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Cultivating Connections Through Apples, Community and Creativity!

Free to join, to book your place email: [email protected]

ECOVILLAGE FRIDAY LUNCHTIME WEBINAR SERIES

Join us for a fascinating exploration of apples, ecology, economy and creativity.

Together we will inspire and animate all manner of appley activities from culture, creativity and community to biodiversity, wellbeing and local food economies.

In this series we will unpack the apple’s role in Irish cultural and culinary history, in our vibrant local food economies, in our response to the biodiversity crises and in new ways to explore community wellbeing and creativity.

WEBINAR SCHEDULE

SESSION ONE

Friday 14 March 1:00pm – 2:00pm 

From Mead to Pie to Pieces – Apples Then and Now

A fascinating romp through the hidden history of the apple in Irish cultural and culinary tradition, right up to its role as a global commodity today.

Ollie Moore is an ecovillage resident where he’s involved with the community-owned farm, sustainability NGO Cultivate and the annual apple festival, Féile na nÚll.

Davie Philip is a sustainable community advocate. With Cultivate, he leads the Community Climate Coaching program on community wellbeing and climate resilience.

Regina Sexton is a food and culinary historian, food writer, broadcaster and cook.

Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire is co-editor of ‘Irish Food History:A Companion’ and senior lecturer in the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology at TU Dublin.

Rod Calder-Potts runs, with his wife Julie, HighBank Organic Orchards, where they have been growing apples since the 1970s.

Professor Peadar Kirby is an ecovillage resident and a former International Politics lecturer at the University of Limerick.

SESSION TWO

Friday 11 April 1:00pm – 2:00pm 

Apple Heritage and Local Economy

Exploring how our apple heritage helps address biodiversity, reclaim local food sovereignty and revive local food economies.

Apples offer a powerful lens for developing resilient local places and livelihoods. In this conversation we will look at the importance of apple heritage, not just for biodiversity but as a means of reclaiming local food sovereignty and reviving local food economies.

SESSION THREE

Friday 9 May 1:00pm – 2:00pm 

Community Orchards for Abundance, Biodiversity and Wellbeing

Bringing apple trees back into the heart of local communities – with examples of innovation and action. 

SESSION FOUR

Friday 23 May 1:00pm – 2:00pm 

From Orchard to Action: Art, Ecology and Climate Resilience

How can the arts inspire action around climate change, biodiversity, and food systems? From Orchard to Action brings together artists, producers, and activists who intertwine creative practice with ecological engagement.

Join Rita Marcalo, Artistic Director of Instant Dissidence and choreographer of Dancing The Orchard, as she convenes a panel of speakers offering varied perspectives on the theme.

Through performance, storytelling, and discussion, this webinar will explore how artistic interventions can cultivate resilience, reimagine our relationship with food systems, and inspire ecological action.

Join us to discover how creativity can plant the seeds of change!

 

Free to join, to book your place email: [email protected]

 

Image Credit: Amber Bosteels, Thilde Andreasen, Luis Dunn and João Oliveira performing in Dancing The Orchard. Image by Elly Welford.

 

This series is organised by Cloughjordan Ecovillage in partnership with Cultivate, Seed Savers and Instant Dissidence and funded by the Irish Environmental Network.