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A ‘LIVING classroom’ garden developed at an organic farm and education project in Co Kerry won a major award at Bloom ’09, which ended at the Phoenix Park in Dublin last evening. Kerry Earth Education Project (KEEP) and Gortbrack Organic Farm at Ballyseedy, Tralee, took the top prize in the Engaging Spaces category at the five-day festival.
The organic, edible and biologically diverse garden showed what can be achieved within school grounds at little cost and with pupil involvement at all stages.
KEEP has been providing practical education on sustainability, organic gardening and biodiversity in Co Kerry for nine years.
It is based at Gortbrack Organic Farm, established in 1991 by Eileen Carroll and Ian McGrigor.
KEEP runs environmental organic garden and habitat projects in primary and secondary schools, local communities and in day care centres.
Gortbrack Organic Farm hosts farm tours and nature trails for schools, in-service teacher training, eco summer camps and training courses.
Mr McGrigor said a school organic garden is a practical, long-lasting and sustainable response to environmental issues of climate change and development education.
"School grounds tend to be grass and concrete. Our environmental school design converts these grounds into a highly stimulating and interactive educational resource.
"It brings biodiversity and food production into the heart of the school system," he said.
Mr McGrigor said the success of the ‘Living Classroom’ at Bloom, which Bord Bia commissioned, was fantastic.
"Rather than plonking a vegetable patch in the middle of grass and concrete, we have developed a template.
"This includes as many diverse ideas of gardening as possible, based on native Irish plants and moving into vegetable and fruits, ponds and wildlife areas," he said. |
