Minister and the Department of Agriculture for their vision in supporting the Development of the Distance Learning programmes and noted the variety of courses from FETAC Level 3 to Certificate and Diploma Standard at Level 5 and 6 which the College provided.

Paula Pender Co-ordinator of Distance Learning said the use of modern technology had allowed people develop an online growing community without the cost of travelling long distances.

She told the graduates how over forty learners annually took Distance Learning Courses and as the courses were modular this was a further pathway into the educational system and towards increasing the numbers of organic growers in the country.

Jim McNamara Educational Director and one of the founders of the college said there was a need for more supports to get young graduates established as farmers and growers.  He noted there is a major opportunity in the current Common Agricultural Policy review to put policies in place to bring new people into farming by way of making land, machinery and mentoring services available.

He also highlighted the genuine concerns among organic producers that genetically modified field trails could lead to cross contamination.

The prudent course for Ireland, he suggested was to collect and breed from the best disease resistant potatoes from around the world, without using genetically modified means that would threaten our unique selling point as food producers in a G.M. free Island.

Dr. Sinead Neiland Horticultural teacher at the College and former Chairperson of I.O.F.G.A noted that over the years the college had trained a large number of successful organic growers. These, she said had a multiplier effect in their own communities and were reducing our food imports as well as generating self employment in Ireland.

Marion Harnett representing students said that as a farmer returning to study she had learned of many new possibilities of diversifying. She had also benefited from the variety of life enriching experiences that organic and co-operative learning can bring. Further education for adults she said was vital and totally different from schools of the past. It was she said well worth taking that first step.

The market also celebrated Terra Madre Mother Earth Day which is an annual feature of the Slow Food Movement to which the college is affiliated. This movement has branches in over one hundred countries around the world, its theme this year is celebrating local food cultures.

Kate Carmody, an award winning cheese maker from Beál, Ballybunion, told the gathering that building community markets like this one is the way to deal with the current recession. The quality and diversity of the produce, she said, was first class and every Euro spent in this market would have a multiplier effect in the locality far greater than any spent in a supermarket.

The principles of slow food she reminded everyone, are go for quality, clean, fair and where possible local produce. People right across Europe she said were facing a recession, and were turning more to primary produce from their own area and adding value to it in the home and on the farm.

Organic Irish produce she claimed  is among the best in the world and small businesses and co-operatives are the key to building communities that will have a stable secure food supply, will generate and retain money locally.

Martin Maher, a first year student from Tipperary, said the market was a unique experience, he thanked the public for their support and their feed back at the stalls which he said was priceless in developing products for the future.

Judy Beck, a diploma student from Limerick,  said the market experience over the past two years had been most encouraging. There was she said a joy in creating new products that had taste, quality, were presented well and were at a fair price. She thanked all who had helped set up the market and reminded people if they missed it the college weekly market is in the Square, Dromcollogher on Friday from 9-2p.m.  Slow Food Ireland may be contacted at     www.slowfoodireland.com

There will be a wide range of stalls at the market, selling fare from the Gardens as well as crafts and food gifts including delicious chutneys, jams, cordials, home baking, hand-made Chocolates, and other goodies. You can also pick up natural gifts like Christmas Wreathes, hand-made soaps, balms and luxurious treats.  To relax visitors will get to enjoy tea & coffee and home-made cakes baked by the students. Of course the big man himself (Santa Claus!!) will make an appearance and there will be entertainment for the kids.

The market will also give friends and family of the students an opportunity to come and have a good look around at the Gardens, weather permitting of course, so bring your wellies!!.

This is a great chance to support a small, local Limerick endeavour and come home with some unique Christmas gifts.

For directions log onto our website: www.organiccollege.com

Considerations to be taken when choosing,and planting your tree.

These recommendations are for both domestic planting sites and for REPS/AEOS

Location:

Trees must be planted in suitable sites. Consider planting groups of trees at the intersection of plots. Trees planted in these adjoining field corners will cause less disruption to your farming activity and will provide maximum wildlife and landscape value when they are mature.

What to plant:

Once the planting sites are selected, the most suitable tree species should be chosen from the list.

The use of native tree species must be prioritised.

To contribute to the conservation of Irish genetic resources the trees should ideally originate from suitable indigenous sources of native seed.

Plant species that will compliment those already growing on the land.

Consider the physical conditions of each site e.g. soil type, drainage, exposure etc., and choose species that will succeed in such sites. Remember there is a tree species that will succeed on most sites.

The planting distance should be considered in the context of the ultimate height of the tree, providing sufficient space to grow and develop naturally.

Choose species for the use and size of each site. Consider the ultimate height the tree will grow; avoid overhead wired, sites adjoining railway tracks, too near to buildings etc.

Fencing:

Where trees are planted in groups,tree stock must be completely excluded from the new plantings. Individual trees should be protected from browsing animals.

Weed Control:

It is essential to control growth of grass and weeds around the young trees until established. Grass and weeds can be controlled by treading/cutting or by the use of mulches.

Planting:

Bare rooted trees should be carried out during the dormant season normally late October – end of March but not when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Trees that fail to establish must be replaced.

New Polytunnel

We recently erected a new polytunnel at An t-Ionad Glás. The tunnel frame was moved from the community garden in Dromcollogher so it was reassembled with great care, to get just the right fit. It is 60×20 foot wide.

The tunnel was erected over two days. On Friday, after much debate over the final alignment of the tunnel, we dug the trenches and set the crop bars in the ground and squared the corners. We had about thirty students over the two days which was more than enough help!

Monday the10th October the conditions were perfect it was a bright day with very little wind. So with plenty of helping hands we then covered the frame with the new plastic. We also hung the new doors and rotavated the tunnel. The first years will be using this tunnel for their crops. It is divided into four beds with three paths. It has since been sown with different over wintering crops on a four year rotation of the Brassicas, Allium, Solanum, and Legume families.

The young man with the prize find of the day is Robert Slater one of our first-year student from Tullylease.

If you’ve signed up for the courses you should have received an email from us with more details.  If you’re still considering signing up or haven’t finalised payment / funding yet then we’d still encourage you to come along on Saturday.  There are a few place left and we can offer help with getting funding from NOTS or FAS on the day.

Hope to see there!

We would like to thank everyone who helped out for the two weeks prior to the picnic and who helped out on the day.  A special thank you to Mr. Brendan Burke of Hazelwood who allowed us to use the school parking area and for giving us the use of their bus for shuttling people to An t-Ionad Glas.

We would also like to thank:

• An Garda Siochana for helping with the traffic.
• The people who live within the area of our college
• The Students both past and present who turned up to help with arrangements, catering, displays, information booths.

and to everyone who gave of their most valuable time.  Without all their help and cooperation this event would not have been able to go ahead.