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Potato Day - Saturday 11 February 11am - 2pm 2012
We're having our first Potato Day at the OOOOBY Store! There'll be demonstrations and talks on planting, caring for, harvesting and cooking potatoes; local food stalls (including our 9-year old local egg producer!); Irish organic seeds, organic compost & pots (including biodegradable plant pots); and a large variety of organic seed potatoes for sale. We'll also have information on this year's improved local vegetable box scheme.
If you already pre-ordered your seed potatoes, they'll be there for collection. If you haven't already gotten some, you can learn about the different organic varieties of seed potato for sale on the day. Organic onion sets & garlic can also be ordered on the day and will be available in the next week or two.
Interested local food/craft and community groups are welcome as stallholders -- the cost is just €5.
If you'd like to get involved, there's lots you can do - organising for the day, tidying & setup at the OOOOBY Store, spreading the word, helping out on the day, cleanup afterwards etc. Please get in touch!
Download our Potato Day Poster
Thanks to our suppliers Fruit Hill Farm for supporting this event.
GIY (Grow It Yourself) meeting in Glenealy - Sat 18 Feb 2012 at 1pm
The first meeting of the year is on Sat Feb 18th at 1pm in the OOOOBY store in Glenealy. As we'll all be thinking about what to grow this year maybe people could bring along any extra seeds that they have to swap. And we'll talk about what we'd like to do/learn as a group for 2012. Lorraine will update you on the upcoming events for the year for GIY nationally. No cost, and no prior gardening experience required.
Introducing our youngest local food producer
Nine-year-old Finn is completely dedicated to his hens, and is now selling his eggs through the OOOOBY Store. Finn will have a stall at the Potato Day, where he'll be talking about how he cares for his hens, and selling boxes of fresh local eggs.
Events at Carraig Dúlra Farm
Polytunnel workshop - 8 March
Permaculture Skills Exchange
As you may be aware, last year, Suzie and a volunteer team of tutors and students developed a Permaculture Skills Exchange course aimed at the under-employed.
The course used permaculture design, looking at ways to take under-valued land, woodlands, other resources/materials, and with the skills of the people involved, to create vibrant productive systems without lots of money.
Examples of some of the specific skill areas covered include land use, natural building, green woodworking, natural beekeeping and willow work. The course was very well received and had good outcomes for all involved.
Start date is likely to be mid-March.
Course funding depends on level of interest, so if this sounds like something you'd like to do, contact Suzie asap on permadmin@dulra.org
Sustainable Living Workshops - starting Thurs 16 Feb 2012
Aughrim Community Garden springs into action with the first of a new series of Sustainable Living workshops for the public funded by Wicklow VEC and the Co. Wicklow Community Education Programme. The first information session on Thursday, February 16th from 8pm to 10pm in the Pavilion in Aughrim, will be hosted by Suzie Cahn, experienced organic gardener, permaculture teacher and sustainable living instructor.
“The Easy Way to Organic Gardening” will be an introductory talk highlighting how gardeners can use natural organic methods of cultivation, with tips and techniques on growing food without too much backache! Organic gardening depends on good soil and Suzie Cahn will explain how age old methods of improving the soil will improve your vegetables! Food grown at home is better for you and better for the planet. Eating healthy seasonal food grown locally can reduce your food bills, food miles and improve your diet.
You can find out more information by ringing Anita Davis on 086-8845624.
Handskill Workshop Weekends at Judith Hoad's home in Co Donegal
These workshops are residential, each of two days duration and all are over weekends. Up to six people can be accommodated. Payment can be in cash, or in kind. This means, if you choose to pay in cash, it will cost you €170, inclusive of tuition, bed and board and materials for the workshop. If you wish to pay in kind, this may involve goods (such as harvests of fruit or vegetables), or something you have made, or time spent working in Judith’s garden. All payment in kind has to be negotiated between the participant in the workshop and Judith – assume nothing! Payment can be made partly in cash and partly in kind. All participants and expected to pay a deposit of €30 to secure a place on their chosen workshop, whether they are offering cash or kind. People paying entirely in kind will have their cash deposit returned after they have made their payment in kind. Those paying cash have their deposit deducted from the final balance.
People living far from Donegal are welcome to arrive on Friday night, if they wish, but Judith would like to know in advance what time you propose to arrive, so that food can be ready for you.
July 28th/29th 2012 – SUGAN making - Sugan is a cord, handspun from hay or straw. Useful for weaving seats for stools and chairs and for securing thatch on house, or rick.
August 11th/12th 2012 – VEGETABLE DYEING – Dyes made from wild plants, collected over the weekend and used to dye sheeps wool, (fibre and yarn); both substantive and adjective dyes tried out.
September 1st/2nd 2012 – SOCK AND GLOVE KNITTING – Socks on four pins and gloves on two pins to be knitted – bring your own yarn.
September 22nd/23rd 2012 – HANDSPINNING – Spinning sheeps wool using a drop spindle, carding, doubling and trebling (plying). Fibre provided
October 13th/14th 2012 – BRAID/CRIOS WEAVING – There are hundreds of different kinds of braid and as many ways to use it. Bring yarns, if you have any.
These workshops take place at Judith’s home in SW County Donegal. Judith lives ‘off the grid’, with equipment that generates electricity, water plumbed from roofs and carried from the well (to wash with and to drink, respectively), and compost toilets. Participants are asked to bring their own sleeping bags (simply to save Judith’s laundry), weather proof clothing and footwear and also to bring indoor slippers, as outdoor shoes are not welcome inside the accommodation. If you have any special dietary needs, please let Judith know at least two weeks before you come on your chosen weekend. Liberal vegetarian main meals are provided, as are the makings of breakfast and supper.
For further details and to book: phone Judith at 0749736406, or email judithhoad@gmail.com
Hope to see you at the Potato Day this Saturday
Suzie & Mike Cahn
www.dulra.org - info@dulra.org
