Water Conservation Ireland give useful tips on how to conserve water, how rain water can be harvested and how new water meters will be fitted and what affect they will have on people paying for their water.
The site also explains why water is so important and why we should not take this precious natural resource for granted.
Ecooutfitters offers a range of ethical and sustainable school uniforms and sports wear all made from 100% pure organic cotton and certified by GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) against their strict environmental and social criteria.
Ecooutfitters believe that school uniforms should be made from natural, organic, breathable fabrics which are better for the children’s health as well as the environment.
Photo Goska Smierzchalska
GIY is an emerging global network of people who grow some of their own food.
With the rise of diet-related illness, there has never been a more urgent need for people to grow and eat healthy food. Research has shown that when people grow some of their own food, they gain a deeper understanding of food (“food empathy”), which leads to long term dietary changes and improved mental and physical wellbeing.
Founded in Ireland in 2009, the GIY movement is made up of over 50,000 food-growing people and community groups, supported by the GIY foundation (reg charity CHY 18920) which runs events and campaigns to build awareness and knowledge.
With your help, we aim to create a community of 1 million ‘GIYers’ in 20 countries in the next 5 years.
Transition Town Kinsale is a voluntary community initiative working to help make the transition from a dependency on fossil fuel to a low carbon future. Our Vision is a resilient, self-reliant and sustainable Town.
What began in Kinsale in 2005 has now become a global movement. Rob Hopkins, teacher of Permaculture at Kinsale Further Education College, produced the groundbreaking Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan with his students, exploring ways in which the community could prepare for Peak Oil. One of his students, Louise Rooney, set about developing the Transition Towns concept resulting in the historic decision by Kinsale Town Council to adopt the plan. Rob moved to the UK where he established the second Transition Town in Totnes which has become an inspiring focal point of the movement.
Sustainable Horticulture / Permaculture (FETAC Level 5 & 6) at Kinsale College of Further Education is a science-based course offering a practical and wide-ranging learning experience in a unique and thriving college community. Kinsale has a strong tradition of food and farming, as well as providing a near-idyllic environment for exploring ecology and the natural environment. The course is a mixture of classroom-based talks, practical activities, site visits, master classes from a range of visiting specialists and group project work.
The practical aspects of the course include:
The emphasis of the course is on practical skills that students can apply in their own lives and gain professional qualifications to access employment, developing their careers or continuing to 3rd level courses in horticulture, landscape design or related subjects.
The course is useful to anyone interested in landscape design, organic horticulture, community development, environmental education and sustainable resource management, and can lead to work or further training in these areas. Continue reading about the programme on the college website…
… or read an in-depth blog post by tutor Graham Strouts that goes into more detail and includes feedback from students about their experiences.
The All Ireland Permaculture Gathering is about bringing people and ideas together who share a common interest in sustainable and ethical methods to building a better world.
First held in Co. Wicklow in 2011, between 200 and 300 people have attended the gathering each year since. It is a weekend camp in a private location that supports the development of Permaculture in Ireland by providing an opportunity to network, celebrate and learn together. It is not a passive event laid on by others, but rather an active participatory gathering which is co-created by the year’s core team and camp attendees. People come and host talks and workshops, share skills and information and participate in this dynamic community event. The gathering steering group formed from past gathering members works to provide continuity from year to year.
The Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI) is a catalyst for the increased awareness of the opportunities and benefits of low energy design based on the Passive House Principles, across the Irish construction industry as a whole. Passive House Design is seen as a specifically proven successful way of designing such buildings.
The Mission of the PHAI is to promote, educate and facilitate, so as to develop a strong identity, understanding and demand for the passive house concept.
Cloughjordan Ecovillage brings together a diverse group of people creating an innovative new community in North Tipperary. We’re doing this in a way that is democratic, healthy and socially enriching while minimising ecological impacts.
Our 67-acre site includes beautiful and fertile land where we grow our own food, and plants and trees to promote biodiversity. The ecovillage comprises:
Climawin is an integrated ventilation window system that uses heat normally lost through a window to bring in and preheat fresh air and save energy. See video animation.
A typical house fitted with the Climawin system alone will reduce its annual energy bill by 20% to 24%. Climawin can recover 50% of the heat needed to make outside air comfortable on its way in, and on southern facades this rises to become a net heat gain.
WeCreate
WeCreate is a unique technology and creative workspace located in the Cloughjordan Ecovillage that offers access to a FabLab, community workspace, and co-working spaces.
We have industrial units and desk space available for your business now. Email info@wecreate.ie
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Cultivate is a practical sustainability organisation focused on active education with facilities in Dublin and Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary.
We aim to equip people to respond to the twin issues of energy vulnerability and climate change by providing access to the knowledge and tools that cultivate sustainable lifestyles and resilient communities.
The Permaculture Resource is a space created and managed by Cultivate for collecting materials from permaculture courses and blogging on related matters.
Would you like to contribute to this blog? Contact us!
Éasca was formed to promote sustainable building in Ireland and to facilitate positive change in order to mainstream sustainable building practices.
It brings together the most innovative private companies in the built environment. Member companies are assessed by independent assessors to ensure their products and services have a positive impact on the environment.
Re-dress, the better fashion initiative believes the fashion industry can & should be better. We co-ordinate events, workshops, projects, exhibitions, industry consultations and public campaigns all with the goal of promoting meaningful change towards better practices and a sustainable future for the fashion industry.
Sustainable Tourism Ireland (STI) promotes the concept of sustainability within the tourism sector. STI is building a community of like-minded people who shares the same vision and passion in growing sustainable tourism in Ireland.
