THE ORGANIC CENTRE
Activities_organic_centreTN Activities_organic_centre2TN
Location : ROSSINVER, County Leitrim

Directions : Two miles from Rossinver on the Kinlough Road,
From Sligo via Manorhamilton and Rossinver
From Donegal via Ballyshannon, Beleek and Garrison,
From Dublin via Sligo or Enniskillen


 
 

Established in 1995 as a non-profit making company, the Organic Centre provides training, information and demonstrations of organic gardening, growing and farming - geared to all levels from the interested amateur to the professional grower.

The Organic Centre is located on a site of 19 acres in Rossinver and provides:

  • Demonstration gardens and growing tunnels illustrating organic methods of food production.
  • A wide range of training courses.
  • Information and advice for commercial growers and farmers. 
  • A Wetland sewage disposal system.
  • Display gardens for visitors - including a children’s garden, a taste garden, a heritage garden, an unusual vegetables and salads garden and a display of composting techniques.
  • A willow sculpture area.
  • An orchard and soft fruit area.
  • Display of composting techniques.
  • A café which is open at weekends during the Summer.
  • A shop stocking herbs, transplants, organic compost etc. Also available is a mail order seed catalogue.
  • The new visitor and training centre at the Organic Centre has a large conference room capable of subdivision into two smaller rooms. This looks out into our demonstration gardens and is ideally suited to cater for groups of different sizes. It is available to hire and refreshments can be provided. Contact Aidan (Phone 071 98 54 338) for more information.  
  • A resident Small Farms Development Worker can advise and assist farmers in all matters of conversion to organic methods. For further information about the Small Farms Advisory Service contact Hans.

"Our programme this year is based around food, shelter and fun. All our courses aim to be informative but we also hope that you have a good time coming to the unspoilt countryside of north Leitrim."

Hans Wieland of The Organic Centre

 
Options
FEB 16 2008 - GROWING IN POLYTUNNELS With Dennis Hawke. A polythene tunnel is a fantastic addition to any garden and extends the season for many crops, providing something to harvest all year round. It can also be
used for tender vegetable crops, cut herbs and early season fruits. A short tour of the centre’s many tunnels will show sizes, plastics, frames, foundations and
siting and also give details on how to erect a tunnel. The course will cover ground preparation, growing systems, rotations, propagation, soil fertility management, pest and disease prevention and control. Also included is information on the specific requirements of a range of the most commonly grown vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries to more exotic crops like sweetcorn, peppers and aubergines.

Price : €90.00

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FEB 16 2008 - INTRODUCTION TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY With grants available this long standing course moves into a different dimension. Peter Schneider will look at renewable energy systems for domestic use like solar panels, water heating, electricity production and wind energy. Aimed at beginners the emphasis will be on solar, because it’s most useful for everyone, and wind, because people are most fascinated by it. Planning, installation, costs and output of solar panels and wind turbines will be examined. Wood boilers
and heat pumps will also be touched on.

Price : €90.00

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FEB 23 2008 - ORGANIC GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS with Dennis Hawke

This most popular course aims to equip the beginner with all the information necessary to grow a wide range of high quality healthy vegetables at home. The course covers planning, ground preparation, rotation and soil fertility management, composting, plant varieties and requirements for a range of common garden vegetables. Practical sessions on ground preparation, sowing and propagation will be given.

Price : €90.00

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FEB 24 2008 - COOKING & HEALING WITH WHOLEFOOD Gaby Wieland will introduce the basic principles of wholefood cooking, and
will provide essential information on healing through diet. We will discuss which foods belong to a wholesome diet, what is beneficial about a diet based on grain and vegetables, and links between an improper diet and common diseases like asthma, depression and diabetes. Gaby will show how to use a grain mill and a juicer and how to make sprouts and grow wheatgrass. Participants will prepare lunch, with recipes and samples to take away.

Price : €90.00

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MAR 1 2008 - GROW YOUR OWN MUSHROOMS with Tracey Yappa
An introduction to growing gourmet mushrooms with natural cultivation methods. This course will show you how to grow your own exotic mushrooms and each participant will make their own first log to take home. Wood inhabiting fungi are full of nutrients and recent research has shown they may have other health enhancing properties.

Price : €99.00

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MAR 29 2008 - GRAINS, BREADS & SOURDOUGHS With Gaby Wieland.
Much more than just a bread baking course! You will learn about oats, wheat, barley, spelt, quinoa, rye, and many more grains. You will also learn how to mill your own flour and how to make your own sprouts. You will bake with spelt and Gaby will give a step-by-step guide to successful sourdough baking. Sourdough is a natural raising agent, ideal for use with rye grain. The method is simple, but it needs time. Gluten-free options like rice bread or mineral cake will be demonstrated. Grain-mills will be displayed, with recipes and samples.

Price : €95.00

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