Learn how to identify, collect and store the seed of native trees and how to prepare them for germination and planting. Start your own native woodland the best way with trees grown from local seeds.
Location: Gortnamucklagh Woodland Farm, Skibbereen
Contact: Paul McCormick & Jacinta French on 028 23384
Email: woodkernenurseries@eircom.net
Postponed until 30th September
Enjoy a relaxing walk in beautiful woodland whilst identifying edible fungi and plants and learning how to cook them. Discover what’s safe to eat and when to exercise caution! You’ll be amazed at the wonderful free food available at this time of year.
Location: To be decided – phone for details
Contact: Eric Rhodes on 086 3098169
Email: sligenamara@eircom.net
A celebration of apples. There will be a display of locally grown apple varieties, and apple tasting. Bring your own apples for identification. Advice and discussion of suitable varieties for fruit production in West Cork.
Location: Skibbereen Farmer’s market – 11am to 1.30pm all welcome: FREE
The Home Farm is a 55 acre REPS demonstration beef and dairy farm. Extensive plantings of hedgerows and a large constructed wetland for waste water treatment. Also new woodland planting. The farm won the national RDS farming and conservation award in 2000.
Directions From Durrus take the Goleen road and the farm is 9 miles on the left. There is a sign ‘Fortview House’. From Schull take the Goleen road, at Toormore (4.5miles from Schull) turn right (for Durrus/Bantry). The house is 1.5 miles on the right.
Contact Richie Connell on 028 35324
A celebration of tomatoes. We hope to show you 30 to 40 varieties of tomato. Taste them and see them growing - from tiny cherry toms to large white beefsteak varieties. Many colours, shapes and sizes. There will be a talk on tomato cultivation - from seed sowing to seed saving and ideas on how to use and preserve tomatoes.
Location: Skibbereen farmer’s market – 11am to 1.30pm. All welcome - FREE.
The workshop will cover practical seed saving with reference to adapting commercial varieties to local conditions, conducting variety trials, and creating new varieties at the home of Brown Envelope Seeds.
Directions: Go west on the Skibbereen to Ballydehob road for about 3 miles to Church Cross. Turn left opposite the church with the big cypress tree, signed for Cunnamore, Lisheen etc. After about 1½ miles you come to Minihan’s pub. Turn left just past the pub (sign posted for Turk Head) and go to the next junction, another mile or so. Follow the sign for Turk Head. After this junction it is the fourth entrance on the right. The house is stone-faced with blue windows. There is a red sign for organic beef.
Bookings: Madeline McKeever on 028 38184
30 year old mature garden on 2 acres with beautiful trees, shrubs, climbing plants and orchard. Half of the land is in on a steep slope and demonstrates the use of terracing to make an attractive and productive garden.
Directions From Drimoleague follow signs to CastleDonovan – at West Cork Paving crossroads take left to National school (about 1 mile) then take next right which goes past the castle for ½ mile. Look for an orange gate and stone entrance on the right.
Contact Mike Evans 028 31527
A woodland arboretum project, developed on marginal land over 200m, using permaculture principles on 25acres. Wild hill tops, meadows, forest including 50yr old plantation, new mixed plantation and ½ acre fruit and nut forest. Bring suitable footwear. Please do not bring meat / fish onto the land and strictly no dogs.
Directions
From South: ‘Bantry Line’ between Kealkil and Coppeen take ‘Inchigeela Johnstwon Grotto’ road. Take 2nd turn left and look for sig ns.
From North: Inchigeela Dunmanway road through Johnstown cross. Take 2nd right then 1st entrance on right.
Contact Joe Franz via 028 23889
Ardagh Castle is a 4.5acre smallholding situated 3km from Baltimore where Judy milks goats, makes cheese, keeps hens and runs a small kennel business. The goats are kept free range on land that is farmed using organic methods.
Directions Take the Skibbereen to Baltimore road until almost into Baltimore then take the turning to Lough Hyne. The farm is about a mile down that road on the left opposite a pink house on the right.
This walk will start at 2pm, maximum 12 people and booking is essential.
Contact Growing Awareness on 028 23889
A 7½ acre small holding with vegetable garden, greenhouses, sheep fields and mountain land. Includes sea views, streams, waterfalls, woods, bluebells, stone circle, collection of rare varieties of Venus fly traps, and hydro-electric generator.
Directions: From Bantry take the Goats Path Rd opposite the West Lodge Hotel, drive for approx 13 miles, then take 1st right turn after Gortnakilla Pier and follow signs. From Kilcrohane take the Goats Path Rd past Fitzpatrick’s Bar up over the top of the hill and then follow signs. Parking space is very limited so please car share if possible.
Contact: Trevor Cox on 027 67896