Sustainable Skerries are pleased to host Éanna Ní Lamhna for an informative talk, and question & answer session on Wednesday 8th June in the Little Theatre. Éanna is a well known environmentalist, author, speaker and RTE radio personality on Derek Mooney’s show – “Mooney goes Wild”. She was also the Chairperson of An Taisce.
Eanna will chat with us on Sustainability issues relevant to Skerries, like: Water, Food supply and Resilience and how these apply to life in Skerries.
Date – Wednesday 8 June, at 7.30pm
Venue – Little Theatre, Skerries
This promises to be a memorable evening. All welcome. Donations to “Vita” would be appreciated.
(Note : “Vita” is a charity building sustainable livelihoods in the Horn of Africa).
The Post Carbon Institute based in California have just published this excellent article on security and resilience in a post carbon world. Although the article mainly discusses the issue from an American perspective, it does hold a lot of gems for us to think about in Skerries. Specifically David Orr’s definition of resilience is one which captures the whole idea in one succinct paragraph.
“Sustainability, in short, must be the domestic and strategic imperative for the twenty-first century. Its chief characteristic is resilience — a concept long familiar to engineers, mathematicians, ecologists, designers, and military planners — which means the capacity of the system to “absorb disturbance; to undergo change and still retain essentially the same function, structure, and feedbacks” (Walker and Salt, 2006, p. 32; Lovins and Lovins, 1983, chapter 13; Lovins, 2002). Resilient systems are characterized by redundancy so that failure of any one component does not cause the entire system to crash. They consist of diverse components that are easily repairable, widely distributed, cheap, locally supplied, durable, and loosely coupled. In Joshua Ramo’s words: “studies of food webs or trade networks, electrical systems and stock markets, find that as they become more densely linked they also become less resilient; networks, after all, propagate and even amplify disturbances” (Ramo, p. 198). In practical terms, resilience is a design strategy that aims to reduce vulnerabilities, often by shortening supply lines, improving redundancy in critical areas, bolstering local capacity, and solving for a deeper pattern of dependence and disability. The less resilient the country, the more military power is needed to protect its far-flung interests and client states — hence the greater the likelihood of wars fought for oil, water, food, and materials. But resilient societies need not send their young to fight and die in far-away battlefields, nor do they need to heat themselves into oblivion.”
One unfortunate example of how important resilience is in maintaining our highly linked global economy is the effect the Japanese earthquake and tsunami has had on the supply chain and distribution networks across the world. Even now months after the tsunami, the tightly linked, Just In Time supply chains have shortages in vital industrial components that go to make everything from specialist batteries to electronic aircraft components. A loosely connected local food supply system, not reliant on external electrical power or oil based fertilisers and pesticides has a much better chance of withstanding a national energy shock such as an oil or gas shortage. So keep growing in your back or front garden or in your allotment. Try as many organic methods as possible. Support local business’ where it makes sense. And if it doesn’t make sense, tell your local business why, is it price, service or quality? Reuse your grey water for watering plants, collect rainwater and improve your water resilience. Get out the bike and cycle down to the shops, it saves you money, is healthier and you get to say hello to your friends and neighbours as your flying along at a sedate 10 mph.
See you up at the allotments.
Frank
The Skerries Community Harvest Group got off to a flying start on Saturday morning, at 11am at the Farmers Market by Skerries Mills! The vegetables boxes were all beautifully presented, thanks to our organic farmer, local man Paddy Byrne – all his hard work had paid off! There was a great buzz in the air, members sharing a tea / coffee and eating some of Ger & Debbie’s fabulous homemade scones – a real sense of community being formed. It all started in August 2010 when Paddy Byrne was willing to take the risk when he was approached by Sustainable Skerries to start together our very own Skerries community supported agriculture scheme. It was an exciting prospect. For Paddy it involved extending the breadth and volume of vegetables he grew on his farm and trusting that Sustainable Skerries would find enough members who would be willing to commit to him for a whole season. There was no need to worry. 30 families in Skerries were happy to commit upfront to paying Paddy a monthly fee for a weekly vegetable box and loved the prospect of giving Paddy certainty of his customer base and getting fresh, seasonal, organic vegetables with no food miles in return. May 7th was to be the First Vegetable Box Collection Day!
This all led to a group of volunteers arriving at Paddy’s farm on Friday evening to get instructions about where to pick and what to pack. Paddy patiently guided us in our endeavours! Our job was to fill the blue vegetable boxes donated very kindly by IOFGA ( Irish Organic Farmers & Growers Association) and have them ready for members the following morning. [A special mention to Grace Maher from IOFGA who personally collected our donated boxes and delivered them safely to the farm, thank you Grace for that and all your support to the Skerries Community Harvest Group! ]. We picked beautiful fresh organic spinach, parsley, white and golden turnips, three varieties of lettuce and rhubarb. These were all allocated according to Paddy’s instructions and of course Paddy’s wonderful organic eggs completed the boxes. 
Paddys farm is beautifully situated, overlooking Skerries, just down the road from the gates of Ardgillian castle. We could see the Mills where our boxes would be safely delivered to the Farmers Market by Paddy the following morning. Paddy’s family has farmed in Blackhills, Skerries for four generations. In the 80’s Paddy left the farm for economic reasons but never lost his love of farming and that connection to the land. In 2000 Paddy decided to return to farming and felt strongly that organic farming was the best way forward. He started slowly, initially converting one field and trying out a variety of vegetables. As his knowledge deepened he expanded and 11 years later has 15 acres of land which is certifed organic by IOFGA and four polytunnels which are essential to extending the growing season. In 2005 he decided to add chickens to the farm and sell organic eggs at the farm gate. This turned out to be enormously successful and there are now 500 chickens and 70 ducks producing 120 dozen chicken eggs and 16 dozen duck eggs per week. In recent years, Paddy has also planted an orchard of about 60 apple trees and is focused on developing fruit production over the next four years. Paddy hopes to add a significant number of food based preserves, juices and baked goods to the products currently on offer. This ties in with his future plans for a farm shop and seperate kitchen, storage and packaging facilities.
Paddy’s family has farmed in Blackhills, Skerries for four generations. In the 80’s Paddy left the farm for economic reasons but never lost his love of farming and that connection to the land.
In 2000 Paddy decided to return to farming and felt strongly that organic farming was the best way forward. He started slowly, initially converting one field and trying out a variety of vegetables. As his knowledge deepened he expanded and 11 years later has 15 acres of land which is certifed organic by IOFGA and four polytunnels which are essential to extending the growing season. In 2005 he decided to add chickens to the farm and sell organic eggs at the farm gate. This turned out to be enormously successful and there are now 500 chickens and 70 ducks producing 120 dozen chicken eggs and 16 dozen duck eggs per week. In recent years, Paddy has also planted an orchard of about 60 apple trees and is focused on developing fruit production over the next four years. Paddy hopes to add a significant number of food based preserves, juices and baked goods to the products currently on offer. This ties in with his future plans for a farm shop and seperate kitchen, storage and packaging facilities.
Text: Rosaleen Mc Menamin & Bronagh Dhuill
Photos: Paddy Mc Menamin
Here’s the thing, I’m not big into joining associations, clubs and such like. But. (there’s always a but…) after being up working my new allotment for the past month, I really have to recommend joining the association.
No. 1: I have saved a fortune on fencing posts, wire and rabbit netting from Whites Agri, who are giving 10% off all their products on production of a Skerries Allotment Association membership card.
No 2: There are several group buys being organised for the association members. I got my garden shed delivered yesterday. Organised by Barry from the association. Many thanks to Barry, who looked after organising the group buy and was there from early in the morning to supervise the fitting of the sheds by Funshog Sheds. I was in work at the time and I certainly appreciate the effort which Barry went to to ensure all eight members who ordered the sheds were looked after.
No 3: It gives the association much greater strength of repreentation if everyone joins the association. In our discussions with Fingal Co Co. we have a much stronger voice if we speak for all plot holders. So ensuring the improvement of the allotment site with sustainable, resilient and bio-diverse development.
Its also great craic. It will cost you €10 per year, but you will get this back in savings 5 times over in your first year.
If you are intersted in joining the association, email us on sustskerries@yahoo.ie
The Skerries CHG first veg boxes will be ready on Saturday May 7th, and to celebrate the CHG will be holding a launch at Skerries Mills at 11am (details of collection will be confirmed by email to the CHG members before then). It will be a chance for the CHG to meet as a group, have a cuppa and get to know each other a little bit as they pick up the first boxes. We’re inviting some of the press along too. It’s an occasion worth marking so please do come along to support the Community Harvest Group!
If your a CHG member or would you like to have a hand in producing some wonderful organic veg and learn a bit more about growing organic vegetables and fruit, and if you have even an hour to spare per week, or a couple of hours per fortnight, your help would be greatly appreciated on the organic farm. Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to the farm on Thursday 14th April 2011, 7-8 pm, to meet Paddy the farmer, walk around the farm and hear what type of help is needed. May and June are particularly critical times so any time you could give would be very welcome.
At last we are digging up our own allotments.
The sun shone on us all last week as we started to get the plots ready for the first early potatoes going in. All around the allotments, people were starting to make headway on the their plots, fencing was being fitted, new sheds were sprouting up everywhere, some very architecturally interesting gates were built and installed, (we could hold a “most interesting gate” competition later in the year). 
Its fascinating walking around the allotment fields observing how each person is planning and developing their plot, everyone stamping their character on the land. It is going to be a very busy summer establishing our new allotments. It would really encourage everyone to join the newly formed Skerries Allotment Association. You can help to develop our new community of growers and we might get some good deals on a seeds and sheds.
The best news of all, Mary and Cathal got to plant their seed potatoes. Its taken over 18 months of meetings, planning, campaigning, blood sweat and many frustrating tears to get these spuds into the ground. They will definitely be the sweetest spuds ever grown. Well done lads!!
Just to let all allotment holders know that the conventional and transition allotments were sprayed with weedkiller last week by Fingal COCo. It is advisable not to dig for at least 10 days, so that the weedkiller can work on the weeds. There is alot of scutch grass in the field, so digging will only cause roots to divide and spread and give you much grief and hard work for you. The following weekend would probably be better.
AN INFORMATION AFTERNOON IS BEING ORGANISED BY SKERRIES ALLOTMENTS ASSOC, Sat 5th March from 2pm -4pm in Community Centre (computer room) LEARN ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF JOINING FOR ONLY €10 PER YEAR.
We had glorious weather for both Meithal days at the Skerries Allotments site this weekend. With over 50 people helping out. We were able to get another pathway prepared and a trench dug in prepartion for planting a new hedge on the eastern side of the site. This new hedge will be made up of Whitethorn and Hazel, and will not only protect the site from the bitterly cold east winds coming of the sea, but will improve the bio-diversity on the edges of the site. Mary Marsden (Skerries Allotments Assoc) and Tom Hussey (Fingal Co Co) gave us an update on the allotments project so far, and were able to answer several questions from some people in the work party. The work was very rewarding and the banter was great. We will be arranging another Meithal day very soon. Watch this space.
Skerries Allotments Association (A subgroup of Sustainable Skerries) have organised two work sessions this weekend Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th Feb at 10am finishing at 12 noon. Bring your wellies and garden tools. We need a couple of wheelbarrows as well.
Fingal Co Co have progressed the project and have said that they will be sending out the invoices and Con-Acre agreements to each prospective allotment holder before the end of February. When you recieve your invoice and agreement, (and if you are still interested in getting your allotment) please return it to Fingal with your payment without delay. Invoices not returned within the alloted time will be re-allocated to the Fingal waiting list.
So, see you up at the allotments.
Sustainable Skerries’ Community Harvest Group held its second public meeting on Thursday 20th January in the Sailing Club. The Community Harvest Group (CHG) is a partnership between a local organic farmer and a couple of dozen families from Skerries. The idea is that the participating families get a weekly veg box of organic, seasonal and local food. No Food Miles, just healthy, delicious, sustainable fruit and veg with a few organic eggs thrown in.
The meeting was well attended with over 20 families signing up for CHG membership. We still have a couple of places available. We were also delighted to have a representative from the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association, (IOFGA). She was impressed with the partnership between our organic farmer and the CHG member families.
We are all looking forward to our first veg box in April.
Sustainable Skerries 