Best foodie fest in the westThe North West Food Fest, incorporating the seventh Organic Fair at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim, runs from next Saturday until Sunday, September 16th.
The Organic Fair on Sunday, September 9th, will feature organic and local food, organic clothing and guided tours of the centre's gardens. Events throughout the week include a healthy school lunch box workshop and a harvest celebration involving the Community Food Project. At the harvest celebration, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Trevor Sargent will join more than 150 community gardeners throughout counties Sligo, Leitrim and Fermanagh to celebrate the work of the Community Food Project. See www.theorganiccentre.ie or call 071-9854338 for full details.
Sustainable education
Young environmentalists, teachers and youth leaders keen to get some tips on carrying out environmental projects can attend an Eco-Unesco workshop over the next eight weeks. The workshops will be held in various venues throughout the country. See www.ecounesco.ie for full details. Eco-Unesco is also showcasing winning and short-listed projects in the Young Environmentalist Awards 2007 at ENFO, 17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2, until September 21st. Meanwhile, adults keen to learn about sustainable development can do a 10-week introductory evening course run by Eco-Unesco and starting on September 26th in Dublin. Call 01-6625491 for more details. Finally, "Ecology and Religions" is the theme of a part-time MA course at St Columban's, Dalgan Park, Navan,
Co Meath run in association with the University of Wales, Lampeter. The next course begins in October. Contact Sean McDonagh on 046-9021525 or imuinst@eircom.net for more details.
Heritage weekender
Those keen to join in Heritage Week celebrations should check out remaining local events today and tomorrow. In Dublin's Merrion Square today, the public will have a chance to look at Georgian homes and gardens not usually open to the public (01-7026165). Meanwhile in Co Kerry, there are guided walks on Inch beach today and tomorrow at 2.30pm. And in Kilkenny City, there are free tours of Kilkenny Castle and St Canice's Cathedral today and tomorrow. To check out the remaining events around the country, call 1850-200878 or see www.heritageweek.ie.
Agri-environmentalism
The environmental message is gaining ground in agricultural shows this year. Tomorrow, the Bantry Agricultural Show in Co Cork will have an energy tent where the public can get practical information about alternative energy solutions, sustainable building methods and conservation. The energy tent will be powered by an on-site wind turbine. And on Thursday at the Iverk Agricultural Show, Piltown, Co Kilkenny, there will be a rare breeds festival featuring rare breeds of cattle, sheep, poultry, horses, dogs, grains and vegetables. The rare breeds festival is organised by the Kerry Bog Pony Society. Call 061-927454 for details.
