Convergence 2017
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- Category: Community Resilience
The CONVERGENCE FESTIVAL 2017 celebrates Ireland’s response to the global challenges we face — through transformative, community-led approaches to meet our climate targets and implement the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a fair, healthy and low-carbon future.
Across Ireland, citizens, social enterprises and communities are already using social innovation, co-production and collaborative consumption to strengthen resilience, foster their local economies, and create new jobs in areas such as food, transport, energy, education, housing and waste.
The Convergence Festival 2017 brings together community champions, social entrepreneurs, researchers, networkers, support agencies and policy-makers from around the country to identify and celebrate best practices, build capacity for local change-makers, and promote widespread understanding of the actions local communities can use to transform our lives and the places we live.
Convergence is supported by the EPA, DCU, the Environmental Pillar and Galway European Green Leaf 2017. Carlow County Council, Galway City Council, Limerick Council and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment have supported events in Convergence through the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund.
QQI (FETAC) L5 Permaculture Design Course
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- Category: Permaculture
Learn Permaculture design, how we can live more sustainably, grow food intensively and create livelihoods within our own communities
Three Weekends: 7-8 and 21-22 October and 4-5 November | Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Co Tipperary | €350 (Secure place with €75 deposit)
| 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.
*This course can be taken alone or when taken with Applied Permaculture Design QQI L5, can lead to a full UK Permaculture Design Certificate. The Weekend Permaculture and Applied Permaculture Courses are delivered by NICER Training, the QQI registered provider, in partnership with Cultivate.
What is permaculture?
The word 'permaculture' comes from 'permanent agriculture' and 'permanent culture'. Permaculture applied to farming and gardening promotes organic methods of managing land in such a way as to increase soil carbon, protect and enrich the soil and boost biodiversity. Applied to society and 'culture' it supports communities in becoming more resilient. The essence of permaculture is the design of an ecologically sound way of living - in our households, gardens, communities and businesses - and cooperating with nature and caring for the earth and its people.
Rather than a discipline, Permaculture presents us with a set of design principles derived from the observation of natural ecosystems. These principles are then used to develop integrated systems that provide for our needs of food, shelter, energy and community in ways that are healthy and efficient. We can use permaculture design methods to improve the quality and productivity of our individual lives, our society and our environment.
GROW Observatory
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- Category: Permaculture
A citizens' observatory for growers, researchers and decision makers.
Do you grow your own food? Have an allotment? Own a small farm? Are you involved in a community or school garden?
Are you taking practical steps to regenerate the soil for future generations? GROW provides an opportunity to develop and share your knowledge and skills.
Join us in the GROW Observatory, a European-wide project engaging thousands of growers as citizen scientists. We will learn together, using simple tools to better manage soil, while contributing to vital global environmental monitoring.
Our coordinated experiments will help with forecasting and preparing for climate events, such as heat waves and floods, by validating the detection of soil moisture from satellites.
Visit GROW at www.GROWObservatory.org to get involved in the project.
Learning Journeys and Study Visits
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- Category: Community Resilience
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.
