Food Roadmap Meeting – Transition Kerry Food & Biodiversity Working Group – 30th November @ Tobar Naofa, Moyderwell, Tralee

(15 people attended)

 

Initially, people introduced themselves and their areas of interest and expertise. Then Thomas presented a mind-map of the various themes, strands and connections that the food roadmap could contain.

 

Who is here? – There are lots of skills in the room – can everyone send me a short bio of themselves and where their interest lies in helping with the roadmap?   (e.g. individual, community, farm level) This will help to give a clearer idea of what we can do and who can do what.

 

General overview picture of who is in the room and their interests –

  • Farmers (Apples, vegetables, meat)
  • GIY (Grow it Yourself)
  • Wild food
  • Seaweed
  • Organic food
  • Biodiversity
  • Community gardens/allotments/ school gardens
  • Education and Training experience
  • Policy & Feasibility Studies and Research experience
  • Chefs
  • Permaculture/Agroforestry
  • Edible landscapes
  • Soil
  • Composting
  • Native herbs and berries
  • Honey/beekeeping
  • Seed Saving and Seed Guardian network

 

What are the possible areas of Research?

  • Baseline information is required and some is available (Michael Gleeson and Taste of Kerry)
  • How much food is being produced in Kerry now?
  • What are our basic food requirements? – How many people in Kerry?
  • How much land is needed to produce more food?
  • Can we measure the imports of food?
  • How can we deal with the surplus from small producers who are not in a position to have continuous supply for supermarkets? (Supply and demand)
  • How can we redevelop and support co-ops and farm shops?
  • What education and training is taking place around the county (formal and informal, in schools, communities and 3rd level or farms?)
  • How can we provide local food for seasonal tourism?
  • What is the potential for Agroforestry on farms?
  • How is all of this connected to other themes and policies such as Climate Change, Biodiversity Plans, Water Quality Framework, etc.?
  • How to make the shift and how to make the economic argument for more local food? – How can we re-imagine our local economy? How can we create sustainable livelihoods connected to food?
  • Carry out a survey of cafes and restaurants (Elizabeth)

 

What would we need to produce?

  • Vegetables
  • Meat
  • Poultry
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Fruit
  • Herbs
  • Grains
  • Nuts
  • Wild foods
  • Seaweeds and salt
  • Mushrooms

If we could replace even one of the above with more locally produced food, it would make a big difference to the local economy.

 

Where to go next?

  1. Anyone who wants to – please send me a (very!) short bio of your area of interest and expertise and which group you would like to be involved in (e.g. Individual grower, community scale, farm level) – email it to info@transitionkerry.org le do thoil

 

  1. Farm visit to Gortbrack Organic Farm arranged for 14th January from 2-4.30pm – if you need directions, look up website (gortbrackorganicfarm.com or ring Niamh @ 086 7247066 or Ian @ 087 9246968)

 

  1. Next Food Roadmap meeting will be 25th January @ 7pm in the Chapel Room, Tobar Naofa, Moyderwell

 

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