Recent Posts
Continuing with our love of all things fruity a grafting course will take place this Saturday 27th, 2pm-5pm at Michael Micklis’s Biodynamic farm in Raheen.
Participants will learn how to graft heritage apple varieties onto root stock. If you have a favourite or rare variety that you wish to propagate bring along one foot of last years growth.
The course fee is € 20. Contact or text 0863104638 if you wish to attend. Directions available here and more info on the biodynamic website here.
It seems that the UK, at least, is finally waking up to the threat of Peak Oil. Sir David King, the UK Government’s former chief scientist has endorsed a new report by scientists and researchers from Oxford University that argue that official oil reserves are exaggerated by 1/3, should be downgraded from 1,350bn to 900bn and that demand will outstrip supply by 2014.
At the same time the UK Industry Peak Oil Task force’s latest report, again citing a supply crunch in and around 2014, has sent alarm bells ringing through Whitehall. In a significant policy shift, the UK energy minister has agreed to undertake more work on whether the UK needs to take action to avoid the massive dislocation that could be caused by the early onset of “peak oil”.
Closer to home FEASTA has published a 55 page report entitled “Tipping Point: Near-Term Implications of a Peak in Global Oil Production”. The paper talks about the likely systemic impacts of peak oil, including the possibility of collapse. Well worth a read.
Each year across the globe Earth Hour is marked symbolically to awareness of the need to take action on climate change. This hour tries to highlight the carbon emmisions (and finances) saved by switching off all unneccessary lights and electrical equipment at night time.
Earth Hour be celebrated globally on the 27th of March between 8.30-9.30pm
The hour will be marked in Kilkenny City at 8.30pm by the lighting of 40 sky candles on the Parade which will take off into the night sky. Everyone is welcome to attend.
To mark the reminder of Earth Hour a trad session by Candle Light will follow for those over 18 in Ryans Bar, Friary St.
Earth Hour Kilkenny is hosted by Kilkenny Sustainable Energy Forum, Environment office of Kilkenny Co. Council & Future Proof Kilkenny.
Read more information about Earth Hour in Ireland
Farm Visit, Pilltown, Saturday 20th March, 2-4pm
Michael Micklis will hold an open day at his organic farm in Pilltown on Saturday 20th March to mark the spring equinox and to outline his ideas for Community Supported Farms (CSAs) in Kilkenny. The idea of a CSA is that a number of families contribute at the beginning of each year in return for produce throughout the rest of the year.
If you are a part-time grower with plenty of your own produce during the summer months you can still contribute and receive vegetables during the winter months and “the hungry gap”. These schemes are very popular abroad and help to reconnect people with the land and the farmer. Over the course of the year it will be possible to visit the farm to see the crops growing. There can be opportunities also to volunteer on the farm and help out at the harvest.
This open day is a first step to establish such a scheme in Kilkenny and is intended to be informal and friendly. No commitment at this stage! All are welcome.
Contact Michael on 0863104638 for directions or follow the route on google maps here.
Mindfulness meditation has been practiced for thousands of years as a way of connecting more deeply with oneself. One of the benefits of the practice is an increased ability to deal wisely with the difficult and stressful areas of our lives.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction ( MBSR ) is a wholly secular 8-week course which teaches participants how to practice mindfulness meditation in a variety of ways which can then be employed in everyday settings. Daily practice, experiential exercises and weekly group discussion make this a rigorous and potentially very beneficial experience for health and well-being.
Beginning Tuesday, March 16th from 7pm to 9.30pm and ending Tuesday, May 4th
with an all-day practice session on Saturday, April 24th.
For full details contact Niamh Barrett on 086 2857212.