Description

Syntropic Agroforestry – food forest techniques towards a regenerative system – Sunday March 13th – 10am – 4:30pm

Syntropic Agroforestry supports the establishment of highly productive agricultural areas which tend to be independent of inputs and results in soil formation, microclimate regulation and harnessing of water cycles – the harvest becomes a side effect of ecosystem regeneration.

This course is a great introduction to key syntropic agriculture techniques: stratification (growing on multiple layers), succession, consortium, soil food web and pulsing. It is processed-based rather than input-based.

Practical examples in ISSA’s orchards will support the learning, looking at dense planting, making the most of available space and creating a beneficial consortium for apple trees, focusing on the appropriate feeder plants for the trees, mulching for fungi and bacteria and creating microclimates.

The tutor has been working on a food forest since 1999, 7 miles off the west coast of Ireland, on a 1 ½ acre site. From poor boggy soil there now grows thousands of trees and plants providing most of her food and all her firewood and basket willow.

Since her encounters with students of Ernst Goetsch, founder of Syntropic Agroforestry, the tutor has further developed her approach, moving more efficiently towards systems of abundance, and will share her application and experience of these principles within the Irish climate.

This workshop is suitable for all types of land including limited space and small scale orchards.

Bookings & Information

Our Big workshop weekend offers a range of full-day courses to choose from. You can take a single course or two courses over the weekend. Our courses always get positive feedback from participants and you will benefit from on hand expert tutors with years of experience in their field. The weekend format also offers you the opportunity to meet like-minded people and to spend some time in our gardens, orchards and woodlands in beautiful East Clare.

You can book courses online or you can telephone us on 061 921866 or 921856.

  • Workshop prices: €70 per course.
  • 10% discount for supporters.
  • Workshops suitable for adults only children under 18 years are not permitted to attend.
  • Cafe serving lunch & refreshments.

The Seed Savers Cafe will be open on each course day for lunch, serving soup, tea and coffee, and homemade cakes. The Cafe is vegetarian and uses organic ingredients from the gardens and orchards whenever possible.