CSA CONFERENCE IN CLOUGHJORDAN DRAWS LARGE CROWD

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CSA CONFERENCE IN CLOUGHJORDAN DRAWS LARGE CROWD

Over 200 people from all over Ireland and seven European countries, participated in a three day community supported agriculture (CSA) conference - Growing Together - in Cloughjordan (Tipperary) recently.

The event was supported by NOTS – the National Organic Training Skillnets- with panel discussions hosted by RTE's Ella McSweeney and the Farmers' Journal's Peter Young. Participants came from numerous, diverse organisations and initiatives including GIY (Grow it Yourself), OOOOBY stores, Transition Towns the Irish Seed Savers, Organic Centre, Trocaire, IOFGA, – to learn about what exactly a CSA is, and how to go about setting one up.

Community farming is a relatively new concept to Ireland, with the Cloughjordan Community Farm being one of the first in Ireland. With community farms, a relationship is built between the farmer and consumers. So both farmer and consumer share the risks, rewards and responsibilities of farming and growing food. Local members invest some of their time and money in the farm, usually as a weekly or monthly payment. For this, they receive fresh, local, seasonal food, get to participate in farm events, and the farmer gets a guaranteed, regular income.

Participants at the event on Friday heard in detail about how Cloughjordan Community Farm operates. The member owned and operated farm rents land on two sites in and near Cloughjordan, one of which is on the Cloughjordan ecovillage's land. The members contract two farmers to produce vegetables, milk and meat. 65 member families, in Cloughjordan and Nenagh, pay monthly and take whatever they consider to be a fair share of produce. There are discounted rates for the unemployed and retired. Members have numerous opportunities to get involved, hands on, in different aspects of the farm: they can help decide what gets planted, help with harvesting, or help out at the numerous social events the farm organises. This interactive and participatory dynamic is part of what makes community farming more social and engaged.

On Saturday, solutions to major problems in the global food system were outlined by economic think tank Feasta, the global CSA network organisation URGENCI and the UK's Soil Association. There was also a specific session for farmers and growers on the mechanics of setting up and maintaining a CSA, hosted by NOTS - the National Organic Training Skillnets.

On Sunday, the wide, diverse network of participants established a network for growing CSAs in Ireland. This network includes numerous Transition Towns organisations - from Omagh, Kinsale, Rush, Skerries and more - as well as from rural development, environmental, training and co-operative organisations.

"We are delighted with the turnout - the numbers are incredible really" Davie Philip, Chair of the Cloughjordan Community Farm said. "it is nowthe case that new CSA's will launch in Ireland. That was our aim in organising this event, so we are very happy with how the weekend went"

At the CSA conference, groups from Kerry, various parts of Dublin, Roscommon and more began organising to establish CSA's in their regions.

“In many parts of the world, CSA's are part of the fabric of communities: there are over 4000 in the US now, and thousands also accross Europe, in Italy and France especially.” said Dr. Oliver Moore, board member of the Cloughjordan CSA. “Community farms are, it seems, an idea who's time has come.”

To join the Cloughjordan CSA, or to become a friend of the farm, go to www.cloughjordancommunityfarm.ie ; phone Davie 087 6340697 twitter: @cloughjo_farm or find both Cloughjordan Community Farm and CSA Ireland on Facebook.

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