cultivate.ie

Convergence 2016

How do we engage citizens in developing local resilience and
adapting to climate change?

How can we best empower communities across Ireland to play a part in the transition to a just and low carbon society?

What is the role of artists and culture creatives in times of transition?  

How do we make our communities and cities more sustainable?

From the 15th to the 28th of October 2016 the 21st Convergence Festival will be bringing people and ideas together across the island of Ireland. This year the focus of Convergence will be on social innovation and how we accelerate a citizen-engaged and community-led transformation to an equitable, resilient and low-carbon society.  Some examples of this form of innovation include community-owned energy, community-led housing, community supported agriculture, citizen observatories, and platforms to enable peer-to-peer sharing and exchange.

The Convergence events are the kick-off conversations which, over the year, will lead up to the first European Day of Sustainable Communities, which will take place on the 23 September 2017 organised by a new network of networks for community led transitions, ECOLISE.  This will be an exciting opportunity to showcase the many groundbreaking initiatives from across Europe that are leading the way towards a low-carbon, ecological future.

Convergence is Ireland’s longest running sustainable living festival, featuring some of the most inspiring thinkers and doers both from Ireland and abroad over the last 16 years. Over the years it has illuminated and inspired many sustainable economy, society and environment initiatives and actions. The curators of the festival are the Sustainable Ireland Co-operative, who operate as Cultivate Living and Learning.

Citizen and community-led initiatives are at the forefront of developing and testing new and innovative approaches to sustainable living. Now is the time to kick-start a citizen-engaged, community-led transition.  Join the conversation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Davie Philip  
Convergence Co-Curator
CULTIVATE LIVING AND LEARNING
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
Office: 0505 56061
Mobile: +353 (0) 87 6340697

Read more: Convergence 2016

FETAC (QQI) L5 Permaculture Design Course

Learn Permaculture design, how we can live more sustainably, grow food intensively and create livelihoods within our own communities

Three Weekends: 22-23 April, 6-7 and 20-21 May 2017 | Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Co Tipperary | €350 (Secure place with €75 deposit)

Payment Options

Deposit €75.00 EURBalance €275.00 EURFull Fee €350.00 EUR

| Contact us with this form or at 0505 56060 | POSTER

This QQI L5 Permaculture Design Course* provides participants with a balanced combination of theory and outdoor practical place-based learning. The course emphasises both ecological and social permaculture covering topics such as perennial plants, agro-forestry, soil health and new ways of thinking about land management. A lively, participatory and thought-provoking experience is guaranteed.

Read more: FETAC (QQI) L5 Permaculture Design Course

Permaculture Design Certificate 2017, Cloughjordan Ecovillage

PDC 2017

Deposit €100.00 EURRemainder Full Fee €450.00 EURRemainder Concession €395.00 EUR

Dates TBC August 2017 | Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Co Tipperary, Ireland |Contact Us | Fees €550 / €495 Members | some concessions are available, €100 deposit secures your place (how to apply - PDF)

Join the ecovillage's resident experts of permaculture, gardening, farming, perma-facture and green building for this unique, yearly opportunity to learn invaluable design and practical skills. This is Cultivate's 9th year holding the UK Permaculture Association accredited Permaculture Design Certificate ("PDC") Course at Cloughjordan Ecovillage. 

Each year we have special guest teachers; 2017's teachers to be confirmed. In 2016, we were joined by Maddy Harland of Permaculture Magazine, and Aranya (via Skype) author of Permaculture Design a Step by Step Guide.

This PDC is organised by Cultivate in association with Cloughjordan Community Farm and Village Education Research and Training (VERT) at The Cloughjordan Ecovillage. The venue for indoor sessions is the enterprise centre a.k.a. FabLab, WeCreate.  See photos of previous courses here.

This course is full-time (and "full-on") from Friday evening (starting with dinner around 6pm) until the following Sunday afternoon (around 4pm) | Find presentations, links and other resources on Our Permaculture Resource Site.

Read more: Permaculture Design Certificate 2017, Cloughjordan Ecovillage

Learning Journeys and Study Visits

Visit Ireland's Only Ecovillage - Learn about Living and Working Sustainably

Cultivate designs and delivers one to five day programmes for groups around a particular topic or topics of interest related to the transition to a low carbon and resilient society. These can include Green Building and Sustainable Energy, Local Food, Food Security, Community Energy Transition, Local Enterprise, Digital Manufacturing, Community Resilience and Sustainable Living.

We tailor the tours for each group and work with them to devise a personalised itinerary on their specific area of interest.  These study tours can range from one to several days, depending on the itinerary developed, though we recommend at least two days to allow for a more immersive experience.

Cloughjordan is a traditional Irish village which is now also home to the Cloughjordan Ecovillage. This is where we share our experience and knowledge with groups of all ages, sizes and interests.

Activities are based in the Ecovillage and can include tours, talks, practical workshops and social events in Cloughjordan and the surrounding area. We can also work with groups on transport, accommodation and meals. Groups interested in continuing professional development can participate in industry specific workshops and talks.

For more info, options or booking: email devyn [at] cultivate [dot] ie.

Read more: Learning Journeys and Study Visits

Global Green 2016

A NEXUS OF IDEAS, CONVIVIALITY AND COMMUNITY

-- Electric Picnic’s pop-up eco-village of activists, artists, makers, musicians, foodies, slam poets and hackers, brought together by Cultivate, the sustainability collective based in Cloughjordan Ecovillage.
Now in it’s ninth year, Global Green is the conscious heartbeat of the Electric Picnic; a cutting edge nexus of green ideas and conviviality, showcasing new musical acts, offering great local food and introducing radical solutions for a future that works.

We keep a finger on Ireland’s musical pulse offering daytime electro, acoustic and night-time dance beats. Your food needs are covered with our Local Food Project; it’s yummy and sourced from within a 50-mile radius of Cloughjordan.  With spoken word for social change, engaged art and discussions, Global Green is accelerating the transition to a low carbon and resilient future.

Shake off that fuzzy head and get your festival day underway with Global Green's famous morning kick-off yoga session and then hang out on the green for the best coffee and breakfast on site.
Whether you want to dance, eat, get involved or just chill out and listen, this green oasis is a must-visit over the festival weekend.
 
Global Green is coordinated by Cultivate Living and Learning www.cultivate.ie
 
Visit us at:  www.facebook.com/GlobalGreenAtEP 
Twitter - @GlobalGreenatEp 
Instagram  GlobalGreenatEP