Jun 29, 2009

Social Economy Village in Northern Ireland


Social Economy Village aims to create 36 jobs

 

A new £1.4m economic regeneration scheme, designed to create 36 jobs over the next couple of years, has been opened in west Belfast.

The Social Economy Village is the culmination of ten years of hard work and planning by local enterprise agency Work West.

The 15,000 sq ft building on Hannahstown Hill was funded by the The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment with help from EU Peace and Reconciliation money, the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and Work West itself.

Workspace in the village is targeted at social economy enterprises involved in manufacturing or tradable services - such businesses reinvesting their surpluses back into the business or the local economy rather than paying out to shareholders or owners.

Kevin Delaney, chairman of Work West said - "The aim of the Social Economy Village is to aid the regeneration of this area and to offer a dedicated purpose-built space for social economy businesses."

He added - "The support for social enterprises is critical to achieving Work West's long term strategy of supporting local economic development."

Denis Rooney, chairman of the IFI, said at the opening that it was a time of great celebration for everyone involved in getting the Work West Social Economy Village up and running. "This building is a superb example of how social economy organisations working together can achieve a great deal to directly benefit their communities.

"This investment will help stimulate economic growth, develop the potential for employment and facilitate skills training for the people of west Belfast."

The first tenant, the Belfast Hills Partnership, has just moved in. It is made up of local councils, government department and community groups, nature conservancy organisations and businesses committed to caring for the Belfast Hills, their wildlife and people.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the opening saying the Economy Village could help stimulate economic growth in the area and encourage entrepreneurship. The minister said - "The development will provide much-needed regeneration within the local community, helping to address the social and economic disadvantages experienced in west Belfast in recent years."

The workspace development is one of over 40 projects across Northern Ireland set up to create new jobs in deprived areas by providing more flexible accommodation for new and expanding businesses.

 

 


Jun 25, 2009

West Cork Local Food co-op update

Hi Everyone,

If you're interested in joining a West Cork Food Producers' Group/Co-op, please get in touch soon.

We're hoping to run a pilot project this summer to test the viability of growing tomatoes commercially. We've found a commercial kitchen so we can try out recipes/methods. . They'd be marketed locally in returnable jars. Chopped, organic/non- organic, with/without basil/onion/ peppers.. .

You don't need to commit to anything at this stage, but we need to get started so we can plan for next year.. Tomatoes is the first project, but we can expand into other locally-grown foods, if there's interest..

If all goes well, there will be an outlet for surplus food from your tunnels/garden - but also the opportunity for people to plan a small business around growing good food locally..

An application will be going in soon to WCCP to help fund the pilot project..

Perhaps you know of people who don't get these emails but who might still be interested - please let them know?

Tim Rowe

(p.s. I'm not giving up the bees - not at all! In fact, I'm expanding into queen-rearing. But I need to diversify a bit, too..)

Jun 23, 2009

Cloughjordan Reskilling A Transition Gathering

Transition Town Cloughjordan, the Village and Cultivate in association with CELT, Muintir na Coille and you… present 

 

Cloughjordan Reskilling A Transition Gathering

 

21st to the 23rd August 2009 – Cloughjordan Ecovillage, North Tipperary Ireland

 

A Transition gathering offering a taste of community living for three days in the summer with the opportunity to learn some vital new skills in Permaculture, horticulture, community gardens, natural building and a number of crafts and trades.  With workshops in many essential skills, a mix of short talks, film screenings, activities for kids and some evening celebration we have the perfect environment to learn, share, network and build our capacity to thrive in a very uncertain future.

 

'On spaceship earth there are no passengers, only crew'

 

This event is based on ideas and processes for gatherings based on participation. The small event will be, in many ways, self organising with participants taking responsibility for the upkeep of the environment, their camp and their food. As they say at Burning Man – No Spectators!

 

There will be spaces on a number of two day craft and trade workshops. These will include, dry-stone wall construction, bridge building, fencing and hedges, herblore, cob ovens and more. The cost for participants of these workshops will be €130 which includes materials, two nights camping  and access to other talks, films and the evening celebration.

 

Many people will come for just the talks and short workshops and the experience of community life. A €30 or a €50 family ticket will give you access to the campsite, a number of short workshops and talks, Village tours, films and the evening celebrations on the Saturday night.

 

Volunteers, helpers and crew needed. E-mail davie@cultivate.ie if you are interested.

 

For details on the full immersive course which will take place over the weekend Reskilling and continues for the whole week see below.

 

'Skilling up for Powerdown' 

Full week long immersive Powerdown and Permaculture Course

 

From the 21st to the 30th of August at Cloughjordan Ecovillage, North Tipperary Ireland 

Organised by Cultivate in association with the Transition Towns Ireland Network and The Village.

 

This 'Skilling up for Powerdown' week long course features a full Permaculture Certificate Design course and the full Community Powerdown course. This training is probably the most important anyone involved in Transition or sustainable community could take.

 

Tutors include: Graham Strouts, Kinsale College of Further Education, Davie Philip of the Irish Transition Network, Albert Bates of the Farm, Tennessee,  and Klaudia van Gool, UK Permaculture teacher. Plus many of Irelands leading sustainability thinkers. 

 

The price is only €550 with a 10% concession for Cultivate, Transition and Village members. 

This price includes camping and a light lunch each day. Accommodation in Cloughjordan can be arranged.

Places are very limited. To book call 01 6745773. For more info davie@cultivate.ie

Jun 16, 2009

Cycling Movie Night / Wed 17 June 8pm @ The Roundy (in support of Cork Cycling Arts Festival 2009)

CYCLING MOVIE NIGHT

in support of Cork Cycling Arts Festival 2009

Festival presentation, preview and fundraiser

Wednesday 17 June, 8pm

Upstairs @ The Roundy

Please pass the word!

__________________________________________

Cork Cycling Arts Festival

Celebrating the bicycle culture in Cork

20 – 29 July 2009

www.cork-cycling-arts-festival.org

__________________________________________

Training opportunity: Plan and Design Solar Thermal Systems

Planning and Designing Efficient and Reliable Solar Thermal Systems

Lifetime Lab in Cork on 26th July and at Royal Marine Hotel in Dun
Laoghaire (Co. Dublin) on 10th July

Did you know that:

-          All newly built houses have to be supplied with renewable
energy for heating or electricity;

-          Private and public institutions are increasingly choosing
to future-proof their building stock with solar energy;

-          In excess of 43,000 m2 of solar thermal collectors were
installed in Ireland in 2008, one of the highest installation rates in
Europe;

-          Solar thermal systems installed in residential and
commercial buildings are eligible for subsidies and tax relief.

The potential and benefits of solar thermal energy are huge. If as a
professional, you want to be able to:

-          Advice your clients with accurate and up-to-date
information on solar thermal applications;

-          Carry out a feasibility study that gives a true picture of
the lifecycle costs of solar thermal projects;

-          Design and specify solar thermal systems that are efficient
and durable;

-          Understand and plan for the practicalities of solar thermal
systems installations…

… then you should attend one of our one-day training workshops on
Planning and Designing Efficient and Reliable Solar Thermal Systems.
Drawing on our unique experience as independent sustainable design
consultants, DWEcoco offers training workshops that are packed with
useful information and focussed on practical know-how.

For full details and registration form for our workshops, please see
the flyer attached. Places are limited to 20 to ensure a focused
learning experience and we therefore encourage you to register as soon
as you can to avoid disappointment.

Please do not hesitate to contact us by email at training@dwecoco.ie
or by phone on 021/4966757 if you wish further information. We would
be very grateful to you if you could spread the word about these
workshops by circulating this announcement among your colleagues,
friends and other interested parties.

Sunny regards,

Xavier

Xavier Dubuisson MEng. MSc.

Senior Sustainable Design Consultant

DW EcoCo - training team

First Floor, Lawley House,

Monahan Road, Cork

Ireland

T : +353 (0)21 4966757

F : +353 (0)21 4966771

E : training@dwme.ie

Delap and Waller EcoCo Limited: Integrated Sustainable Design
Consultants is a joint venture between Delap and Waller Mechanical &
Electrical Consulting Engineers Limited and EcoCo: Sustainable
Building Consultants.

Registered in Dublin No. 398740 Registered Office - Bloomfield House,
Bloomfield Avenue, Dublin 8.

Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you
really need to.

Jun 8, 2009

'Buy Local, Buy Quality' label - west Cork?

In the interests of local food security and providing local part-time jobs, how about the following idea to get us started..

We in West Cork set up a simple food-processing unit where we put our locally-grown tomatoes (for instance) into jars, and then sell them through local shops throughout the rest of the year, under a 'Buy Local, Buy Quality' type label.

The point in starting very simply is maybe we'll make fewer mistakes..

Tomatoes is an obvious first choice, because they're something everyone buys already in tins or jars and there's no reason why we couldn't grow them well around here. Lots already do, but there's a glut every year..

Of course, this wouldn't detract at all from our efforts to grow more fresh local produce, but as far as I know we don't yet have a way of collecting/distribu ting/marketing that yet. (Though Matt is working on it..)

Anyway, it's just an idea. Looking for feedback. Do you know of a suitable kitchen/packing room that exists already? Would you buy this product? Would you like to grow produce for this project? Any skills/cash to contribute?

Tim

timrowe@eircom. net