Great News! The Living Classroom (Recycled) Garden has just won a Gold Award at Bloom 2009!
The judges awarded the garden it's top prize as overall winner of the Engaging Spaces catagory. Yippee...

So, it's been a completely hectic 5 days getting ourselves ready for Bloom. Bloom'in Heck - mad to say the least...But we've done it!

Yes, 'The Living Classroom - Recycled' is complete.

On Saturday we loaded up the truck and drove to the Park.

Sunday, Monday & Tuesday with a Fantastic dose of Help from a great team of Volunteers 'Thank You Everyone' and of course Niamh, Cathy, Lucy et all, the Classroom was completed. It's been another monstrous effort but Eileen & Ian's efforts have come through once again.

So, today Wednesday is judges only day and tomorrow Thursday kicks off the show itself. It's LOTs of School Classes on Thursday & Friday and Ian is lined up to give 2 talks a day over the 5 days expounding the virtues of Organics and of School Gardens.

If you can make it to the Bloom'in Phoenix Park this Bank Holiday then Look Out for us in the Engaging Spaces section - garden No 25 which is a corner Garden. the show is well worth attending with lots of Organics about this year too. So make sure and drop by!

Slan.

BLOOM 2009...

Lots of Excitement here on the Farm as Gortbrack readies itself for another Blasht to Dublin on the upcoming June Bank Holiday for 'Bloom in the Park!!!!

Yes, yet again Gortbrack's Educational arm - KEEP (Kerry Earth Education Project) will showcase their 'Recycled Living Classroom' in the Phoenix Park. Schools, schoolteachers, children and parents can all see and experience how easy it can be to set up your very own 'Living Classroom'.

From native hedgerows to native trees, to your own organic vegetable garden, from composting and organic food production, KEEP showcases it's Living Garden which Bord Bia is promoting as part of it's New 'Educational Organic School Garden DVD' which it plans to launch this September to actively encourage schools all around the country to muck in and get their hands dirty.

Here at Gortbrack Farm it's all systems go preparing for the show. It may be cut-backs and levy's in the world of politics but here on the ground, believe me, there's nothing that can truly stand in the way of Growth and Education.

Sure even the Obama's are Growing their Own...So it goes without saying 'Yes We Can'!

Q.

Up on the Farm

Yes, this is definitely UP on the Farm as against Down on the Farm as Gortbrack is settled in the foothills of the Slieve Mish mountains approximately 450' high looking across the beautiful Vale of Tralee in the 'Kingdom' of Kerry.

Gortbrack is an absolute hive of activity. This 10 acre small-holding is one of the best examples of a working farm with Bio-diversity and Organic principles oozing from every corner. Eileen Carroll and Ian McGrigor's love and commitment to this lifelong endeavor is music to the soul for anyone who has an interest in Nature, the Earth, Growing, Organics, Bio-diversity and Life. They and their dedicated team have truly succeeded in producing a true living example of how farming and growing can be achieved in the most practical way which respects the whole environment and all it's dependents.

So, with that little introduction, hopefully this Blog will facilitate many of you taking away a little of their expertise which has the potential to Brighten your days a little and take you a step closer to this wonderful Earth!

Enjoy.