Heritage wheat variety ripening in Jerpoint

Speaking at last Sunday’s “Sound Bites and Food for Thought” event Michael Miklis described a proposed Grain Share project, the details of which you can find below. Its a great idea along the lines of community supported agriculture that can provide a tangible return for people’s investment whilst at the same time supporting Irish farmers.

Irish Biodynamic farmers want to create a strong, direct relationship with Irish consumers. ‘Grain Share’ does this and promotes an active partnership that secures proven seed for future harvest’s, improves food security via seed security & supports a sustainable way of farming.

For 75euro,- paid now, invested now, you receive 100kg of cereal (wheat, oats seed of the 2010 cereal (wheat) harvest. This initiative supports the Irish biodynamic farmer to grow directly for you.
Biodynamically grown cereals are grown under the best and harmonious conditions without use of herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides, artificial or mineral fertilisers.

All the consumer receives is clean, vibrantly alive seed. This fresh seed/grain can be milled into flour, or sprouted, or cooked. Freshly milled flour contains all the nutrients enzymes etc. – no additives needed. All grain ex farm where it is grown.

Seed security = food security

For booking your share, or more information contact:

Michael Miklis (share-co-ordinator)
at the Biodynamic Agricultural Association of Ireland
Camphill Jerpoint, Jerpoint, Co. Kilkenny.

Tel: 051347245
Email: bdaai[at]indigo[dot]ie

Sunday 25th, Fléva Restaurant, High Street

As part of Savour Kilkenny’s food festival we are delighted to host a “slow food feast for body and mind” in Fléva Restaurant. Each serving will be prepared using the best locally sourced artisan food and these will be interspersed with “mini” talks and multimedia clips on the subject of food, past, present and future.

Topics will include community gardens, food growing in the 1800s, GIY Ireland, orchards, wild foods and much more. We hope it will be fun, informative and leave you feeling gastronomically as well as intellectually satisfied !

Families are welcome and there will be activities laid on for young children so that everyone can enjoy themselves.

For bookings ring Fléva at 0567770021.

€25 per adult. Children’s menu €12.

Doors open 1:30pm. First course 2pm. Event finishes at 4pm.

Sound bites

• A look back at how food was grown in the city long ago – (speaker to be confirmed)
• Community Gardens – Martin Rafter, LEADER partnership program
• Urban food gardening and Community Supported Agriculture – Mayor Malcolm Noonan, Kilkenny Allotments Association
• The importance of saving seed (with a focus on cereals) – Michael Micklas, Irish Seed Savers
• Getting GIY started in Kilkenny – Dorcus Barry, GIY Kilkenny
• Establishing Kilkenny’s Food Trail – Bernie Russell, LEADER partnership program
• Replanting orchards in Kilkenny – 400 Fruit Tree project
• Where we are today and the challenge ahead – Brian Dillon, Future Proof Kilkenny

Multimedia

• 400 Fruit Tree Project – Glass Eye productions
• Deconstructing Diner – Cultivate Powerdown TV Show
  
• How food shapes our cities – TED Talks (time permitting)

Saturday 24th 2:30pm and 3:30pm, Rothe House, High Street, 5euro per family

As part of our Apples Galore event we are delighted to have the help of Camphill folk to bring you a magical puppet show that will cheer your heart and touch your soul.

The puppet show is called “The Stolen Prince and the Golden Apple” and is being performed on the top floor of the 3rd building in Rothe House, in a beautiful room overlooking the heritage gardens.  This traditional show is primarily for young children and is with musical accompaniment. It promises to be a very special event – try not to miss it!

Please note that entrance is from the Gardens which can be entered on Evans Lane, not the main door of Rothe House. Ask in the shop or follow the signs!

Show times: 2:30pm and 3:30pm. Tickets on the door.

Saturday 23rd 12pm-4pm, Rothe House, High Street

In the historic surroundings of Rothe House gardens Future Proof Kilkenny will host a day of free family events devoted to the humble apple!

• Try your hand at creating apple juice the time honoured way using a traditional apple press.

• Chop with pedal power on the “fender blender” bike juicer.

• Take part in traditional apple games including apple bobbing, fork apple and the longest peal competition.

• Taste traditional apple varieties and warm yourself up with hot spicy apple juice.

• 

  Operating the apple press at last year's event in Kells

  Learn how to plant and care for your own orchard with experts from Irish Seed Saver. 1pm and 3pm.

• Enjoy guided tours of the restored Rothe House vegetable garden. 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.

• If you still have apples in your garden bring them along with your own empty bottles for juicing.

Entrance is from the High Street on Evans Lane or from James Street if you are bringing alot of apples. Follow the signs and don’t miss the puppet show!

The Irish Georgian Society & Councils of the City and County of Kilkenny will present a half-day seminar to be held in The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny City on Tuesday 20th October, 2009. The seminar will provide practical, appropriate and easy to understand advice and guidance on how to thermally upgrade historic houses and reduce energy costs whilst ensuring that no damage occurs to their historic fabric and character. Crucially, attendance will equip the homeowner with the knowledge of how to obtain the most return for the least cost by doing ‘as much as necessary and as little as possible’ to ensure a comfortable and sustainable home to live in. The intended audience is the owner of protected structures and buildings located within architectural conservation areas, as well as owners of any traditionally built historic house. The seminar will also be of interest to architects and attendance at the seminar is recognised by the RIAI as a ‘Structured CPD Activity’ (2.5 CPD points). The topics to be covered at the seminar include:

• Improving thermal efficiency: advice for owners of traditional buildings.

• Building services implications.

• Studies in the application of the Building Energy rating to Historic Building.

• Energy performance in protected structures – planning implications and grant aid.

• The use of appropriate materials in maximising energy efficiency and moisture control in historic buildings.

Download the IGS Energy Efficiency Brochure Kilkenny brochure and booking form (221kb)
Contact: Irish Georgian Society – Tel: 01-6767053 –  Email: info@igs.ie