Learn How To Live The Good Life
| When: | 2009 | Duration: | 5 days |
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| Where: | North West Ireland | Courses | Click to View |
| An Approved EcoBreak |
Click to Enquire or Tel: 00353 71 9854338 |
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Learn how to live the good life - Course 2009
Learn how to live the "Good Life", 5-day course at The Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim from Mon 20th to Fri 24th of July.
"To live the good life" means different things to different people but it is always about ideas, skills and confidence to make changes in your life at any level. If you want to break out, drop out, downshift, 'move west', live a more sustainable life or simply learn how to grow and make your own food this could be the start.
Now in it's fifth year this is the most complete course from The Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co. Leitrim featuring full day sessions on growing vegetables organically, growing and using herbs, growing fruit for the home, making yoghurt and soft cheeses, baking and cooking with wholemeal and storing and preserving.
The sessions will be complemented by an introduction to yoga and relaxation techniques, a lecture on sustainable building, a guided tour around the centre gardens, a seaweed walk on a local beach and a visit to a local organic farm.
Hans and Gaby Wieland, supported by Organic Centre staff, will guide you through an insightful and exciting 5 days.
Here are some of the comments from last years 'Good Lifers':
The seaweed walk was inspirational- The enthusiasm of everyone involved was infectious - The course has given me the courage to change my way of life - I will now try to grow some vegetables - I experienced the opening of a door into the world of herbs, wildflowers and seaweed - I really loved the cooking session - I appreciated the ethos, sincerity, honesty and openness of staff and trainers.
Price for the course € 700. That includes tuition, walks, materials and notes, a relaxation and a yoga session and daily breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea and coffee at the Grassroof Café at The Organic Centre.
Lunch is at 12.30 pm every day and dinner will be served at 5pm.Not included is accommodation. Please make your own arrangements. A list of accommodation in the area is available, please note that breakfast at The Organic Centre is included in the price. If you would like to share transport to and from the centre, please let us know.
For further information and bookings please call Hans Wieland or Noirin Kavanagh at 071-98 54338, e-mail: info@theorganiccentre.ie
Website: www.theorganiccentre.ie
Full Programme
Monday 20th of July - Day 1
After a welcoming session at 9am, where participants and lecturers will meet we will start at 10am with an Introduction to Growing Organic Vegetables by Ingrid Foley. The day will cover planning, rotation and soil fertility management, composting, plant varieties and practical sessions on ground preparation, sowing and propagation. You will get all the necessary information to grow a wide range of vegetables at home.
Tuesday 21st of July - Day 2
8am: Good morning session with Noirin Kavanagh (30 min)
9am: Growing and Using Herbs by Gaby Wieland
This introduction to herbs will cover choice of herbs (both culinary and medicinal), soil suitability and design of a small herb garden. Practical sessions include growing and propagation techniques. Participants will also be shown how to make tinctures and ointments with a sample given.
After dinner at 7pm we will visit Mary Luther's Bluebell Farm for a session on keeping poultry for the home.
Wednesday 22nd of July - Day 3
9am: Making Yoghurt and Soft Cheeses Part 1 with Hans Wieland
After a short introduction into the art of cheese making, we will produce a batch of yoghurt and start the process of making quark/soft cheese. We will show the equipment needed, introduce the ingredients for cheese making and explain the recipes.
At 11am you will tour the orchard and soft fruit area with Phil Wheal and he will talk about rootstocks, soils, pest and disease control and demonstrate the right way of pruning.
After lunch Phil will give you some ideas for growing fruit for the home. He will introduce you to suitable varieties for the Irish climate and show you how to plant trees and fruit bushes.
Later in the afternoon we will finish our yoghurt and quark.
After dinner at 6.30pm Peter Cowman, director of the Living Architecture Centre in Leitrim will give an introduction to sustainable house design and construction.
Thursday 23rd of July - Day 4
9am: Soft Cheese Part 2
First we will taste our homemade yoghurt, then produce herb cheese for lunch later on. Secondly Hans will give a short introduction to storing and preserving vegetables and fruit.
After lunch at 1.30pm and we will be making jam without sugar using Agar Agar instead. At 2.30pm we will leave for Cliffoney Beach for a seaweed walk with Prannie Rhatigan and afterwards gather at Neantog in Cliffoney.
Friday 24th of July - Day 5
We will start the last day with a yoga session(optional) from 8-9am with Lauren and after breakfast(9am) we will have Gaby at 9.30am for a session on Wholemeal Baking and Cooking.
Gaby will introduce wholemeal baking and cooking. Various grains and their uses will be shown, a grain mill will be on display and you will learn how to make your own sprouts. You will then prepare a wholesome wholefood lunch with vegetables from the garden. Some advice on diets will be given and links between an improper diet and common diseases like asthma, depression and diabetes will be discussed.
We will have a feedback and questions and answers session before we meet for our last supper at 5pm.
For further information and bookings please call Hans Wieland at hans@theorganiccentre.ie
Tel: 071-98 54338, e-mail: info@theorganiccentre.ie
Website: www.theorganiccentre.ie
Certified Ecotourism
All the Organic Centres experiences listed above have been certified according to the Greenbox Ecotourism Standard which means that all the key elements of ecotourism are met as part of the experience. (More details can be found on www.greenbox.ie)
Environment
The Organic Centre has been leading the way in promoting environmental principles and practices in Ireland for the last 20 years. Their purpose built eco-building is very energy efficient (south facing, highly insulated, energy saving lighting), electricity is supplied by Airtricity and heating is supplied by a wood pellet (biomass) system meaning that the centre is no longer dependant on oil. All waste generated is composted and recycled and food is produced organically on site which means produce is used when needed and in season. The centre also avoids all use of non recyclable packaging. It is their policy to use fair trade, organic and local goods and environmentally friendly services wherever possible and all goods in the centres shop are either organic, fair-trade or local (coffee, tea, snacks, sweets, oils, honey, chocolate, eggs, detergents, t-shirts). Finally, the centre is using a number of methods to conserve water supplies and only biodegradable and eco friendly detergents are used throughout the building.
Learning
The Organic Centre is the ideal place to learn a new skill and they are committed to promoting organic growing, healthy living, sustainable living and the benefits of locally produced food. Their motto is "where inspiration becomes action" and the goals of the centre are: building experience, improving skills, providing knowledge of resources, making contacts, building networks of likeminded people and having a good time!
All teachers, lecturers and guides are practitioners in their respective fields ( horticulture, food, tourism etc.) with up to 30 years of experience in the organic and environmental movement and everyone involved in running the centre is living their believes and values. They promote ecological values by actually 'doing it' and encourage people to adopt these principles and make changes.
A purpose built sensory garden has been designed for people with special needs and an interpretive nature trail has been constructed for primary and also for secondary school students. The centre also caters for women's groups and can deliver training, workshops and tours in English, Irish, German, French and Spanish.
The Organic Centre has links and supports the Ugandan Organic Womens's Cooperative, and the Mongolian Organic Women's movement. (Women from Uganda and Mongolia attended the centre for training.) They are also linked with HDRA in England and Stiftung Oekologie und Landbau in Germany.
"Respect your environment, grow organic, grow, eat, shop local. Reuse, reduce and recycle waste, compost.
Use alternative energy if possible, save energy and adopt a sustainable lifestyle." Hans Wieland
Conservation
The Organic Centre is dedicated to conservation and the organic and ecological management of gardens, fields and woodlands. They have enhanced local biodiversity in the Rossinver area by planting many native plants, trees and 'weeds'. All wildlife at the centre is protected (hedgehogs, hares, frogs, birds) and all events promote organic growing and farming, which actively enhances biodiversity and wildlife.
Benefiting the local community
All people involved in running the experiences listed above live within 10km of the centre and the centre is the largest employer in the area with 7 full time and 20 part time jobs. By coming to the centre you are not only helping to sustain these jobs but are also creating a number of spin off benefits for local rural businesses such as overnight stays in local B&Bs and guesthouses, eating in local restaurants, shopping in local shops and sampling local crafts. The local active age group meets every week in the centre for activities and local artists work is on sale including candles from Celtic Flame, T-Shirts from Solas Atlantics Sligo, Postcards and paintings from three local artists (Helen Pinoff, Frances Morris and Monica Courish), dried flowers from Jill Scott and bundle tools from Micheal Hentschel.
Organic Centre approved accommodation available in the area:
*Clancys of Glenfarne, Brockagh, Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim, Tel: 00353 71-98 53116, Fax: 00353 71-98 53212, accommodation & restaurant facilities. EU Flower approved.
*Katherine Keaney, Gortnaderry, Kiltyclogher Road, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim
Tel: 00353 71-98 54445, B&B, approx. 3 miles from the Centre. EU-Flower approved!
*Rockville House,Bellek Rd.,Station Road, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Tel: 00353 71-98 51106
B&B and Selfcatering, approx. 12 miles from the Centre.
Lough Melvin Holiday Centre, Garrison, Co. Fermanagh
Tel: 028(from NI) 048(from the Republic of Ireland) - 68 658 142
Accommodation, camping, caravans, restaurant, outdoor activities. About 2 miles the Centre.
The Courthouse Restaurant, Kinlough, Co. Leitrim, Tel: 00353 71-98 42391
B&B and Italian Restaurant, approx. 10 miles from the Centre.
Leitrim Lakes Hostel, Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim, Tel/Fax: 00353 71-98 54044
Offering selfcatering accommodation, space for camping, approx. 6 miles from the Centre.
Reduction for course participants!
Bridie and Frank Meehan, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, Tel :00353 71 98 55450
B&B, approx. 8 miles from the Centre.
The Benwiskin Centre, Ballintrillick, Co. Sligo, Tel: 00353 71- 91 76721
Selfcatering Hostel accommodation, family rooms, approx. 18miles from the Centre.
Bluebell House, Clooneen, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, Tel: 00353 71- 98 55384
B&B, approx. 8 miles from the centre
Prices and quality of accommodation varies. Please make your own arrangements.
*Organic Breakfast available on request.
Thanks again for your booking. We look forward to seeing you. The Organic Centre Team.
Cost: €700
Click to Enquire or
Tel: 00353 71 9854338
