Official Launch of the IRD Duhallow Social Farming Project

By RACHEL BUDD

Horticulture has been at the heart of IRD Duhallow’s training programmes for several years and the grounds of the James O’Keeffe Institute provide a wealth of growing space within a historic and vibrant backdrop. Our Community Gardens have grown from our first polytunnel established back in 2011 to the development of the Therapeutic Garden, and later the Kitchen Garden and the installation of the Teaching Tunnel. This is a large polytunnel divided into 3 sections, giving ample space for teaching, meetings, and gatherings, a dedicated propagation area, and raised beds for crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, salads etc.

2021 saw the commencement of the IRD Duhallow Social Farming Programme and the development of a Social Farm. It is very appropriate that the Social Farming programme has been able to build around the gardens of the James O’Keeffe Institute which have been enjoyed over the years by participants from IRD Duhallow’s Towards Occupation and STRIVE programmes.

Social Farming is a community based programme which enables farmers to open up their homes and farms to a person with additional needs for a few hours a week.

This programme comes from the desire of those to give something back and give their time and guidance in the farm setting. It enables people who would not normally have the opportunity, the time and space to experience life on the farm; helping to feed the animals, collect eggs, water the plants and of course enjoy a cup of tea when all the jobs are done.

For both the participants visiting the farm and the farm family, social farming is a particularly rich and rewarding experience, and real care and camaraderie are evident at all host farms.

2023 has seen the redevelopment and enhancement of the Community Gardens at the James O’Keeffe Institute into a hub for the IRD Duhallow Social Farming Programme. The Social Farm will, in addition to hosting participants throughout the week, act as a support and training centre for our host farmers and their participants spread right across the Duhallow area.

We would like to extend invitations to those with additional needs and their family or carer who may be interested in joining Social Farming to come and see what we have to offer and meet our staff.

We would like to hear from and welcome any farmers that feel that they could offer couple of hours support and thinking of becoming a host farmer.

IRD Duhallows Social Farming welcomes volunteers who would like to spend time helping out in the garden and meeting and supporting some of the people that use the garden here at the James O’Keeffe institute.

In order to launch our new and improved gardens, the IRD Duhallow Social Farming programme will be hosting a Launch on Friday July 28th, 11am to 3pm.

Activities will include:

· Official Launch of the IRD Duhallow Social Farming Project

· Plant and Vegetable sale

· Garden tours

· Composting and Seed saving demonstrations

· Activity trail for children

All are welcome to come and help us celebrate this event.

For more information on the IRD Duhallow Social Farming Programme, please contact Rachel Budd at rachel.budd@irdduhallow.com.