Tipperary Heartlands: Cloncannon Biofarm is just a super day out!

With the hustle and bustle of life and the doom and gloom in the news reports, it is a great release to get out into Nature.

It is ever so important to slow down the pace of life, to feel the breeze on your face, to smell nature’s fragrances and listen to the sound of the stream or the birds singing or even the buzzing insects.

Have you ever laid down on your back in a wildflower meadow and just looked up at the sky and watched the clouds go by or just shut your eyes and laid still?

Stand in the ring fort at Cloncannon Biofarm and close your eyes. Allow yourself to be transported in imagination back into the time of earliest farming in Ireland.

Imagine yourself using the hazel wood to construct your wattle and daub house or using a quern stone to grind your corn. See yourself skinning a wild animal in preparation for your dinner, or see yourself fishing at the nearby river.

These images will help you to reconnect to where you belong in Nature. As a child or even better, being childish, you will find a wonderful world to explore within the various Nature habitats on this organic farm.

The many stimulating views of nature will enrich your soul. Dive into hands-on exploration activities at the ponds, river, hedgerows, wild meadows and woodlands and be in awe at the connecting web of life and the amazing strategies of the organisms to survive.

In this outdoor science laboratory you can use a microscope to analyse, identify, count species and appreciate the designs of Nature.

Cloncannon Biofarm Outdoor Education Centre is a Science Foundation Ireland – Discover Primary Science Centre. It is situated near Gurtagarry in Toomevara parish.

We have almost ten years experience in delivering Leaving Cert Biology/Ecology Modules and Agricultural Science Modules, as well as TY programmes and Junior Cycle Science ecology workshops.

Many adults come singly and in groups, from those living in towns just wanting to see a real working farm to experts in ecology.

“Let Food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food” (Hippocrates). Nurturing the soil and working with nature is the key to producing health enriching food. We grow organic food with the hope that our customers will be nourished to flourish. Visitors to the farm can buy organic potatoes, vegetables, soft fruits, pork and chicken.

Knowledge sharing and collaborations will be very important for communities as we strive to address the various challenges we face in the 21st century.

These include climate change, biodiversity loss, water quality, public health and wellbeing, disconnection from Nature, loneliness and mental health issues, food security, limited resources, soil fertility, food quality, social inequality, trust and transparency.

Ecotourism and greater immersion in Nature can contribute positively to communities addressing many of these issues.

At Cloncannon Biofarm we tailor our education programmes to suit the needs and interests of all visitors, including Primary School students, Secondary Schools, Business Groups and Active Retirement Groups.

The guided Nature tours or ecology workshops at Cloncannon Biofarm can provide many stimulating benefits for the visitor, such as making connections with Eco-spirituality, mindfulness and a sense of fulfillment from activities that enhance the biodiversity on the farm.

Close up engagement with Nature can enrich poetic and artistic creativity. It may be that you leave with a desire to collaborate with others to introduce a greener lifestyle into your family and community.

The time is now, to awaken to restore Nature and find solutions to pending challenges. The key is connection to Nature, Joy and Collaboration.

Find that key at Cloncannon Biofarm. Contact details: Email ofarrejf@tcd.ie Phone: 087 9227957 Eircode E53 AE27
Website: http://cloncannonbiofarm.com/