FOUR PART COURSE IN
GROWING YOUR OWN ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
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STARTS
Wednesday 27th January 2010
7.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. [two hours per week for four weeks].

VENUE
Heritage Council, Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny.

COURSE IS AIMED AT
First-time growers | Experienced growers | Time-constrained gardening enthusiasts |
People with low mobility | Growers in small and large spaces including urban gardens, patios and allotments

COURSE FEE
60 euro special rate
This course is generously supported by the Heritage Council
TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS COURSE
Please contact Pearse at 086 284 1114
FURTHER DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE AT
www.SoGrowNow.com

This month’s cold snap has brought the fragility of our oil dependent food supply into sharp focus. This article in the Guardian last Friday reported how food is trucked daily from farms to a handful of processing centres before being trucked back out to the supermarkets. For example 80% of carrots pass through just 10 packing centres!

This needless transport around the country is demanded by supermarkets operating a just in time policy in the name of efficiency and cost cutting. Last week this system almost broke down and there were reports of food shortages in some areas of Britain. Whilst the cold weather was a rare event disruptions to the global oil supply as a result of peak oil will have the same effect (and almost did so during the year 2000 trucker strike).

In pamphlet opposite the New Economics Foundation explores the chronic vulnerability of our oil-dependent society. Called Nine Meals from Anarchy it examines how climate change, competition for resources, decline in oil production and the international food crisis will cause system collapses far greater than the economic crisis.

Paulstown. Pic James Burke

To cope with the bad weather Carlow and Kilkenny county councils have established emergency response teams which can be contacted at the following numbers:

Kilkenny Emergency Response Team    056 7794145

Carlow Emergency Response Team       1890 500 333

If you are snow bound and require assistance or have no water, no fuel, or transportation please feel free to call these numbers.

Travel Information

For a list of roads which have been treated or are too dangerous to drive visit the Kilkenny County Council’s website which provides daily reports and an interactive map of the county.

Water Information

If you are without drinking water contact the emergency number above. If you feel it is safe enough to make the journey and bring your own containers the local authority are dispensing drinking water at the WaterShed on the ring road and at the following locations.

School closures, Sporting cancellations

For up to date information tune into KCLR96fm or visit their SNOWLINE which provides a detailed list of weather reports, cancelled events, school closures etc from around the counties.

Help your neighbour

Most importantly, drop into your neighbours, especially the old. If you have concerns for their safety contact the emergency response numbers above.

A pictorial round up of some of the events we organised and participated in during 2009.

27th December, Ossory Youth Hall, New Street, 7:30pm

It is a well known fact that reducing our consumption of meat is one of the easiest ways to lighten our demands on the planet. Meat productions requires far more energy, water and food (grain) than growing an equivalent amount of vegetables. On 27th December the Kilkenny Vegetarian group is holding a “Christmas – No Meat and Greet” evening at 7:30pm in Ossory Youth Hall on New Street. A chance to meet fellow vegetarians and sample favourite veggie dishes. Omnivores welcome too!