Eco-Centre: help and work towards sustainability

CTL collaborates with two Eco-Centre located in the West of Ireland

FIRST ECO CENTRE

The Eco-Centre is a non-profit organisation and registered charity focusing on ecology and sustainability. It located in a rural area surrounded by green hills and near a large lake in a beautiful region in the North West of the country. The aim of the centre is to provide training and education, information and demonstration of organic gardening, growing and sustainable living. The centre provides courses on various topics such as gardening, food production, healthy cooking and renewable energy. The centre also welcomes educational tours for schools, community groups, and garden clubs.The centre includes:

-        kitchen gardens and polytunnels of various sizes with vegetables and flowers

-        A compost display area, showing different methods of composting and recycling.

-        An orchard with 50 varieties of apples suited to the Irish climate and a soft fruit area, testing hardy varieties.

-        A native woodland 

-        A play area for children of visiting families

-        A café and an Eco-shop selling organic seeds, tools, books, herb plants, seasonal vegetables and a range of organic food

There are around 3 to 7 volunteers at the project who support a team of nearly 20 staff members (not all full-time).  Volunteer work hours can be expected to average out at approximately 5 to 7 hours per day, 5 days a week. Volunteers get two days off per week, not necessarily the weekends.  

During the first week, volunteers will be introduced to the different aspects of the project and the different types of volunteer work available. Where possible the work will then be matched to individual preferences, skills and abilities, however everyone will be expected to be flexible and adapt to the project’s needs.

Example of tasks:

- Gardening/vegetable growing

- Maintenance work

- Help in the shop and café

- Administration assistance

- Assist with organisation of educational activities

Volunteers should be prepared to carry out tasks that might be repetitive, tedious and monotonous.

Placements will normally be of a minimum of 8 weeks and a maximum of 20 weeks

Accommodation and meals

Volunteers are living in small houses located within 2-10km from the project. Houses have 2 to 4 bedrooms, kitchen, shared bathroom and living room. Bed linen are provided, volunteers should bring their own towels. Wi-fi is accessible at the project but not in the accommodation. Generally volunteers access the internet through the mobile network with their mobile phone. The accommodation will be shared with other volunteers or with students attending the long-term courses from the Centre.  Volunteers might have their own bedrooms, but should be prepared to share their bedroom with another volunteer if required. Volunteers generally cycle to the project or get lifts (by car) to and from the projects from either staff member or students that have a car. Participants make their own food shopping. They receive a small stipend that covers modest spending and also the cost the electricity (light and heating). Volunteers cook their own food at the accommodation, they sometimes eat the food served in the project (café). Please note that the Organic Centre is located very close to the boarder with Northen Ireland (2.5km) and some of the accomodation for volunteers are located the other side of the border, in Northen Ireland.

SECOND ECO-CENTRE

This centre is a non-profit organisation focusing on ecology and sustainability. It is a residential venue for events such as workshops, courses, conferences and for individual/group retreats and holidays. The centre includes 2 halls for workshop, accommodation (small dormitories, vegetarian kitchen and dinging area, large and cosy living room), an organic vegetable and fruit gardens, a nature trail, a wildlife pond, two rush labyrinths, a chicken coop, an orchard and recently planted native woodland areas.  It is located in 50 acres of land 

The centre’s mantra is reduce, reuse, recycle and its ethos is based on creating an environmentally sustainable activity having a minimal impact on the earth.

Guests are varied and include:

• Visiting tutors with groups of workshop participants

• Visiting individuals both hostellers and Bed and Breakfast guests

• Individuals attending the centre's own organised events, tours, retreats and workshops including traditional Irish music

• Community groups, school groups and local community workshops/events

Workshop activities are wide ranging usually linked to music and healing and include yoga, meditation, dancing, Tai Chi, djembi drumming, music workshops, singing, sweat lodges, retreats, parties, weddings, concerts, training sessions, meetings, conferences etc. 

The Centre endeavours to create a community atmosphere and encourages and relies on volunteer throughout the year.  At any one time there may be up to 11 volunteers. Volunteers are expected to work together as a team. 

Volunteer work hours can be expected to average out at approximately 25 hours per week. This will often incorporate weekend work. Where possible the work will be matched to individual skills and abilities, however everyone will be expected to be flexible depending on the weather and the work required. At quiet times there is the opportunity to take days off for touring. Flexibility and negotiation on both sides is encouraged.

Work will be outdoors in the Centre grounds or kitchen garden and indoor jobs linked to catering for guests. There are more opportunities to do outside work in the spring and summer month with a strong emphasis on gardening in March, April and May.

Outside work may involve:

Gardening  - both heavy digging and light weeding 

Planting – trees and vegetables 

Composting 

Land clearing 

Ditch digging and clearing

Fencing

Tending to chickens 

Path laying

Building natural structures

Tidying and general ground maintenance

Inside work may involve:

Cooking (vegetable preparation)

Dish washing

Cleaning

Maintenance

Recycling

Laundry

Accommodation and meals

Volunteers will be provided with a hostel bed and bedding. Usually you will be expected to share your room with other volunteers. Sometimes during off peak seasons volunteers will be able to have their privacy, however this may involve switching rooms every so often.

The centre operates a vegetarian kitchen providing meals whenever there are paying guests staying – usually at weekends and full weeks over the summer months. When the kitchen is catering for guests you will be expected to help with some vegetable preparation and washing up depending on your skills and interests and meals will be made for you. At other times volunteer are expected to cater for themselves either on a work-share or help themselves basis using whatever ingredients are available in the kitchen and garden. Cooking and eating together is encouraged whenever possible. So volunteers should bring some recipes!

Subject to change:

8.30 Breakfast

9.30 Volunteer work starts (hours are flexible)

13.00 Lunch break

14.00 Volunteer work continues

16.30 Volunteer ends

Free time with other international volunteers (walks, games, chat, reading etc.)

Dinner