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.

Thanks to Jean and Valerie for the following video:

A film about An t\’Ionad Glas, the Organic College in Drumcollogher,

Dan Curtin and his friends supplied this lovely music on the day.

Dan and his friends