advocacy training for the organic sector in Ireland

ADVOCACY TRAINING

for the Organic NGO Sector

ENFO Offices, 17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2

Tues 22 January 2008 - 10am to 4.30pm

Advocacy is defined as arguing in favour of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; and as engaging in active support. How would this training event be of value to the organic sector? While we may be individually capable of arguing the case for the sector, this event could help develop a stronger collective voice, at a time when there is a window of opportunity for bringing about a faster pace of progress. The organic sector is made up of a diverse range of organisations, and individuals, with a very high level of motivation in relation to environmental, social, and health issues. This training can help us build coalitions around specific issues, and equip us with additional advocacy and campaigning skills.

This is an all-island training event that will bring together representatives of organic NGO�s from both sides of the border, to address issues of common concern. The event is organised by the Organic Centre, in partnership with NorthWest Organics.

The trainer, Brian Harvey, is the author of �Working for Change � a guide to influencing policy in Ireland�, a handbook for community and voluntary organisations on how to influence the policy-making process. The handbook is published by Combat Poverty, and will be available at the workshop. It describes how political and administrative systems work; how, where and when groups can intervene; and advises on the skills and strategies needed to get involved in making a difference, whether at a local, regional or national level.

The one-day workshop will be based on the handbook, and will provide training in the following areas:

1. Defining advocacy and campaigning

2. Setting objectives for a campaign

3. Tools of a campaign eg. policy reports, media, research, newsletters, mailing lists, conferences, writing letters, etc

4. Case-studies of successful campaigns

5. Coalition building and networking

There will also be an opportunity during the final session to discuss the potential for building collaborative partnerships around specific policy issues, and for developing a broader advocacy network within the organic sector. For further information, please contact Wayne Foord at the Organic Centre, tel. 00353 (0)71 9854338, or Kevin Hickey at NorthWest Organics, tel. 048 71337950.

This Sunday, why not visit...

The Italian School of Cooking in Dublin, where there is a a Christmas Artisan Food Fair on Sunday 9 December from 12 noon-6 pm. The Italian School of Cooking is in Rathmines Park at the rear of 175A Rathgar Road, Dublin 6. (You will see Santa at the entrance of the School on Rathgar Road (across from the Esso Garage at the Rathmines end).

This is being held to launch this site: da-daaa!
This new site is affiliated to one of those linked over there on the left, greatfood.ie

local and organic food events

Things to do this November, starting tomorrow!

A conference themed around local food. This event, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia, begins at the very specific time of 5.30pm, and is being held in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Dublin Rd, Mullingar on Tuesday November 13^th (go here to register).

Speakers: That man Trevor Sargent will be there again, this time opening the event and also launching a guide to box schemes, farmers� markets and farm shops. Bord Bia will do a presentation on local food, as will Tim Schlitzer of the FoodRoutes network in the US. FoodRoutes is a nonprofit organization that aids the development of local food distributional systems. It provides a range of resources, including communication tools, technical support, networking and information.

Both the local producer and the multiple retailers� perspectives will also feature. Mary Kelly of Moonshine organic dairy farm will speak about her business, which is apt as her family business is based just outside Mullingar. The Kelly�s turned a struggling conventional diary farm in Westmeath into a thriving organic food business, which now employs each of their six siblings. They produce organic diary products from their herd, which comprises of Ayrshire, Fresian and crosses of these. Their products include award winning soft cheeses, yoghurts and smoothies. Watch out for the distinctive churn style glass bottles their yoghurts and smoothies come in. I wrote about theme a while back. I'll post what I wrote here soon.

Sharon Buckley of Musgraves, Centra and SuperValu will outline local food from a multiple retailer�s perspective. There will be a choice of panel discussions featuring the above listed participants and other experts.

IOFGA�s AGM is also on soon. This is taking place on the November the 18th at Mellows College, Athenry, Co Galway. (for more, phone IOFGA on 043-42495 or email grace.maher@iofga.org). First things first, check out their new site!

Because they were established in 1982, all of 25 years ago, the IOFGA theme is �looking forward to the next 25�

The morning seminar is open to the public. IOFGA have gathered together a range of speakers from across the food system. These include Minister of State Trevor Sargent, under whose remit organic farming and food comes. The minister has been a solid supporter of organic farming, so it will be worth seeing what he reveals about future government plans for the sector, now that he actually has the power to affect change.

Dr. Charles Merfield of Teagasc will discuss soil fertility in the organic system. Charles is developing quite a name for himself as a conference speaker, as he combines those two key traits � genuine enthusiasm and comprehensive knowledge. If you get him going on the high tech machinery end of things there will be no stopping him.

Peter Melchett, director of the Soil Assocation will discuss GM and also
give the UK perspective on organic farming. With the UK being such an important market for Irish organic produce, and with the GM threat to organics ever present, this too should prove interesting.

Michael Hickey will also take to the podium. Michael, an organic beef farmer from Tipperary, was one of the first native born Irish members of IOFGA, joining the fledgling organisation in the mid 1980s. Michael is both impassioned in his support for organics and holistic in his thinking about how food and society should be. All things considered, another perspective well worth hearing.

Their last morning speaker will be the food writer John McKenna, who will speak about the role of organic food in the future in Ireland. John is well known for both the well written and informative Bridgestone guides, and his uncompromising comments on what he sees as the problems with food and hospitality in Ireland.

All in all, this is a well rounded set of speakers who will surely offer up that most apt of culinary clich�s; food for thought.

national organic week: things to do

Five of the best things to do for national organic week:

1: Clare: Visit an award winning organic goat's cheese farm
First up, there�s a chance to visit the place where multi-award winning organic goat�s cheeses are made. St. Tola�s organic farm is in Inagh, Co. Clare. There will be an opportunity to see the herd of goats, to learn how the cheeses are made, and of course to taste them. This is a good one for the kids, and who knows, they might even be tempted to try the soft cheese while they are there. This event is on Thursday 25th October from 11am to 4pm (065 6836633 or here).

2: Leitrim: Go the organic nine-yards
The Carrick branch of the Western Organic Network are holding an event called �A Taste of Organic Living�. The aim is to �celebrate and showcase all that is good in local organic and artisan produce, holistic and naturopathic medicine, healthy and sustainable living, and local creativity�. Expect events talks and demos. They are making a special effort to hold a �pushing organic farming and food forward� forum, which should prove interesting. This is on Monday 29th October 11 am - 6 pm. (contact WON on 071-9640688 or e-mail info@westernorganicnetwork.com)

3: Leitrim and Limerick: Get an organic job
The Organic Centre, Rossinver Co. Leitrim are holding an event for anyone with an interest in learning more about producing organic food. This is called �Training and Education Opportunities in the Organic Sector� and is open to all. The staff of the Organic Centre will be on hand to answer questions about the 2008 programme. This event is on Wednesday 24th October 2pm � 6pm. (phone 071 9854338 info@theorganiccentre.ie or click here)
or
National organic week Information Day in Dromcollogher. On Tuesday Oct 23 2pm
Tour of the college gardens, including the polly-tunnels, herb gardens, compost areas, vegetable plots, green manure beds and the bee hives. Plenty of advice and assistance, from growing to grants. And, a potato tasting to finish off the day! Phone 063-83604 or click here for more

4: Dublin: Check out the new place where the Dublin food co-op now lives:
And finally, for events, there�s the launch of the new Dublin Food Co-op�s premises. This will be by Minister John Gormaley, �who has been a member for about 20 years� according to Pauric, the development officer with the Co-op.
This new venue is fully twice the size of the previous place, and has excellent, dedicated booths for stallholders. There are few if any places in Ireland with as much variety in organic food and other organic options: there are not that many places where you can buy organic yoga suits for the yummy mummy who has it all. But you can in the co-op. The new venue is 12 Newmarket Dublin 8, off Cork Street, in the heart of the Liberties. You may have missed the launch last weekend, but there's always the lunch to be sorted. So why not drop by this Thursday (2-8pm) or Saturday (9.30-4.00pm). (for more try here or ring 01-873 0451 - check out the domain name!)

5: All over: Who says organic food is expensive? Git yer self some free top scram at 3 tastings of organic food for the week

There are also some organic food tastings being held all over Ireland. Watch out for them at your local supermarkets or farmers� markets. Let�s face it, farmers� markets are more interesting places to hang around than supermarkets, so there isn�t much point in listing the tastings at supermarkets here. Though it's listed as such, eating strawberries in a supermarket is not a 'what's on' event, by any stretch of the imagine.
Friday 26 October 11.00am Carrick-on-Suir Farmers Market, Heritage Centre Grounds, which will be an organic cook-in:
Thursday 25th October 9.30-2.00pm �Omega Beef Direct� Christmas Gift Voucher Launch with Joe Condon of Omega Beef. All recipes from Scott Walsh of award winning restaurant Q82 in Dungarvan Omega Beef Organic Meat Stall at Dungarvan Food Market, The Square, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford:
Saturday 27th October 9am-2pm multi-tastings at the Oracle Farm and Coolanowle Organic Farm Stands at Carlow Food Market, Potato Market, Carlow Town.

national organic week

National organic week is coming up.
Let me say that a bit louder, cos it seems to be a bit of a secret at the moment!
NATIONAL ORGANIC WEEK IS COMING UP
nothing as of yet on the bord bia site, but there are a couple of events well worth checking out. I have a list of events, and mostly it's just tastings, and some more specific promotional work. However there are at least 2 special events - on the 29th Oct which is a civic holiday (ie bank holiday) - there's the "taste of organic living" in the Dock, carrick-on-shannon. Organised by WON (western organic network). This will have something for the mind, the body and the soul, with a forum, tastings, stalls, screenings etc.
And also Saturday 20th in Dublin - launch of a new orgnaic premises. The Dublin food co-op has, finally, gotten a new premises.
I remember shopping, or more specifically participating in the place in the late 1990s and early 00's, and all the talk, even then, was of a new premises. To finally find out that it actually has a new place is great news. In an ocean of rampant consumperism, this place is a becon, a lighthouse shining brightly, leading the way....

Interestingly, as a market, it has a dedicated manager, which may be the way to go for other farmers' markets.

Their site is here and their new premises is 12 Newmarket, Dublin 8 (off Cork Street)

lastly today, here's a one for the actual farmers out there - a story about organic stores