The Calli Collective is a unique collaborative arts initiative that places food and people at its heart. This project brings together plants, pots, and people to foster community engagement, promote knowledge exchange, and support localized food systems and biodiversity.
Visual artist Niamh Gibbons from the Calli Collective recently shared insights into their work on the ‘Mayo Common Cabbage’ project, highlighting themes of living heritage and food security.
Connecting People and Place through Heritage Foods
Led by artist Niamh Gibbons in collaboration with James Morley of Morley’s Garden Centre, and residents of Ballinrobe, the Calli Collective project uses local heritage foods to build connections between people and their local environment. At the centre of this initiative is the Mayo Common Cabbage, a plant with a rich history and deep roots in the community.
The Mayo Common Cabbage project celebrates the history and cultural significance of this Irish heritage crop, working to reestablish it in its place of origin. Through ongoing conversations with the local community, the project gathers memories and stories about the cabbage—how it was grown, cooked, and cherished. This cabbage has historically sustained many homes and even won prizes, making it a symbol of resilience and community strength.
Storytelling Through Food: Lessons for Sustainable Futures
By exploring the history of the Mayo Common Cabbage, the project seeks to find solutions to current food security and biodiversity challenges. The cabbage plant offers valuable lessons about sustainable living and the importance of preserving our food heritage.
The project is a work in progress, aiming to secure support for documenting and mapping the reestablishment of the Mayo Common Cabbage across the region. There are now numerous growers involved, and the cabbage has been introduced to two primary schools, with hopes for further expansion and data collection.
A Seed Planted During the Pandemic
The project’s roots trace back to the pandemic in 2021, when Niamh Gibbons and James Morley purchased heritage seeds with the shared goal of “bringing the cabbage home.” The first seedlings were grown at Morley’s Garden Centre and distributed to local farmers and neighbours in Cornaroya, thanks to Joe Flannelly in Knocknakillew who shared the story with the Irish Seed Savers Association.
Since then, the project has spread, reaching as far as Achill and Sligo, with organic farmers in Hollymount, Mayo, also growing the heritage cabbage. The Calli Collective continues to gather and document this data for public dissemination, ensuring that the story of the Mayo Common Cabbage is preserved and shared widely.
Looking Ahead
As the project progresses, there is a pressing need for more growing sites in Ballinrobe. The Calli Collective hopes to draw attention to this issue and inspire action to create more spaces for local food cultivation. By doing so, the project not only honours our food crop heritage but also paves the way for a more sustainable future.
For more information and updates on the Calli Collective visit https://niamhnigibbon.wixsite.com/callicollective and follow them on social media at www.instagram.com/calli.collective/
