For those trying to track down an organic turkey this Christmas, the bad news is that Ben and Charlotte Colchester in Co Kilkenny - the only certified organic turkey producers in the country - are not taking any more orders. The good news is that supermarket chains, including Superquinn, Tescos and Dunnes Stores, will have organic turkeys for sale. Place your orders now. Organic butchers, Danny O'Toole and Mary Downey, both in Terenure, Dublin, also stock organic poultry.
Serving up an organic Christmas dinner has become somewhat easier in the past few years with the major supermarkets increasing their supplies of organic vegetables. The weekly boxed vegetable system - directly from the farmer's gate or through a home delivery service - has also gained momentum in many places. John Healy of Absolutely Organic is one of the main suppliers of the weekly home-delivery service in the Dublin region. Absolutely Organic delivers organic vegetables (with up to seven different vegetables in each box) for £12 per box to 250 customers weekly. Tel: 01 4600467 - e-mail absolorg@indigo.ie - to order yours.
Alternatively, Dublin-city dwellers can pop along to the Dublin Food Co-op in St Andrew's Resource Centre, Pearse Street. This weekly market has a range of organicvegetable growers selling directly to the public. It runs 9.30 a.m. - 3 p.m. every Saturday.
Finally, Ireland's only 100-per-cent, organic-wine club was set up last year. Joan Casey of On The Case will deliver a minimum order of one case of your choice of organic wine. Ring 01-4730156 or see www.onthecase.ie
Those signed up for the Birdwatch Ireland winter garden bird survey will be well into their counting by now. Members of local Birdwatch Ireland groups will get some chance to compare notes on outings over the festive season. Non-members are also welcome to join in these free events held throughout the country. Under14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Here is a sample of forthcoming outings:
The Dublin Fingal branch is holding a Christmas social with an illustrated talk, "Birds from Far and Wide", by Bob Strickland at the Malting House Inn, Skerries, at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19th. This group is also hosting a New Year's Day outing to Newbridge Demesne, Donabate, Co Dublin, meeting in the car-park at 11 a.m.
The South Dublin branch is holding a bird race (teams of three to four compete to see which can see the most species of birds throughout the day) starting from Booterstown on Saturday, January 6th, meeting in the car-park at 8 a.m.
The West Cork branch is going on a post Christmas outing to the Lissard Foundation Estate on December 27th (028-35650 for details).
The Limerick branch is going on a trip to the Westfields on Wednesday, December 27th, meeting at the bird sign at Westfields at 11 a.m. (the site is on the bypass near the new bridge over the Shannon).
The Kerry branch is holding its annual Christmas outing in the Killarney National Park on Wednesday, December 27th, meeting at St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, at 11.30 a.m.
In Athlone, families are invited to record the names of different species they see between December 31st and January 7th. Bring your lists to Sean's Bar, Fry Place, Athlone at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 7th.
The Cork branch is also holding a bird race on Saturday, January 6th, meeting at Kennedy Pier, Cobh at 9 a.m.
Contact Birdwatch Ireland on 01 2804322 for more details.
Congratulations to residents of Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, who won the GreenTown 2000 award this month for the development of their Millennium Park. The park is a series of gardens dedicated to the themes of peace, harmony and happiness, linked by gravel paths and illuminated by old-fashioned street-lighting. The Tidytown Committee of Leighlinbridge was awarded £20,000 by the National Millennium Committee for its efforts. Regional winners, which each received £10,000, were Castlebar, Co Mayo; Coolaney, Co Sligo; Emly, Co Tipperary; Ennis, Co Clare; Lusk, Co Dublin; Newtowncashel, Co Longford; and Rathbarry, Co Cork. Most projects involved the development or enhancement of a local park.
