crisps with a conscience By Elva Carri
finding your true inner manliness By Jonno Kinsella Kaethe Burt O’Dea, a healthcare design researcher living in Dublin, began the community garden on Sitric Road in Stoneybatter some years ago as a way to help bring the residents together and develop more sustainable practices for food production at a local level. Many Dubliners will already have heard of ‘Sitric Picnic’, a small festival that grew out of this little plot and brings together local music, art, composting, seeds, board games, face painting, food and people. And it’s got a ‘Zero Waste’ policy - BYO cup, plate and cutlery and take them home after! But one of the most recent projects evolving there is ‘Crisps with a Conscience.’ This tasty idea formed organically from their SPUDS project. SPUDS was a way to encourage people to question the idea of genetically modifying potato crops to make them blight resistant and to look for alternative solutions. SPUDS had growers all over the country trying out a naturally blight resistant crop. Not only did the crops avoid blight in one of the country’s worst years for the disease, but the taste tests were hugely positive. Crisps with a Conscience took things a step further and began to look at how crisps are made and how many potatoes are thrown aside for being “the wrong size or shape”. Their first trial took place last summer. Not only was the packaging environmentally friendly and biodegradable, but happy customers delighted in the fact that they “Tasted like potatoes!” Crisps with a Conscience is due to launch around the country later this year, with packs including educational infographics and blight resistant seeds to encourage kids to learn about what really makes a great potato and a great crisp. If that’s whet your appetite for more information check desireland.ie.
EmpowerMENt and BetterMENt. An amazing phenomenon is rising in Ireland these days. Many great men’s organisations are springing up with the goal of the empowerment and betterment of men, men’s health, stability and maturity. One such organisation is The ManKind Project (MKP), who host an initiatory experience called the New Warrior Training Adventure once a year, and maintain circles for self-exploration and healing throughout the year. MKP responds to our current system’s failure to effectively prevent many issues related to men in our culture and sets about “Changing the world, one man at a time” with their initiation and subsequent support within their circles. They’ve been building a community in Ireland since 2004 and are enjoying an upsurge of activity now. In MKP culture, men practice expressing emotions, communicating, resolving confl ict, deep introspection, having a purpose and creating healthy relationships. It provides an opportunity and space to gain an understanding of a healthy male role in society, and of male sexuality. Men attend and reclaim integrity and accountability. Best of all, they may enter enduring, fully autonomous communities of men and gain the support to live the skills listed above; and an abiding, accessible forum to tell their Truth. There are MKP Men’s groups in Dublin, Belfast and Galway and an introductory, initiatory training weekend will take place this October in County Clare, along with preparing the ground for new groups in Cork and elsewhere. uk.mkp.org
limerick savours local leftovers By Elva Carri
According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Stop Food Waste Campaign, the average family throws away about 1/3 of the food they buy. To tackle this in a delicious fashion, groups in Limerick City have joined forces to upskill citizens with a free recipe booklet that encourages people to shop local and make use of leftovers. Local eateries will also be serving dishes that keep this ethos in mind. ‘Savour Limerick’ is available from Limerick City and County Councils. Or download online. limerickcity.ie