News letter July 08'
On Tuesday 10th March between 10am and 3pm we will be planting fruit and nut trees kindly donated by local individuals, garden centres and nurseries as part of National Tree Week. There is plenty of mulching material here to put around too. Please come along and join us if you are passing or have the time, and see how this project is developing. Bring tools, gloves and wellies, and lunch to share.
Greetings and welcome to the second newsletter.
We can happily say that all the anticipated events and activities planned over the first few months of this new project went ahead, and movement in the garden has been slow but steady. Not so the growth of the bracken though of course…..
The visit to Lisa Davies’ garden and farm was most enjoyable and the paradise which she is creating there is absolutely stunning. A good number of us turned out and were greatly inspired to see what can be achieved on mountainsides with driving sea winds. Many thanks to Lisa for opening up her doors to us. Our party then went on to visit the new home of Caroline Vernon-slightly further up the Sheeps Head Peninsula, where she is exploring possibilities for her small piece of land there. I believe she found the collective input of advice and ideas very helpful, and we were rewarded with the tastiest homemade soups ever!!
Mike Holdens’ workshop on Composting was very informative and enjoyable, helping those in attendance to see where they could improve their current systems or exactly which system would work best for them. We began the construction of a New Zealand Bin in the Forest garden -a three bin system simply made from posts, pallets and wire, and also set up a Wormery based on a West Cork style blue barrel design. Signs will be created for the compost area offering information and advice on care etc. for visitors to view. I took quite some notes which I would willingly make available should I find the time to type them up….any offers?!
The next workshops, workdays and events planned to date are as follows….
Thursday 24th July from 5pm onwards
Workday
Thought we’d try a weekday evening this time…The jobs at hand will be to remove the new growth of bracken from the patch of ground we have been working on, complete the construction of the Compost Area, and clear the access point towards the back where we will bringing a pathway into the garden. Bring a picnic supper to share….and maybe we’ll go down the village for a drink together after!
Sunday 3rd August 10am-5pm
Forest Garden Workshop: “Plant Profiles and Soft Wood Cuttings” with Lisa Davies. Max. 12 people. Cost E40. Some concessions available.
The focus of this workshop will be to take a further look at the plants themselves, and how to take successful cuttings from them. We will begin by preparing a nursery bed in the Forest Garden at An Sanctoir, and then take a field trip out to Lisas’ garden on the Sheeps head Peninsula. There we will look at a wide selection of edible plants and learn how to take cuttings from them. We will then return to An Sanctoir and set the cuttings into the nursery bed. Transport can be provided from An Sanctoir, leaving at approx. 11am, and pick-ups from the Durrus and Bantry areas on route are possible by prior arrangement. Soup is provided for lunch, but please bring additional items to share. Unless the weather is particularly bad we will be going ahead……bring wet weather gear if necessary.
For bookings and further info. contact Caz on 028 25978 or Lisa on 027 61716
Sunday 21st September 12 midday onwards
This
event is in collaboration with the Skibbereen-based
group “Growing Awareness”, whose aim
is to ensure that everyone has access to food grown
and produced in a way that restores respect for the
earth, respect for food and respect for farmers and
growers. With their awareness of the Forest Garden
Project here at An Sanctoir, the group have invited
us to take part in their Farm Walks Programme this
year.
An Sanctoir is currently looking into the setting up
of educational food growing opportunities, projects
and community gardens on the community owned land.
The day is set to incorporate demonstrations, speakers,
films, local food, competitions such as “the
Heaviest Pumpkin”etc. This will all fall under
the theme of highlighting the importance of local food
production, and is hoped be a great day for all the
family. The Forest Garden Project will be featured
and we would like to set up an exhibition – so
those photos we’ve been capturing of you guys
whom have been getting involved will be coming to great
use!!. Sustain West Cork has also pledged its’ support,
and we greatly appreciate and encourage anyone who
would like to lend a hand.
Further details will follow. In the meantime feel free
to contact Caz on 028 25978 with any ideas or offers
of support etc.
Design
The design is still very much in its’ early stages and is unfolding as we are going along. You are still not too late to get involved in this part of the process should you find it of particular interest.
Tree Care
The Cherry trees are reaching up towards the over head power cables and will need checking in some way. We are looking for someone with expertise to help and advise us on our options of how to deal with this.
Pathways
We are very excited to say that we have been donated a days’ work with a mini digger in order to help us to put the main pathways and access points into the garden in place, alongside any drainage improvement work needed. The design of these pathways is very mindful of providing wheelchair access where the gradient allows. We are also proposing an open and seated circular space, which would lend itself to educational purposes. We are hoping that this work will be completed in time for the event with Growing Awareness on September 21st. We would hugely appreciate people with strong backs to lend a hand, and will be calling out once we know when it is due to take place.
Finances
There is currently €10 in our Garden accounts pot….thanks to Mikes’ generosity of running his workshop as a fundraiser for the setting up of the Compost Area, so donations of money and materials will need to be sought for the next stages. The intention is that any profits of money raised through cover charges of events and workshops will help towards covering the set up costs and tasks involved for this project.
How can you help?
Treasurer….absolutely minimal at present!
Fundraising and Grants….there are definitely some opportunities out there and An Sanctoir being a registered charity and community owned, is in a fantastic position to receive some of it!! It just needs an input of time.
Come along to workdays, or give us a call if you’d like to come along at a different time and do something!!
Ask if you can help with any of the above mentioned needs of the garden.
We welcome you to put forward your suggestions, recommendations and input toward future workshops and events on related themes. Would you like to join the An Sanctoir Forest Garden Team who manage the project, or perhaps host a garden visit? Just get in touch if you’d like to know more. If you know of anyone else who may be interested in what we are doing then please feel free to forward this email to them.
That’s it for now….
We look forwards to seeing you.
Best Wishes from the An Sanctoir Forest Garden Team.
For further info on the project or any of the events please contact Caz on 028 25978 or email cazjeffreys@gmail.com
An Sanctoir is
also available to rent for workshops, performances, private celebrations
and groups. Terms
and Conditions > >
We support community events. 028 37155