Founded in 2000 Cultivate is a national NGO and cooperative supporting community-led responses to environmental, social, and economic challenges, and the broader transition to a just and regenerative society.
Based in Cloughjordan Ecovillage, we work across rural and urban contexts, collaborating with partners in Ireland, Europe, and beyond.
With 25 years of experience, we empower communities through training, events, and capacity-building initiatives that deepen engagement, strengthen local economies, and foster thriving, low-carbon, and resilient places.
Building the capacity of local leaders and community catalysts to drive meaningful change where they live. Our Community Climate Coaches (CCC) programme trains community catalysts in facilitation and community engagement—equipping them to support climate action and resilience planning in their regions. Cultivate delivers training in Permaculture Design highlighting how ecological and regenerative design can create thriving, low-carbon communities. At the European level we are active in ECOLISE, the European meta-network supporting community-led initiatives.
Cultivate supports a vibrant movement for food sovereignty and stronger local food economies through the
Feeding Ourselves Community of Practice, delivering events, building capacity and advocating for policies to strengthen local food economies.
We coordinate a Community of Practice for Field Exchange, a Creative Ireland funded project working with small-scale farmers to explore creative climate action.
Cultivate also coordinates 2 Irish Living Labs for Horizon Europe projects.
▪︎ EU4Advice developing training and support structures for short food supply chain advisors and local food facilitators.
▪︎ CODECS exploring digital supports for fair and resilient food systems with a focus on online farmers markets.
Cultivate is a founding member of the Wellbeing Economy Hub for Ireland and contributes to the growing momentum toward a Wellbeing Economy—one designed to prioritise social and ecological health.
Since 2008, Cultivate has curated Global Green, the sustainability area at the Electric Picnic, Ireland’s largest music and cultural festival. The pop-up ecovillage acts as a platform for sustainability, climate action, and community-led innovation—bringing together over 30 organisations and 300 artists and activists to animate this dynamic space.
