Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Farm Open Day - National Organic Week 2009

The Nano Nagle Centre for HERITAGE, SPIRITUALITY & ECOLOGY is situated on 32 acres of land which is farmed organically by a community of Presentation Sisters in the heart of the Blackwater Valley.

To celebrate, National Organic Week, the Nano Nagle Centre for HERITAGE, SPIRITUALITY & ECOLOGY are hosting a Farm Open Day on the evening of Wednesday 16th September (4pm – 7pm), where members of the public and media will be invited to visit our farm and experience how and where local organic food is produced. There will be plenty of scope to meet the animals in residence, which include some pedigree Kerry cows, mountain sheep, 200 laying hens, 2 donkeys, 2 cats and 3 khaki campbell ducks! The polytunnels, kitchen garden, field scale vegetables and allotment project are a great example of the variety of crops that can be locally and organically produced in Ireland.
In line with this year’s Organic Week theme, we are hosting a cookery demonstration which will given by Clodagh McKenna. She will be cooking up a storm on a barbeque, using fresh organic produce from the farm and from other local artisan producers. There will be lots of organic delights to sample, emphasising the message that good quality organic ingredients make great tasting healthy meals.

Activities Planned for the Day
- Guided farm walks – including beef, sheep and poultry
- Tour of kitchen, herb and field scale vegetable gardens
- Tour of tunnels showing the possibility of growing organic food all year round
- Powerpoint presentation on the Sustainable Energy Features of the Centre
- Renowned chef Clodagh McKenna doing a cookery demonstration using organic produce from the farm.
- Sampling and tasting organic food and mingling with like minded foodies
- Talk on health benefits of organic food


Organic Products on Display/Sampling
We will host a farmers market where we will sell our eggs and seasonal organic produce from our gardens and a selection of organic preserves. Organic teas, coffees and treats along with homemade organic cordials will be aplenty.
We will also invite other local producers from our on site farmer’s market to come and set up a stall.
Music will be provided by a group of young local traditional musicians.
Leaflets on organic food, growing vegetables, sustainable agriculture and relevant courses will be available.

For further information, please contact:

Kitty Scully

Farm Manager & Course Developer
Nano Nagle Centre
Ballygriffin
Mallow
Co Cork

Tel: 022 26411
Fax: 022 26953
Email: kitty@nanonaglebirthplace.ie
www.nanonaglebirthplace.ie