SUSTAIN NEWS SPRING 2010
Welcome to this newsletter / event notification we hope you find something that inspires you into Spring time action.
CORK & KERRY TRANSITION GATHERING
The Programme for this weekends Gathering taking place at Russagh Mill Hostel, Skibbereen, if you are interested in coming we have a few spare beds but workshops are filling fast. Call Caz on 028 25978.
Schedule (almost finalised)
Friday 19th February
6pm - Arrival
7pm – Evening meal
9pm - Introductions/ice-breakers
Saturday 20th
8.30-9.30am – Yoga/meditation/breakfast
10am – Morning circle, schedule for day, announcements
10.30-11.30am Workshop 1 - Wood Energy - Ciaran Nugent
11.45 - 12.45pm – Workshop 2 - Alternative Currencies - John Baker
1-2pm – Lunch
2pm – Energiser
2.30-4.30pm – Open Space Technology incl. Working Together and Funding - Matt MIlls, Caz Jeffries, Klaus Harvey
4.30pm – Tea
5-6pm – Free time
6-7pm – Evening meal
8pm – Evening games/music/films
Sunday 21st
9-10am – Yoga/meditation/breakfast
10.30am – Morning circle, schedule for day, announcements
11.00-12.30pm – Creative Environmental Education - Klaus Harvey
1-2pm – Lunch
2pm – Energiser
2.30-4.30pm – Nature Walk at Loch Hyne*
4.30pm – Tea & closing circle
* The Nature walk could take place on either afternoon depending on weather.
Community Powerdown Road Trip to 'The Village'
You are warmly invited to come along to join…..
Sustain West Corks'
"Community Powerdown-on the road"
On our trip to….
"The Village" in Cloughjordan, Tipperary
Sunday 14th March.
We will be leaving Dunmanway for 8am and returning for approximately 8pm. Arrangements for collection along the route can be made upon request. The size of the coach taking us will be dependant on numbers of seats pre-booked so please respond quickly to ensure your place. The journey will take approximately four hours each way, including a short break. Cultivate's Davie Philip the creator of the Community Powerdown Course and a Village resident will be our guide and facilitator whilst we are there. We will be sharing games, discussions, exercises and media footage with you whilst in transit, which will give those of you who have yet to attend a Community Powerdown Course a taste of what it's like. The course is in continuous development so we can adapt it to the changing needs of our communities.
The cost of a place will be approximately €25 per person, which will also cover lunch provided at The Village.
Please bring a notebook and pen, and whatever refreshments you will need for the journey.
To book your place please contact Caz at 028 25978 or by email
cazjeffreys@gmail.com
Deadline for bookings is Monday 8th March.
Community Orchard Project to be rolled out in West Cork
Community Orchards & Nut Groves
Sustain West Cork are partnering Skibbereen Town Council, Bantry Town Council & Tidy Towns and are looking to engage with Community Council's & others in Dunmanway, Durrus & Ballydehob. The project will give the chance to bring many different Community groups together for the planting such as Tidy Towns, Schools, Active Retirement, Growing Awareness (the Local Food Group) & gardening club etc. Having such a broad range of people from the different groups come together for an actions such as this is fantastic for Growing Communities as much as Growing Fruit. These partnerships can be continued & developed during the seasons for pruning & maintenance & eventually harvesting. We would also like to plant at least 2 fruit or nut trees in the grounds of every School in the areas which would give the chance for engagement with pupils of all ages.
The initial planting to take place during National Tree Week 7th - 13 March will be of apprx 75 fruit & nut trees In groups of 12 - 15, with possibly some in School Grounds. This will mark the launch of the project. A second planting will take place in the Autumn during the interim months we will be accepting applications from Resident's Associations, Community Groups & Schools throughout the area for planting of Tree's in their grounds. We will be asking for a guarantee from these groups that they maintain the orchard's & harvest the fruit. Individuals & Company's will also be able to sponsor tree's & orchards. Sustain are hoping to develop an educational programme to accompany the Autumn planting of the trees in schools.
As described above it gives the chance for networking of a diverse range of Community Groups and the chance to engage with pupils of all ages in awareness of the importance of Local Food Production & Biodiversity. We have to totally re-think our food supply which is at present totally dependent on huge amounts of Fossil Fuel Inputs. It is said that in that with our current methods of Industrial Agriculture it takes on average 10 Calories of Fossil Fuel Energy to produce 1 Calorie of Food Energy this is clearly not Sustainable! Visually an orchard of blossoms that will appear throughout Spring & summer will be a beautiful assets to the areas. Plus the chance for local people to harvest the fruit and nuts in the years to come.
Purpose of the Project
• To promote local food production
• To reduce Carbon Emissions through reduction of imported fruit & nuts
• To promote awareness of Sustainability
• To promote the fact it is essential we switch from being a Nation of Consumers to a Nation of Consumer / Producers in coming years.
• To help promote Biodiversity
• To help build Community Resilience
The project has secured funding from Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership 2009 through Cork County Council, further funding will now be sought in order to maximise the projects potential.
For further information contact Matt Mills matt@sustainwestcork.com
Anaerobic Digester & Commercial Heated Horticulture Project
Work on the Feasibility Studies has commenced we are now looking into how much food waste we can expect to be able to process in the Digester from the surrounding area. If you are are a Food Producer or Food outlet we hope to offer you a Solution to your Organic Waste disposal & an Investment Opportunity & would like to hear from you contact matt@sustainwestcork.com.
Basic Project info below:
Feasibility Study into the viability of an Anaerobic Digester producing Biogas giving Combined Heat & Power through the digestion of domestic & commercial kitchen organic waste.
Sustain would like to see the plant coupled with a Heated Horticulture Operation to take some of the heat & power from the plant. Such an operation could grow both indoor & outdoor fruit and vegetables all year round that currently we have to import. This operation would provide significant, much needed employment in the area. With possibilities of training, education and even tourism. The Anaerobic Digestion process also produces a digestate liquid that is very high in Nitrogen along with Co2 both of which have proved highly beneficial in promoting plant growth. This Nitrogen rich digestate is also of benefit to the farming community. We believe both operations should be owned by the local community probably following a co-operative business model.
The AD CHP Biodigestor coupled with the Horticulture Operation would have several benefits:-
• Helping meet our landfill targets
• Creating Renewable Heat & Power
• Reduction of food miles
• Lower Carbon Emissions
• Creating Employment
• Strengthening Local Economies
• Building Local Community Resilience
• Potential for Fuschia Branded Exotic Fruits
The project has to date received considerable support both at Town & County Council level.
The Feasibity Studies are beign funded by the West Cork Development Partnership under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.
Consultants have now been commissioned for the 2 studies which will involve consultation with local stake
holders & the public, the studies will be completed by the end of May 2010.
New Resilient West Cork Facebook Group
We have collaborated with Transition Town Kinsale to create a Group / Page for all of us that want to work together to enable the communities of West Cork to become Resilient. General information & events can be posted along with blog posts take a look and join up at http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=309754001738 Spread the Word!
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