It has been a busy few weeks in the Community lately as new co-workers have arrived and the ones that have been with us over the summer have left. Everyone is back from their holidays and slowly people are finding back into their routine and others are finding their place in the Community. It will hopefully not be too long before the workshops are all back in swing again and also the weavers are able to produce things for the market again. It was a good summer on the market this year and we sold many of our products.We are still waiting for a few volunteers to arrive in the coming weeks - and then all the different areas will be covered again.
Last weekend we had our Flag day in Dingle and I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people volunteering to help for a few hours - so I would like to thank you all. We did manage to raise a little more than € 2500 and are very happy with that. It will all go towards the building fund - and hopefully we will be able to give you an update about the building in the coming weeks.
I would especially this time like to thank all the students from the Transition year of the Pobal Scoil who helped last Friday with the Flag day. Your help was greatly appreciated.
It has been a busy weekend for everyone in Dingle - and also everyone here has been busy with tasting different kinds of food and experiencing the nice atmosphere in Dingle. We also were quite busy with the fundraiser that we had on over the weekend -many people came to guess the weight of the lamb that we had outside St.James - and it was a lot of fun to meet all the many people that came to see it and tried to get the weight right. I can now announce that the lamb weighed 47.860 kg, 105.076 lbs and 7stones 7.076lbs. The lamb was donated by Micheal O'Moran and it was won by Liam O'Brien from Killarney who was the closest with 47.820 kg. The second prize of a dinner in the Bulls Head went to Mary Hanafin in Beenbawn who won it with 47.730kg. Congratulations.I would like to thank all the people who helped with manning the stall - and everyone who so generously supported the event.We were able to raise €1185.
On Sunday Ciara and Aodhan O'Connor and Niamh and Niall Browne also were very busy with making and selling biscuits for us and managed to raise € 135 for us. Thank you very much to all four of you.All the money will go towards our building project which we are hoping to start very soon once all the last hurdles have been overcome.
Now we are all settling back into normality - the growth in the garden has come to an end but we are all enjoying the bountiful harvest of this last summer. Slowly the garden is being prepared for the winter - and on the farm things are coming along. A lot of work has been done on fencing and gates - and unfortunately the donkeys are spending a lot of time inside as it has been so wet lately.The weavers have started to produce a lot of things for the coming craft fairs as we have sold so many things on our stall on the market over the summer and hopefully the candle workshop will soon open its doors again.In the houses there has been quite some activity with making jams and chutneys and juices - and the herb workshop is still providing us with a range of products.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Monday, 27 August 2012
August 2012
It has been a while ago since I have been writing as I have been away on holidays - enjoying some sun.But of course it means that there is a little bit of news.
The biggest news at the moment is that we have finally managed to get planning permission for a house and a workshop and are now busy with getting a lot of the details sorted out. I will try to write something a little more detailed for the next edition.
Everyone is delighted to have got so far - and a big thank you to all of you who have helped to get us so far.
Otherwise there have been a lot of comings and goings - and we are now waiting for all the new co-workers who will be joining us for a year. So far we have only been joined by Wonbin - a new co-worker from South Korea.
It is a little bit quieter at the moment as a number of people are still on their summer holidays - but by next week most of the community will be here.
The garden is producing lots of wonderful vegetables at the moment - and we seem to be sinking in a flood of cucumbers and gherkins this year. Cornelia and her gardening team have really done a fantastic job.
Next week is our annual flag day ( 6th and 7th of September )and we are still looking for a few volunteers who would like to give an hour or two of their time - so if that is you please contact me on 0861522483.
The biggest news at the moment is that we have finally managed to get planning permission for a house and a workshop and are now busy with getting a lot of the details sorted out. I will try to write something a little more detailed for the next edition.
Everyone is delighted to have got so far - and a big thank you to all of you who have helped to get us so far.
Otherwise there have been a lot of comings and goings - and we are now waiting for all the new co-workers who will be joining us for a year. So far we have only been joined by Wonbin - a new co-worker from South Korea.
It is a little bit quieter at the moment as a number of people are still on their summer holidays - but by next week most of the community will be here.
The garden is producing lots of wonderful vegetables at the moment - and we seem to be sinking in a flood of cucumbers and gherkins this year. Cornelia and her gardening team have really done a fantastic job.
Next week is our annual flag day ( 6th and 7th of September )and we are still looking for a few volunteers who would like to give an hour or two of their time - so if that is you please contact me on 0861522483.
Monday, 16 July 2012
July 2012 News
We are well into July now and like everyone else are still waiting for this wonderful summer that we were expecting this year. Apart from that everyone seems fairly content - there are a lot of new faces as quite a few co-workers have joined us over the summer before the volunteers for the new year start arriving in august and September.
There have been a few changes in the last weeks - the biggest one was that we have a wonderful extension to our farmyard with a a roofed space for storage. It was built by Ernst and Phil who come every year for a working holiday and build wonderful spaces. So far we have used the space for an art project that involved a large amount of people in the community and also for a Thank you BBQ for all our faithful volunteers and helpers. Unfortunately the day we held it was rather wet - but the roofed space was even more appreciated.
A group of us has been in Cork to play street music as part of the international song festival - and we were joined by a few people from other communities.Others are going to be heading off for the summer holidays - and some of the co-workers are still going to be leaving us in the coming few weeks.
The fox has been a regular visitor again - and sadly we have lost a few more ducks. There are only three left now - but they are still happily feasting on all the slugs in the garden. The garden looks fantastic at the moment - and we are producing an incredible amount of lettuce . Darren who recently joined us is rather concerned that he might be turning into a rabbit.
There have been a few changes in the last weeks - the biggest one was that we have a wonderful extension to our farmyard with a a roofed space for storage. It was built by Ernst and Phil who come every year for a working holiday and build wonderful spaces. So far we have used the space for an art project that involved a large amount of people in the community and also for a Thank you BBQ for all our faithful volunteers and helpers. Unfortunately the day we held it was rather wet - but the roofed space was even more appreciated.
A group of us has been in Cork to play street music as part of the international song festival - and we were joined by a few people from other communities.Others are going to be heading off for the summer holidays - and some of the co-workers are still going to be leaving us in the coming few weeks.
The fox has been a regular visitor again - and sadly we have lost a few more ducks. There are only three left now - but they are still happily feasting on all the slugs in the garden. The garden looks fantastic at the moment - and we are producing an incredible amount of lettuce . Darren who recently joined us is rather concerned that he might be turning into a rabbit.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
June 2012 News
Time and again I am being asked about what Camphill is - so I thought today that I would give a little bit of a history. The first Camphill was started in the 1940s by a group of war refugees who had been inspired by the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. The group , who's leader was Karl Koenig , moved after some searching into an estate called Camphill near Aberdeen in Scotland and were soon joined by a group of children with special needs. As these children grew older and new children came the movement grew into England, Northern Ireland and later into the world.
40 years ago , in 1972 . the first Camphill in Ireland opened its doors. It is the the biggest of the 17 places that are now in Ireland and it is near Gorey in Wexford.
In Camphill we live and work together with the aim that all of us are equal. All of us , co-workers or companions , share in the daily responsibilities according to our abilities.
In Camphill Dingle live always about 20 people. Co-workers come for longer or shorter terms and share accordingly in the running of the place. At the moment we have 4 long-term co-workers who share in the responsibility for the long-term vision of the Community. Everyone of these would be responsible for different areas of the Community - but not one of us can make big decisions by ourselves. There are a few employees who are very much needed to give the continuity for the companions and for administrative purposes.
The short term co-workers come on average for a year and help in the daily and social life. There are also a number of volunteers who came on a daily basis or for specific tasks - and also some FAS workers and people from Mit freundlichen Grüßen. All in all there are a lot of people passing through - but then this is a big place and there is a lot to do. By putting so much effort into our place we all gain a sense of pride for our place and gain a purpose in our work. At the same time we try not only to care for each other but also for the environment.
40 years ago , in 1972 . the first Camphill in Ireland opened its doors. It is the the biggest of the 17 places that are now in Ireland and it is near Gorey in Wexford.
In Camphill we live and work together with the aim that all of us are equal. All of us , co-workers or companions , share in the daily responsibilities according to our abilities.
In Camphill Dingle live always about 20 people. Co-workers come for longer or shorter terms and share accordingly in the running of the place. At the moment we have 4 long-term co-workers who share in the responsibility for the long-term vision of the Community. Everyone of these would be responsible for different areas of the Community - but not one of us can make big decisions by ourselves. There are a few employees who are very much needed to give the continuity for the companions and for administrative purposes.
The short term co-workers come on average for a year and help in the daily and social life. There are also a number of volunteers who came on a daily basis or for specific tasks - and also some FAS workers and people from Mit freundlichen Grüßen. All in all there are a lot of people passing through - but then this is a big place and there is a lot to do. By putting so much effort into our place we all gain a sense of pride for our place and gain a purpose in our work. At the same time we try not only to care for each other but also for the environment.
Monday, 21 May 2012
May 2012 News
Another two weeks have past and we are now really starting to get busy for preparing for our Open Day which we will be having on the 3rd of June. There are lots of things to do - and of course we would like the place to look at its best for the day that is why we would like to invite everyone who loves weeding to come and join us on Saturday the 26th of May to help in the garden. We will be providing something to eat on the day. Also we would like to ask if anyone would like to do some baking for the Cake sale on the 3rd of June and contribute to the Bric-a - Brac Sale. Everything will be greatly appreciated. Also if you remember that dress/suit/ or any other item that is hanging in your cupboard waiting to be worn - why not give Neasa a call on 0876280108 as she is trying to organise a clothes sale for the day.
Furthermore I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to the Cycling Club who donated €3000 to us after their recent Cycle challenge. Thanks a lot. I would also like to thank Joe Connolly and Julie Malone and Paul from Bee Supplies for donating a beehive and all the equipment to start keeping bees. It is all there now - just waiting for the bees - who will have a lovely place in our wonderful forest.
And as I am at the thank yous I would like to give a big thank you to all the people who have helped in the last weeks and years - and who are faithfully coming to support us. There is Paul Kirk who comes and does Reading and Writing with some of the people and there are all the FAS Workers who have very much contributed to what the place is looking like at the moment.
See you all on the 3rd of June for a wonderful - and hopefully sunny - day.
Furthermore I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to the Cycling Club who donated €3000 to us after their recent Cycle challenge. Thanks a lot. I would also like to thank Joe Connolly and Julie Malone and Paul from Bee Supplies for donating a beehive and all the equipment to start keeping bees. It is all there now - just waiting for the bees - who will have a lovely place in our wonderful forest.
And as I am at the thank yous I would like to give a big thank you to all the people who have helped in the last weeks and years - and who are faithfully coming to support us. There is Paul Kirk who comes and does Reading and Writing with some of the people and there are all the FAS Workers who have very much contributed to what the place is looking like at the moment.
See you all on the 3rd of June for a wonderful - and hopefully sunny - day.
Saturday, 5 May 2012
May 2012 News
It has been a busy few weeks getting our place ready for Open Day - which we had on last sunday. It was a great success. Many people came and stayed around for a long time as it turned out to be a dry and sunny afternoon. - which we had hardly dared to hope for. A lot of cakes and bric-a-brac arrived -and all in all we were also able to raise close to €5000. Thank you to everyone who helped us with the Open Day - both on the day and before.
The week before we were presented with a cheque of €350 from the children in the school in Ventry. Before Easter they held a raffle and decided that they would like to donate the money to us. Thank you very much to you all.
On Sunday morning a new calf was born - this time a little Kerry calf - and over the weekend we were joined by two new co-workers - Fiona from Germany and England - and Lea from Switzerland. Sadly we also had to say goodbye to Christine who left us after having been with us for a year to go back to Germany.
Now we are all looking forward to a very warm summer!!!!
The week before we were presented with a cheque of €350 from the children in the school in Ventry. Before Easter they held a raffle and decided that they would like to donate the money to us. Thank you very much to you all.
On Sunday morning a new calf was born - this time a little Kerry calf - and over the weekend we were joined by two new co-workers - Fiona from Germany and England - and Lea from Switzerland. Sadly we also had to say goodbye to Christine who left us after having been with us for a year to go back to Germany.
Now we are all looking forward to a very warm summer!!!!
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
April 2012 News
Like everyone else we all have been struggling with the change of weather and there has been a lot of illness and struggles which has at times left us a bit thin on the ground - but life goes on and we are happy to say that another healthy calf was born - much to Tomas's delight. It is a little Jersey calf.
Sadly we are going to loose Kathleen who was working with us through FAS and I would like to take the opportunity here to thank her for all the help and support she gave us over the last few months.
Lately we have been asked a lot about how our planning application is going - and I thought to give a brief update on that. After having to give up on our initial house which we had planned due to funding issues we designed a new house and a workshop for which the application went in just a few weeks before Christmas last year.We now have got the plans back a second time asking for more information ( on colour schemes and building materials ) - and a detailed landscape plan which will unfortunately set us back both time wise and financially.We can of course only keep our fingers crossed that these will be the only requirements....!!!!
Lastly I would just like to say that we will be having our Open Day this year on the 3rd of June - so keep looking out for more news on that.
Sadly we are going to loose Kathleen who was working with us through FAS and I would like to take the opportunity here to thank her for all the help and support she gave us over the last few months.
Lately we have been asked a lot about how our planning application is going - and I thought to give a brief update on that. After having to give up on our initial house which we had planned due to funding issues we designed a new house and a workshop for which the application went in just a few weeks before Christmas last year.We now have got the plans back a second time asking for more information ( on colour schemes and building materials ) - and a detailed landscape plan which will unfortunately set us back both time wise and financially.We can of course only keep our fingers crossed that these will be the only requirements....!!!!
Lastly I would just like to say that we will be having our Open Day this year on the 3rd of June - so keep looking out for more news on that.
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