News & Events 2010
**PUBLICATION OUT NOW**
'The Year Round Organic School Garden'
A practical manual for teachers and educators setting up gardens in schools, for more information click here.
:: Summer 2010 ::
**NEWS**
Gortbrack Organic Farm has a donkey again! She’s called Dolly, she arrived in March and has been settling in well so far eating rushes and keeping Q the Kerry cow company.
Set up an organic garden in your school
Develop your own vegetable garden, herb beds, woodland, heritage orchard; native hedgerow; pond and wildlife areas with KEEP, organic advisors to Bord Bia’s current educational DVD project ‘Organic Gardens in Schools’. The whole school can be involved in the project; teachers, pupils and parents.
KEEP works on long-term sustainable school garden projects, designing the whole school grounds into a Living Classroom, linking in with the school curriculum and bringing children out of the classroom and into the garden, seeding, growing and eating food grown in the school.
KEEP also assist with ongoing maintenance of the garden with pupils, using the garden as a living classroom to develop a thorough knowledge of sustainable, organic and natural gardening, local food growing, wildlife and biodiversity.
Both practical and theoretical environmental education is used and the programme links with the NCCA Primary Schools curriculum (SESE), Social, Personal & Health Education (SPHE), The Food Dudes Programme and the Green Schools Scheme.
(KEEP are Heritage Specialists under the INTO/Heritage in Schools Scheme, which also offers a series of 5 visits – contact KEEP for more information)
Fybough National School has planted a native hedge and started an orchard.
Cromane National School has made a school grounds plan and planted a mixed native woodland of 180 trees!
Douglas National School has made a school grounds plan and is hoping to start work on their garden soon.
Derryquay National School have been bringing the oaks back to Derrymore by planting a native oak woodland in their grounds. They have also planted a section of native hedgerow and lots of vegetables in their raised beds.
Donaghmede National School in Dublin (featured on the Bord Bia DVD) has finished planting their native woodland and planted a hedgerow.
The Tree Nurseries in Schools project will be starting again in September with thanks to the Heritage Council.
KEEP will help the school with existing tree nurseries to plant out any trees which have grown and will also be working with another county to start a similar project.
Contact Ian or Cathy:
066 7137042
087 9246968
Farm Tours, please contact Cathy 085 7782289
INTO/Heritage in Schools Scheme
Phone: 01/8047700
Email: pdu@into.ie
Website: www.into.ie
Discover Primary Science
Phone: 01/6073082
Website: www.primaryscience.ie
Teacher Training Courses at Gortbrack Organic Farm
July 1st - 7th
August 16th – 20th
Learn how to plan, design and implement your own school garden.
Please contact Tralee Education Centre for more details
Mediterranean Vegetarian Cooking using Wholefoods
Cookery Class with Fanny Binder at Gortbrack Organic Farm.
26th of June 2010
10 - 2pm
40 euro per person (which includes a sit down 3 course meal).
Cooking with the seasons using fresh organic veg from the garden.
Introducing gluten free sugar free treats with nutritional tips.
Info and Booking
Fanny 087 9553014
Eileen 087 9246967
gortbrackorg@gmail.com
Gortbrack Organic Farm is a DISCOVER PRIMARY SCIENCE CENTRE
We offer guided Organic Food and Habitat trails, including seasonal nature orienteering, practical outdoor activities, treasure hunt and a farm tour.
Gortbrack Organic Farm has a diverse range of ecological & native Irish habitats, ranging from wildlife ponds, bog land, stonewalls, hedges and woodlands to organic vegetables, herbs, polytunnels (all weather), composting, living willow sculptures and a Kerry cow.
One theme from below can be chosen as a focus for the trip:
-
Local Organic Food
-
Water
-
Soil & Compost Photosynthesis
-
The Carbon Cycle
-
Bugs in the Garden
-
Botany & Seed saving
-
Renewable Energy
-
Woodland& Hedgerow Habitats
-
Biodiversity
Time: Approximately 10.00am – 1.30pm
Includes worksheets for pupils and support material for teachers.
Cost: €10 per child (plus €50 farm fee per group)
KEEP are Heritage Specialists under the INTO/Heritage in Schools Scheme, which also offers a series of 5 visits –
contact KEEP or the INTO for more information.
Elemental Education Offers a series of 5 workshops for 3rd to 6th class on the cycles of life. They focus on the essential cycles that ensure our survival on the earth covering the water cycle, photosynthesis, soil formation, mini beast investigation and the carbon cycle.
Each workshop includes explanations, games, quizzes & a practical art/craft session.
The workshops compliment the NCCA Primary School Curriculum and the Green Schools Scheme
Cost €150 per workshop (Part of the INTO/Heritage in Schools Programme, who may cover part of the workshop cost)
Please contact Cathy Eastman for more details:
Tel. 085 7782289
Email cathwah@hotmail.com