Growing together An all-ireland conference on community supported agriculture (csa) 17th, 18th & 19th of February, cloughjordan, tipperary

The Cloughjordan Community Farm
In association with the National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS), The Soil Association (UK), Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA), URGENCI – Global Network of CSA’s, Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Cultivate, and FEASTA

present
Growing Together

An all-Ireland conference on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
17th, 18th & 19th of February * Cloughjordan, Tipperary

The aim of this weekend conference is to introduce the CSA concept to communities and growers on the island of Ireland. The event will bring together food producers and emerging Irish CSA’s while creating networking and learning opportunities with experienced initiatives from across Europe.

Themes
Producing Food Together – Sharing the Risk
Case Studies from Successful CSAs,
Can CSA Increase Community Resilience?
Diversification for Farmers and Growers
Getting Started
Sustainable Food Communities
Access to Land
Lifelong Learning and Training

Speakers and Panelists
Ella Mc Sweeney, RTE Presenter of Ear to the Ground
Peter Young, Farmer and Journalist with Farmers Journal
Mick Kelly, GIY, Social Entrepreneur, and Founder of Grow It Yourself Ireland
Amanda Daniel, CSA and Organic Buying Groups, Soil Association (UK)
Judith Hitchman, International Consultant in Emerging Trends in Local Development
Andrea Calori, President of Urgenci, International CSA Network
Bruce Darrell, Grower, Food Systems Specialist, FEASTA Executive Committee
Sarah Fleming, Local Food Consultant, formally Slow Food International and GIY Ireland
Pat Malone, Producer at Cloughjordan Community Farm
Ollie Moore, Food and agriculture journalist and food researcher
Grace Maher, Development Officer with IOFGA
Kevin Dudley, Former Orchard Manager at Irish Seed Savers and Biodynamic Grower
Mimi Pearson, Cloughjordan Community Farm
Davie Philip, Community Resilience Manager at Cultivate
Yvonne O’Donovan, Hazelhurst CSA, UK

Schedule

Friday 17th
Django’s Hostel, Cloughjordan Ecovillage
19.30 – Introduction – Welcome to the Ecovillage and Cloughjordan
20.00 – Voices from the Cloughjordan Community Farm
An introduction to what the local CSA is doing.
21.00 – Networking – Speed dating for Food Initiatives
22.00 – Close

Saturday 18th
St Kieran’s Hall Cloughjordan
09.00 – Tea and Coffee
09.30 – How can CSAs increase community resilience and food sovereignty?
Bruce Darrell, Judith Hitchman and Davie Philip lead a discussion on resilience and local food systems
11.00 – Break
11.30 – Growing Together, Why CSAs play a vital role in the future of food production.
Panel discussion led by Ella McSweeney featuring the Soil Association (UK) Yvonne O’Donovan, Andrea Calori and representatives from other UK and Irish CSA’s,
13.30 – Lunch
14.30 – Farm Walk – Cloughjordan Community Farm

15.30 – Growing for Your Community
Special session supported by NOTS, facilitated by Peter Young
Featuring the Soil Association, IOFGA, Cloughjordan Community Farm and others
– Diversification for farmers and growers
– Different models of CSAs
– Education and Training Options
– Working with communities
18.00 – Close

Saturday Social – an evening together

Sunday 19th
The Parochial Hall, Step Road
10.00 – Coffee
10.30 – CSA, The Nuts and Bolts of Setting Up and Maintaining a CSA

13.30 – Lunch
St Kieran’s Hall
14.30 – Open Space, Have your Say on CSAs
15.40 – Mick Kelly founder of Grow It Yourself Ireland
16.00 – Close

Costs
Weekend ticket €40 (€35 Members of any of the partner organisations)
Does not include accommodation
If you wish to participate but cannot attend the full weekend, all sessions are also priced individually
Friday 17th 7-10pm €5
Saturday 18th 9 – 6pm €20
Growers session only €10 (3 hours)
Sunday 20th €20

Accommodation
Djangos Hostel – Special CSA Weekend Rate €30, One Night €20.
(Mention CSA event when you book)
Book through Pa Funucane at 087 2569348 or at www.djangoshostel.com

For more accommodation options in Cloughjordan click on www.cloughjordan.ie

For more information or to book
contact… training [AT] cloughjordancommunityfarm.ie
or call Davie on 087 6340697
www.cloughjordancommunityfarm.ie

The Cloughjordan Community Farm is an example of community supported agriculture (CSA). We currently provide fresh vegetables, milk and meat to over sixty member households on 40 acres of land in Cloughjordan.