Horticultural Workshops run by the Sustainability Institute in 2014 and 2015: Fruit Tree Grafting – Apples; Fruit Tree Grafting – Pears; Fruit Tree Grafting - Cherries and Plums; Fruit tree Grafting – Advanced; Nut Tree Grafting – Walnuts; Fruit Tree Pruning and Maintenance ; Nut Propagation, Cultivation and Maintenance; Practical Soil Fertility for Organic Gardeners; Woodland and Coppice Management for Fuel Production


	Fruit and Nut
	Fruit and Nut

Home Fruit Nuts Ordering Links Workshops Opportunities News Climate Change


		Nut Cultivation (run in collaboration with Irish Nut Growers Association) Nut crops are a viable and sustainable alternative to contemporary fossil fuel dependent agriculture, providing a zero carbon source of nutritious proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and offering increased food security for Ireland and greater resilience to the negative effects of global warming. This part classroom, part outdoor workshop covers all aspects of successful nut cultivation in Ireland. While the main focus of the workshop is on cobnuts (cultivars of the common hazelnut) other nuts covered in the workshop include walnut, chestnut, heartnut, pinenut, monkey puzzle and edible oak, all of which have considerable potential in Ireland. Topics covered in the workshop include site and soil assessment, climate and micro-climate, orchard planning, site enhancement and development, choice of varieties, pollination, planting, pruning, feeding and maintenance, harvesting and nut tree propagation. The workshop also examines the commercial opportunities for nut crops and is a must for anyone considering nut production on a commercial scale. The workshop will take place at the Regan Nut Farm (the venue for the very successful 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 workshops), home to over 900 cobnut, walnut and heartnut trees. The Regan Nut Farm contains Ireland's only commercial-size walnut orchard. The outdoor part of the workshop will comprise an in-depth guided tour of the cobnut, walnut and heartnut orchards. Course participants receive a free copy of the Irish Nut Growers Handbook (normally sold at €20) Date: To be announced Venue: County Dublin Price: €100.00 (including lunch) Important note: Our sincere apologies but owing to the coronavirus, this workshop is now cancelled. The workshop classroom is too small for effective social distancing and in the circumstances we feel this is the best call. Participants who have already booked will receive a full refund. Cathal Regan hopes to run the workshop again in August 2022.For further information contact Cathal Regan Mobile: 085 748 9650 Email: cathaltreecare@gmail.com Orchard Establishment and Maintenance This part classroom and part hands-on practical workshop looks at all aspects of fruit or nut orchard establishment and maintenance. Topics covered include site assessment, drainage and other remedial work, shelter and micro-climate modification, soil amendments and green manures, variety selection, planting, staking, protection from animals, mulching, disease and weed control, and pruning While the emphasis of the workshop will be mainly on apples and cobnuts, other fruit and nut species covered by the workshop include walnuts, heartnuts, pinenuts, chestnuts, Monkey Puzzles, pears, cherries and plums. This is NOT a beginners workshop. Some prior knowledge of fruit and/or nut trees is assumed. The workshop is complementary to the Nut Cultivation workshop (see below). The outdoor component of the workshop will include planting and pruning of fruit and nut trees in an orchard situation.Detailed workshop notes will be provided. This is a hands-on workshop. Participants will be actively involved in planting and pruning trees. In order to provide adequate supervision and tuition, each workshop is limited to 8 places. It is essential that participants are reasonably physically fit and are comfortable working outside in winter weather conditions Date: To be announced Venue: To be announced Price: €100