CSA Conference at Cloughjordan February 17th – 19th

CSA Conference at Cloughjordan February 17th – 19th

The Cloughjordan Community Farm

In association with the National Organic Training Skillnet (NOTS), The Soil Association (UK), Irish Organic 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 CSA’s 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 <pafinucane@gmail.com>

www.djangoshostel.com

 

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

 

For more information or to book

contact… training@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.