As summer winds down and we ease into autumn, ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ is back with a full schedule of events and a new wave of champions to celebrate. We’re excited to continue our mission of connecting the community and reducing waste with a special focus on one of Ireland’s most abundant autumn treasures: apples!
But before we delve in to a celebration of the land of the Ard Cairn Russet (a native Cork dessert apple) please save the date for two events we will be hosting this month in collaboration with Clonakilty Guitar Festival and Culture night. From 7:30pm on Thursday, September 19, all are invited to join us at Clonakilty Meals on Wheels (Casement Park) to celebrate the work of these community food heroes with music and dancing! And on Friday, September 20, from 6pm-8pm, pop into the Green Dot Café to see an exhibition by local photographer and passionate food advocateThady Trá entitled ‘Waisted: The Culture of Food’. It will be a feast for the senses!
Both events are part of a series we will be running this autumn to celebrate local food champions and grow our Waste Not, Want Not community. Check back next month for workshops, school programmes and more.
And now – It’s Apple Time! August and September mark the peak of apple season, bringing with it promises of warm pies, crumbles, freshly pressed juice, and more. To celebrate this harvest, ‘Waste Not, Want Not’ is helping to create the new ‘West Cork Harvest Festival’ and hosting the first annual ‘Clon Apple Fest’! With support from the Friends of Asylum Seekers, we’ve planned a day full of free events and talks alongside the annual apple pressing – for all ages – at the Clonakilty Community Garden, from 12-6pm on September 29.
From 2-4pm on the day join us for games and a community harvest potluck picnic then stick around for the biggest apple and apple pie judging from 4pm. Fancy yourself an apple pie pro? Bring your baked goods for judging by our expert panel anytime from 12-3pm.
Want to help judge? We are looking for five young volunteers, aged eight to 14, to be our apple pie officials, send us an email today if you are interested – first come first served!
Can’t make it to Clon? Our Harvest Festival partners at CECAS in Leap will also have a full schedule of events the day before, Saturday, September 28, with lots of appley events, a community smokehouse and more. The highlight? Our community apple press will be in full swing at both events, offering everyone the chance to make their own fresh juice! Just bring along your apples and some empty bottles.
Rediscovering Ireland’s Apple Heritage
Did you know that Ireland is home to no less than 68 varieties of apples Despite this rich heritage, most supermarkets offer only a handful of varieties, many of which are imported. This season, we’re on a mission to celebrate our local apple varieties and prevent any fruit from rotting away in forgotten gardens. That is why the ‘West Cork Harvest Festival’ will welcome Cillian Boyd, a passionate expert and author that knows all about Irish apples and can identify all 68! He’ll be giving us a presentation and will be on hand both days to help identify what type of apples you bring.
This year, make the Most of Your Apple Harvest. We’re encouraging everyone to get involved in apple-sharing throughout the season. If you have an apple tree, make the most of your harvest! Gather your family and friends, pick those apples, and share the bounty with your neighbours. If you don’t have a tree but love apples, don’t hesitate to ask
around or connect with local community groups. Many older residents in our community have apple trees that could use a helping hand for the harvest.
You might be surprised to learn that a single tree can produce up to 840 pounds of apples! That’s enough to keep everyone stocked up on homemade pies, chutneys, and juice for months. Apple sharing is a great way to build connections while ensuring that no apple goes to waste.
Whether you’re picking, sharing, or pressing, there’s a role for everyone in making sure not a single apple goes to waste. Let’s come together and celebrate the abundance of our local orchards!
For more information, updates, and other events, visit www.voiceireland.org/wastenotwantnot, or if you want to be one of our five young Apple judges at the Clon Apple Fest email allison@voiceireland.org.
Happy harvesting!
Clon Apple Fest!
Sunday 29th September 2024 – Clonakilty Community Garden, Dunmore Road. 12 – 6pm,
ALL WELCOMEAll day
– Turn your harvest into delicious Apple Juice, ALL Day Pressing
-Have your apple’s variety identified & tree mapping with Apple Expert Cillian Boyd
-Bring your baked goods & biggest apples for judging
1pm An Introduction to Irish Apples Talk
2 – 4pm Games and BYO Community Picnic
4pm Winners announced for Apple Pie & Largest Apple Competition & Apple Variety Presentation
