Irish Genetic Resources Conservation Trust

Agency with useful information and links on Irish agrobiodiversity. I have linked to them on earlier postings.

Eat your blues!

Efforts by Irish growers to grow lesser known varieties as a way of reviving interest in a declining market would appear to be paying off. A blue potato is proving a hit since being introduced to the market by a Dublin family which has been growing vegetables for over 200 years. Also demonstrates the importance of agrobiodiversity in adding-value and the potential for opening up niches markets and much more.

An important collection of indigenous potato varieties dating from famine times is maintained at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Potato Centre in County Donegal.

Thanks to Luigi over at the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog for flagging this.

Bluetongue

Interesting new developments about the Bluetongue virus (BTV) an it's etiology. Accrding to this article the next few weeks will be crucial in determining if this island remains Bluetongue free.

Care farms

The National Care Farm Initiative is a way of offering on-farm health, education and welfare services for people in need. Participants in care farm schemes have experienced improvements to their physical, mental and spiritual health and well-being. Participants connect with a healthy daily structure and meaningful work in a natural environment - gaining social, educational and training benefits. The farming environment can be used to provide significant benefits for a wide range of people including:
-those with learning difficulties
-people with a drug/alcohol history
-disaffected and excluded youth
-people with work-related stress
-those with mental health issues and depression
Care farming is good for rural communities and economies as it enhances the viability of farms, broadens farm business and increases the services derived from the countryside. Farmers receive a deep sense of satisfaction through helping people improve their lives through farming - and having guests of the farm also addresses issues of rural isolation. Care farming places a high value on the knowledge and skills of farmers and seeks to help rural communities become more socially , economically and environmentally sustainable.

The Change Agency

The Change Agency have a tremendous website, full of useful, state-of-the-art tools for community and social activists. The training resources are among the best I have seen.

The Thiagi Group

The Thiagi Group website is a useful source of ideas and resources for those interested in using games and similar activities for enhanced learning and participation.

Power to the People

The Commission for Rural Communities new report 'Participation Inquiry: Strengthening the role of local councillors' highlights that nearly half of rural residents feel unable to influence local decisions directly affecting their lives. The Commission hopes the report's recommendations will help citizens to more fully engage in local decision-making, enhance the democratic role for rural communities and create a stronger, more effective voice for local councillors. The report's recommendations include:local government should be supported and encouraged to create neighbourhood budgets and involve local people in spending decisions; central government should meet the costs of local elections in all tiers; strong push toward more elections in parish councils rather than co-options; the creation of powerful new unitary authorities; Local Strategic Partnerships and Local Area Agreements, supported by central and local government, should clearly commit to supporting parish and market town plans.