The Goats are Coming

No, don't panic. They aren't really, but our new carpet is going to be made with 80% goat hair fibre bonded to 100% jute backing. Both of these raw materials are naturally renewable (rather than industrially recycled) and harvestable. No waste water is produced during its manufacture. Carpets manufactured from natural fibres acrively imiprove indoor air quality making school environments healthier for children and staff alike. Natural goat hair offers one of the highest insulation values of all natural fibres, so we can turn down our thermostat 1 degree and save 10% on our heating costs. We are very pleased with ourselves!

The Worms are Here

Here and installed. More news when they start eating things!

The Worms are Coming

Our wormery will arrive next week! So that sorts out their Mourne diet! Great excitment. volunteers to help with worm-minding please let me know. The worms will also be looking for holiday accommodation for the summer!

The Fife Diet

Did anybody notice the winners of the "Best Ethical Contribution" in the Observer Food Awards, publicised in this week's Observer Food Monthly?  I'm sure we should be doing this round here.  What could be better than the Mourne diet?  The Fife people challenged each other to eat local produce for a year and report back on what is possible.  The results are a Fife diet that consists about 80% of local produce, with items allowed which have no local seasonal equivalent such as: lemons; coffee; tea; chocolate (yo!); spices (and I would have to hope for bananas).  The theory is celebrating local goodness, not 'an exercise in self denial'.  The Fife group says that some of them 'dabble in gardening', so you don't have to commit to the Good Life.  The good news is that the group report almost halving their shopping bill, and the challenge is they report doubling time on food preparation.  Eating seasonally becomes essential, and the www.fifediet.co.uk allows the group to share their recipes in order to achieve this.  Could we do it?

Updating the Grounds Map

The Ulster Wildlife Trust, Jean Forbes, Stephen Hanna, Derek Bailey and the Wildlife Group all had a hand in this week's update of our grounds plan.  Jean reported back to the Board of Governors estates committee, and it was great to hear what has been achieved through thoughtful planting and the addition of bat boxes, bird boxes etc.  Even better to hear the new plans for future action.  All students were asked to consider joining up on a Tuesday afternoon and contributing some time for planting etc.

So they Were

EAGA sent back a message that our students were a tribute to to their parents and their school. We were presented with a beautifully wee crystal trophy which is now on display in our cabinet in the hall. Our group came back with application forms for next year, and also ideas for arts based additions to our grounds.

Off to EAGA

Four of our students will be travelling with volunteer staff member Jeanette Lovell to the EAGA celebration which had to be cancelled last month.  The students will be taking photos of the recycling bins we bought with the grant we won.  They will also be taking evidence of all our recent Eco work.  The purpose of the event is to celebrate the groups like ours which have already won a grant and to launch the grants scheme for 2009.  I'm sure our students will be inspirational.