Green Spaces for Health, Access to Land and Real Bread Week

In November 2024 the Good Food Bucks Steering Group met to consider our priorities for 2025. We decided to focus on Access, Celebrate and Collaborate but what does Access mean for our Food Partnership. 

In January we joined Kathleen Finlay from Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming and the Rome Sustainable Food Project for a food conversation. We learnt about the importance of regenerative agriculture and how that forms the central pillar of their work, along with ways to build Community Supported Agriculture that supports both the farmer and the community.

Following this thought provoking session we've decided to investigate access to land for growing food and for new entrant incubator projects as well as mapping the current land use in the county. This will also include our local NHS growing projects such as NHS Forest, which support food growing within hospitals grounds.

If you enjoy baking or eating fresh baked loaves and other tasty treats then have a look at Real Bread Week later in February. This year Real Bread Week is 15th - 23rd February 2024 and aims to encourage everyone to either bake their own bread or buy additive free bread from their local independent bakery. Have a look at their website to see how you can get involved this year.

Imbolc, St Brigid's Day and early signs of spring

When I was younger, February was my least favourite month of the year. The late winter would often feel cold and bleak and there was always a chance of late snow and frost. Over the last few years I've realised that signs of life are everywhere in February as nature gears up ready for spring and that this month is not as bleak as I first thought.

I love to see the lighter nights, buds on the trees, early lambs in the field and hear the early morning bird song. Closer to home one of our chickens, Demelza, who is a white egg layer, will start laying again around the 17th of the month.

In Ireland the 1st February marks the start of spring and is a celebration of St Brigid. Also called Imbolc, it is halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Walks in nature, sharing a meal with family and friends and lighting candles or fires to welcome the returning light are all ways to celebrate the day.

How will you welcome spring this year?