Environmental Education

Kerry Earth Education Project

Ballyseedy, Tralee, Co. Kerry


The Kerry Earth Education Project (K.E.E.P.) is an environmental education company that works directly with schools, community groups and special needs groups in the development of sustainable ongoing organic garden and native habitat projects. It was formed in 2000 at Gortbrack Organic Farm.

Gortbrack Organic Farm is an award winning, innovative centre with a diverse range of ecological & native Irish habitats. Gortbrack Farm, located 5 miles outside Tralee town was set up by Eileen Carroll and Ian McGrigor in 1991. Back then it was a neglected 10 acre strip with most of the land run over with rushes.


The organic schools projects for primary and secondary schools aims to teach children the value of eco-systems, their environment and natural heritage. Many children are brought up in areas that are very out of touch with their environment. Organic gardening is a positive teaching tool to show how our natural environment and heritage makes us who we are.

The children learn varied and diverse skills, from planting native trees and hedges, to planting native/heritage grains, vegetables and herbs. They also learn heritage skills such as working with willow, sowing wildflowers and creating a range of diverse wildlife eco-systems.

 



Gortbrack Organic Farm is a good example of local green economy in action. It is an exciting business organised around several projects that not only thoroughly considers its environmental and social impacts, but tries to improve people’s understanding of these impacts more generally.

 

Map of Gortbrack Farm, Kerry
Courtesy of Ian McGrigor


As can be seen on the map to the left, Gortbrack Organic Farm includes areas for: cow grazing, a tree nursery and eco cabins.


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