Newsletter 05 October 2024
Sunday Rain
Last Sunday due to the heavy rain we decided to cancel our Weekly Litter Pick but typical of our amazing volunteers some of them still went out and carried out Litter Picks.
Our Watering Teams were out on Monday evening and the A Team were out again on Thursday night. The volume of water was down considerably due to the rain.
Our planters are beginning to fade quickly and we expect after this weekends heavy rain they will be damaged further. We envisage that we will start removing them next week.
They have certainly brightened the area again this year.
Visitors
On Tuesday we had visitors to our allotment and in preparation our Team did a fantastic job preparing everything.
When we stand back and look at what we have achieved in HQ we are very proud and grateful to everyone who has been involved in any way.
Welcome Signs
The new planters that we put on the Welcome to Ballincollig signs unfortunately had plants “removed” from them and in reviewing them this week we will be removing the plants from them this week and planting them up for the winter. Hopefully people will leave them in place this time.
The Final Two for 2024
This Week saw artist Kevin O’Brien complete the last two utility boxes that we commissioned him to do for 2024. These two large boxes have turned out beautifully and were in keeping with the Pollinator Theme.
We are now working on 2025 with Kevin and hope to continue this theme again.
Sponsorship 2024
Earlier this year we sent out our Annual Sponsorship Letter and we have been pleased with the response to date. It is lovely to see our 2024 Window Stickers on premises throughout Ballincollig.
We have compared this year’s responses to other years and unfortunately there are a lot of businesses that have not responded this year.
We appreciate the support we have received but we depend on this sponsorship to keep the work of BTT going.
If you can we would appreciate any support you can give.
Poulavone Roundabout
On Thursday morning we had a full crew out. Ger Tom, Sunday and Keith were busy working on Poulavone Roundabout preparing it for the winter.
They took 8 tonne bags of weeds from around the Geraniums on the roundabout.
The residents from Carrigdene have been busy cleaning their area. We collected 14 bags of leaves & road sweepings as a result of their work.
Autumn Leaves
On Wednesday morning Ger H, Keith and Sunday collected 6 tonne bags of leaves outside Scoil Barra and Our Lady of Good Counsel School. All the leaves were placed in our Compost Bay 1
This is the start of the Autumn Leaves Collection.
Creative Communities Roadshow
To open the CCR Flyers click HERE
Hello and welcome to this month’s edition of our V.O.I.C.E e-zine!
It’s been an incredibly busy and exciting time for us, and we’re thrilled to share what we’ve been up to! From launching our brand new website, Fabric of Change, to hitting the streets to take a stand against fast fashion, we’ve had our hands full – and we wouldn’t have it any other way! You’ll find all the highlights in this issue, including some amazing photos from our street action.
We’re also diving into the hot topic of disposable cups and the important steps being taken by towns across Ireland toward their ban, plus an inspiring update on our Waste Not Want Not project in West Cork. This initiative continues to bring our community together in the most creative ways to tackle food waste – it’s proof that when people come together, GREAT things happen.
So, grab a cup of tea, dive in, and let’s work towards a world where resources are used wisely and continuously.
FABRIC OF CHANGE – TEXTILE WASTE
The fashion industry is the3rd most polluting in the world, but there’s hope. With Fabric of Change, we’vebuilt a comprehensive resource to help you understand the issues, takemeaningful action, and imagine a future where fashion is ethical, circular, andsustainable. Learn more at on www.fabricofchange.ie
Solene Schirrer (Fabric ofChange project Lead) and Shannen Healy (Greengal)
protesting against FastFashion in Grafton Street.
WASTENOT, WANT NOT – FOOD WASTE
On Thursday September 19th, aspart of the ClonakiltyGuitar Festival Reverb program we were delighted to co-host anevent with the ClonakiltyMeals on Wheels community. Meals on Wheels has beendelivering hot meals to those in need for the past 50 years – and so we wereable to mark the occasion with candles and a birthday cake! Read more HERE
The following night wasCulture Night and our contribution was photographer Thady Tra’s ‘WAISTED – The Culture offood’. Thady captured the ‘beauty of ugly veg’ in 10black and white portraits that became the launching off point for some greatconversations around a shared love of food, the sadness when you realise you’velet food go off (there should be a word for this – ‘vegret’?) and some veryhandy food storage tips! Read more HERE.
Last weekend we were in Gaelscoil Mhichíl Uí Choileáin, with chef Gillian Hegerty delivering apple pressing. Using windfalls that the students brought in, students got to press apples and make apple juice. For some students this is the first time they’ve ever tasted freshly pressed apple juice. This was in preparation of the Clonakilty Apple Festival.
On Monday, 7th October from 6pm to 7pm, Susan Moroney willguide us through AnIntroduction to Kombucha at the Clonakilty FET Center, where you’lllearn how to make the perfect batch of kombucha. Tickets are just 5€ and mustbe booked via Eventbrite.
Sunday,13th of October, 4pm to 5.30pm, ComfortFoods with chef Caitlin Ruth at O’Donovan’s Hotel. In this hands-onworkshop, Caitlin will teach you how to get creative with leftovers likepotatoes and pasta, turning them into delicious meals while fighting foodwaste. This workshop costs 10€. Book your spot and find out all the infoon Eventbrite!
FINGAL CUP PROJECT – CUP WASTE
Great Turnout at Rush’s First Fingal Cup Project Meeting! We’re excited to share the success of Rush’s first public meeting as part of the Fingal Cup Project. The turnout was fantastic, with local residents, sports organizations, café owners, and business leaders all coming together to discuss ways to reduce single-use cups in their community. We were also joined by Louise from the Killarney Cup Project, who shared valuable insights via Zoom on how their efforts are progressing. The energy in the room was incredible, with a lively discussion and thoughtful questions from everyone involved.
Next up, we’re heading to Malahide, where we’ll continue the conversation at their town hall meeting this week. Stay tuned!
VOICE IN THE NEWS
A WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH TO REDUCING FOOD WASTE? Allison Roberts was interviewed by Ken Lyons from Dublin City Fm. Listen back here to a wonderful, inspiring conversation around community action.
“A BUDGET THAT FAILS TO GRASP THE NEEDSOF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY!”