Organic Ireland
We first started exploring the idea of going
organic in Ireland ten years ago. Even back then, given the
deteriorating environment, it seemed like an obvious thing to do to us.
But
there was little awareness, let alone understanding of organic
production. A neighbour said
I should spray the fields with glyphosate before starting - he didn't
really get it, did he? And few potential consumers had any idea of
what organic meant. Some were even afraid because they thought that
food would be "dirtier". There were a few change agents though, like
Jacquie, and they gave the support and encouragement that kept us going
for the first few years.
There was even some optimism. I remember a career farmer, a
director of the Irish Landowners Organisation, saying that Ireland
could go entirely organic and it would increase farming revenues,
underpin a national reputation for quality and even support other
sectors such as tourism and health. He felt that industrial
farming methods in Ireland were really not that far removed from
organic
methods, after all we have a productive temperate climate and a balance
of crops and livestock that provide inputs to one another.
Ireland's "green" image would be enhanced. Of course my friend who made
this remark knew that while the
technical understanding to achieve this was available, the political
awareness and will was lacking.
Today, Ireland may not be wholly organic but we've made some good progress in the right direction. There are certainly a lot more farmers and growers, cultivating a much greater area of land organically. And for the most part it's not just for the economic benefits, but also the environmental, health and lifestyle benefits. There are also more people growing their own vegetables and while they may not be certified, and might not even be organic, this is a trend in the right direction. Home grown vegetables taste better and have a much lower carbon footprint. Once upon a time (30 years ago) farmers would have grown their own veg, but today that is a rare phenomenon. In fact, one of the most encouraging signs of a growing awareness of environmental care and health is that one of our neighbours, a sheep and cattle farmer, started planting veg in the corner of one of his fields three years ago. He's kept it up and seems to really enjoy the benefits of home grown veg and a change in his daily routine.
While the growth of supermarket culture has spread across the country in the last decade, so has the variety of food options that we've been exposed to. While the supermarkets have made it more difficult for the small-holder, because it is difficult to serve their supply-chain, they have raised people's expectations and awareness. More people are interested to buy local and fresh. In the short term, the supermarkets have put a gruesome pressure on small retailers, but they have also laid the ground work for more local trade by educating consumers. For example, for 5 years now we have had a local market in Carlow Town on Saturday mornings. Here you can buy fresh locally grown organic vegetables, flowers, cheeses, jams, breads and more. It has been challenge for the producers and traders to establish the market, but it is popular, doing well and providing consumers with a much more wholesome option. Box schemes and farm gate sales have also become far more available and the trend is in the right direction. There are courses on how to grow vegetables, there are suppliers of the organic seed and appropriate equipment. There is certainly a popular movement to keep Ireland green and organic as proven by the last election in which The Green Party entered government. Big farmers may want to bring in GMO and pursue a mercantile strategy, but individuals and small groups have successfully resisted this short term selfish approach. For example, an attempt to grow a test bed of GM potatoes was foiled by a popular campaign which raised enough noise that the chemical giant seeking to plant GM in Ireland was prohibited from doing so and had to return to Germany.
Linda's Organic Places To Stay pioneered travel listings which combine nice places to stay plus the ability to experience organic food and lifestyles. Even certifying bodies have not attempted this and only in the last year or so have others started to emulate this travel selection. It's helpful for us because we want people who appreciate the special place we offer. It's not a standard holiday home and people who appreciate nature and enjoy organic lifestyles give us the best feedback, and come back.
Today in Ireland there remain beautiful places to visit, where the magic is alive and there are organic places to stay.
