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Commenced:
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01/09/1987 |
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Submitted:
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12/02/2011 |
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Last updated:
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07/10/2015 |
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Location:
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Monavea,, Crettyard, , Co Laois, IE |
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Phone:
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(056) 4442526 |
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Website:
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www.wildflowers.ie |
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Climate zone:
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Cool Temperate |
Ireland: The conservation and utilisation of native plant species using Permaculture design: 1. PC as a business model, to develope a sustainable business. Est'1990) 2. To grow native species crops, harvest them and sell them. Our original aim was to form living gene banks of species for commercial and private use, so that these species are not taken from the wild. Instead wildflowers were to be grown as crops and then utilised for there many functions. To protect the wild geno-types, small collections from the wild are then taken every few years to re-energise the commercial stands. Since we started, the project has been pulled in many directions. We have directly established 100's of acres of wildflower meadows, for customers, farms for commercial crops and in-putted in projects which have gone National such as the Irish genetic resources trust , seed savers, Botanic Garden gene banks, research station projects for the state agencies on wildflowers for farms and gardens. Our wildflower seed crops and our work have inspired 1000's of Irish landscapers and gardeners and the public. We have developed commercial meadows for multinational companies and are helping establish green roof gardens, roadside wildlife corridors, green city projects, parks and more. Most work has strong permaculture elements.
Permaculture identifies the use of native plant species as a critical element of many land based designs.
Thus was born the Cornflower Response, (ireland) a published plan of action to start saving native species. To use them in designs, to utilise them so they are valued for all there beauty and Biodiversity and uses.
We had started the first Irish Permaculture Design Centre to practice permaculture, quickly our love of native species and market opportunities lead the original team to concentrate on wildflower growing in all its aspects, this combined with a strong design team allowed us to be first movers in Ireland and gain a competitive advantage in the wildflower seed business.
The above site is now a housing development, seeds were taken and grown on as crops which we sell to fund our project.
Without wildflowers the earth is a sadder more lonely place, where true nature inspired - inspiration is lacking, ...get into a meadow and go wild, that's our very political message, throw bombs of seeds, let the wildflowers inspire your mind into poly-cultural living.
Since 1987 we have reached out to thousands of customers and friends in making Ireland aware about wildflowers.
We intended to grow these at the First Irish Permaculture Design Centre, started in 1987 from a mobile home on 2 acres.
We established the first national collection of native tree seeds and wildflowers, and sowed 4000metres of mulched beds and designed a permaculture.
Soon after the permaculture design centre was raided and destroyed by the state police 'An Garda' on bogus 'political activist grounds', it was claimed we were harbouring terrorists and weapons, we moved 500 yards away to a cottage and barns.
The first lands are still growing, but are wild, pioneer species are now been cut to allow for the better native trees to grow. there are suntraps some fruit but lots of wildlife. I fully intend to host the design centre project photos as i develope my entries here on pcglobal...
The second premises did not allow the kind of PC design we wanted, as space was very limited, but we are working towards it slowely over the years.
I own both plots of circa two arces and one acre respectively and lease many more for the commercial crops.
The current home (built onto an old cottage using recycled windows and thermal block, consists of a solar glass house)
The seed house a converted old barn, has attached poly tunnels for heat gain. Solar heating, rainwater harvesting and more.
It has taken me years to develop the seed barns and house, the gardens have all been temporary annual cultivations for seed production and some food, some trees were planted, I never had time really to fully plant my own garden. but that is slowly changing as the 'slow cooked 'house is nearly finished.
As I upload more data to these pages i intend to show many more photographs.
wildflower crops
We lease land to grow our crops and have educated farmers as to the value of wildflowers, polycultures and more.
Much of the work involves hand harvesting, but we use combines and other machinery.
The crops involve succession planting, poly-cultures of annuals , biennials and perennials..
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Royal Kew Gardens adopt the genetic strategy of this project
2011, Kew has announced a national genebank of species for -re-introduction and local sources for seed nurseries
Cornflower Response
image updates