Our Common Ground

In 2020 I co-founded Our Common Ground’ - Ireland's first Syntropic Agroforestry Conference, which took place in Kinsale Friary and Kinsale College,  25th January followed by  workshops across Ireland.

Big changes begin with small changes- how we can tackle the battle to save the climate from our own homes, lands and gardens.

The premise of this conference and a series of workshops that will take place across Ireland succeeding it, is to bring simple practices of sustainable gardening/farming to communities and people across Ireland. 

Paul Soden, keynote speaker at Our Common Ground syntropic agroforestry conference at the Friary in Kinsale in collaboration with Kinsale College is an Irish mathematician, regenerative agroforester and Green Man Farm owner, who lives on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. He has been working with microorganisms and agroforestry to increase soil fertility, water retention and carbon sequestration to create a cleaner environment and mitigate carbon emissions. 

"It all starts and ends with the soil," he says. "Healthy soils managed properly carry much more water and life and therefore sequester more carbon than is released."

Paul will teach conference goers about applying regenerative forestry practices to their own gardens, backyards, or community plots, no matter how big or small.  

He will help people to navigate the principles of regeneration, learn the importance of soil health, which include flooding, drought, food security, health issues, planning a system, ground cover, maximise photosynthesis and much more.  He says: “You don't need a large plot of land, or indeed a forest to pick up his tips and advice. You don't even need to be an expert. Everyone can learn to garden regeneratively.“

The line up of speakers on the day was:

Paul Soden: Keynote speaker: Syntropic agroforesty (Brazil / Ireland)

Thomas O’Connor: Agroforestry Practitioner (Kerry), Farming for Nature 2019 award winner and a great fungi enthusiast.

Eugene Curran: Forestry Inspector (Cork) (Department of Agriculture) – discussing grants available and current state of agroforestry in Ireland.

Alan Kingston: Agroforestry Practitioner (Cork) discussing his Silvopasture and Silvoarable site in Skibbereen.

Donal Chambers: Coordinator of the Sustainable Horticulture / Permaculture course Kinsale College.

Donal Chambers, Kinsale College said: “

Agroforestry is one of the key tools in converting to a sustainable society and this topic will be explored in Kinsale this January at the ‘Our Common Ground’ syntropic agroforestry conference. Replanting trees back into the landscape will have multiple benefits for people and farmers such as more diversified rural incomes and landscapes, more local produce such as fruits, nuts and timber, more habitat and biodiversity, improved farm animal health, less flooding of our towns and finally huge carbon sequestration. We will explore these ideas and more through workshops with experts in Kinsale College in the afternoon session.”

The RUNNING ORDER for the 2020 ‘Our Common Ground’ Syntropic Agroforestry Conference on January 25th at the Carmelite Friary & Kinsale College, Kinsale, Co Cork was:  

 9.30am

Registration

10.00am

Paul Soden Keynote speaker - Syntropic Agroforestry

11.00am

Refreshments

11.20am

Thomas O’Connor will discuss Mixed Agroforestry, vegetables, fruit poultry, fungi, native woodlands (Case Study 1)

12.00pm

Eugene Curran will discuss grants available to landowners,  Basic layout, Tree Options

12.20pm

Alan Kingston - Case study 2 - Silvoarable and Silvopasture

12.35pm

Liam Beechinor - Case study 3 - Cattle and Sheep - Silvopasture

Lunch

Workshops / Tour (Kinsale College)

2pm to  3.15pm

Paul Soden - Syntropic Agroforestry

2pm to 3.15pm

Thomas O Connor - Integrating fungi into your system to improve soil biology

2pm to 3.15pm

Donal Chambers / Eoin O Callaghan / Paul McCormick tour of Kinsale College grounds looking at various tree options for Agroforestry

3.15 - 4.00pm

Closing Panel - Questions and Answers

Event details: 

Day/Time: 25th January 2020. 9.30am to 4pm

Location: Carmelite Friary Centre, Kinsale College, Lower Catholic Walk, Kinsale, Co. Cork. 

Cost: Early Bird €35 Includes tea/coffee. (excluding online booking fee)

Buy tickets on Eventbrite on https://www.eventbrite.com/e/our-common-ground-syntropic-agroforestry-workshop-tickets-85816993939

All details on: https://www.facebook.com/events/10108384925977