cultivate.ie

Exploring how communities can adapt and thrive in these challenging times

19- 20 April 2012 (with an informal evening option on the 18th) | Cloughjordan, North Tipperary | €150 | Places are limited to 15.  Early registration is recommended. Use this contact form or call 0505 56061

With the economy in turmoil and jobs being lost at an unprecedented rate how might we build the resilience of our communities and make sure we have healthy and vibrant places to live and work? The challenges we face are huge, but so too are the new possibilities that appear when we look at old problems with new or fresh eyes. These possibilities include community-supported enterprises, asset based neighborhood development, local food systems and transition initiatives.

This course is for people who see themselves as catalysts for change in their local community and who want to support others to understand the opportunities of developing community resilience and local initiatives.

Programme Flyer (PDF) | More about the Village

Want to keep your mortgage debt to a minimum? Want substantially lower energy bills? You can have both these and more by joining forces with other self-builders and work with a team of professionals and volunteers to build yourself a low cost home in the Cloughjordan ecovillage.

If you’ve always wanted to build your own low-cost home but found it too daunting to go it alone, think again. The Ecovillage and architect Dominic Stevens have come up with an exciting plan to make it possible. Next year, Dominic will be leading the construction of a row of terrace houses. What makes this different is that all the site-owners in the terrace will belong to a house- building cooperative. In this way they can combine the benefits of a community build - help from friends, neighbours and volunteers - with the expertise of a professional project management team.  Read more (PDF)

View 2011 Photos On Facebook | Michael D. Higgins Speaks at Cultivate Tent 3rd Sept 2011

2, 3, 4 September 2011, Stradbally Estate, County Laois. The Global Green returned for a 5^th year at the Electric Picnic as the place to slow down, to celebrate cultural transformation, and to imagine a future that works for all. It was a colourful and enchanting festival oasis where revelers went to Re-Charge, Re-Think, and Re-Engage away from the bright lights of the big arenas. Surfing the Waves of Change was this year’s theme for 3 days of energizing and thought-provoking entertainment and discussion. Food, film, music and debate were all on the menu, along with workshops and games for all ages.

A Dictionary for the Future and How to Survive It

David Fleming’s Lean Logic was published in his memory in July 2011. 

Lean Logic does not conform.

It is a community of essays about inventive, cooperative self-reliance in the face of great uncertainty.

Lean Logic acknowledges, with honesty, the challenges ahead in finding our way out of an economy that has all but destroyed the very foundations upon which it depends - the climate, the complex ecological system and the community and culture which gives meaning to life.

the powering up of community, creativity and culture

"Bursting with insightful analysis and creative solutions to the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil, The Powerdown Show is an inspirational pointer to life beyond fossil fuels. Essential viewing – a flash of light in the darkness."
- Rob Hopkins, Founder of the Transition Movement

DVD Video | ON SALE! €10 (Buy online) | Widescreen 16:9 | Running time 10 x 20 minutes

the powerdown show is a 10-part TV series that takes a fresh and engaging look at the community responses to the converging challenges of climate change and peak oil.   We have a golden opportunity to create a far better, more sustainable way of life. Millions around the world – many in your own community – are already making the transition to local resilience.  Your vision is needed too.

the network for communities building local resilience

transitiontownsireland.ning.com

This social networking website was launched to facilitate the communication and sharing of experience between the Transition initiatives in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

If you are not on it already and you are active or interested in the Transition Process get yourself along to transitiontownsireland.ning.com
Please let anyone you think should be on this networking site know it exists.

Thursdays and Fridays 1-23 March 2012 (i.e. 1, 2, 8, 9, 22, 23 Mar) | €550 including tuition, materials and assessment | Official Building Energy Rating Assessor course that leads to possibility to register with SEAI

Description:  This 6-day course is focused on the DEAP software and its practical application, using hands-on workshop-based instruction. This programme covers both new and existing dwellings.

Successful completion of the course with a 70% or higher qualifies the student to sit SEAI's National Examination. Following a 70% or higher pass of the National Exam, candidates can then register with SEAI as a BER assessor.

Why take this course? If you want to work as a BER Assessor or if you want to work in the construction industry generally this course will give you key skills for calculating the energy use of buildings.

Upskill for Ireland's Green Economy

Express your interest for any of the below courses using our contact form. Please explicitly state what you are interested in attending. 

• BER (Building Energy Rating Assessment) | Thursdays and Fridays 1-23 March 2012 (i.e. 1, 2, 8, 9, 22, 23 Mar) | €550 including tuition, materials and assessment | Official Building Energy Rating Assessor course that leads to possibility to register with SEAI
• Green Business Marketing | | €200 | Learn the tools needed for Green Economy marketing
• Green Building | €325 (FAS financial support may be available) | Principles and practices of environmentally sustainable construction in Ireland
• Video Production | €35 per class, €180 for full 6 class course, €150 for members / unwaged | Make the next viral YouTube hit!
• Green eBusiness & Social Media | €220 | Keep ahead of the game! Business tools for the 21^st Century

Wednesday 25 April 2012 | 9am – 7pm | €125 / €99 for early bird / €80 Éasca and IGBC members | Registration Form | Royal Hospital Kilmainham (getting there)

Better Building in association with Ecocem is an International Conference for a Sustainable Built Environment that investigates the opportunities and challenges for companies working in the green sector. The event features a range of seminars and debates packed into one day featuring leading Irish and international experts, designers, academics, innovators and investors in sustainability for the built environment. The diverse topics discussed aim to converge on the common theme of ‘making the business case for sustainability’, quantifying the economic value of energy and resource efficiency and resilient systems.

The conference debates the critical issues facing property, design and construction professionals and showcases studies on exemplar projects and where sustainable design and decision-making has resulted in a win-win solution for all stakeholders. Expert-led technical workshops will ‘look under the hood’ of sustainability tools to investigate tricks of the trade.

An evening social event and facilitated networking session ensures interaction for developing business opportunities, meeting others and exchanging ideas.

This event is organised by Éasca, Irish Green Building Council, Cultivate, Sustainable Building Show, The Chartered Institute of Building and the Passive House Association of Ireland

In conjunction with the Cob Cottage Company in Oregon, USA
with Paul Dillon and Jo Forsyth

Friday 4th May to Thursday 10th May 2012 | €300 (€250 Unwaged) | The Village, Cloughjordan | Info / Contact Deirdre at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or +353 86 2851600

Concerned about the world's state of affairs?  Wish you could make a change? Yes, you can!  Learn the practical skills to design and build your own Natural Home in just 6 days.

Deirdre and Andrew moved to the ecovillage in Cloughjordan to build a low-impact eco-house using minimal machinery. The lower part of their curvy little 2-bedroom house is made from hand mixed cob.
The next stage will involve: building with cob and strawbale, clay plastering, attaching timber lintels and sills, and inserting windows.