THE ARK NURSERY - PERMACULTURE PROJECT, BURDAUTIEN

Ark Nursery is a permaculture training centre breaking new ground in the development of permaculture, reedbed and wetland systems for purifying water.

Permaculture is the design and maintenance of agricultural ecosystems which have the stability of a natural ecosystem. It recycles fertility, i.e. the waste of one process becomes a raw material for the next. It is principally a design discipline which seeks to organise sustainable ecosystems at a variety of scales, domestic level up to regional level, potentially. It can encompass aspects of access, building and building material choice (biomass materials), solar energy, fire use, shelter, water and bio-fuels. It promotes a style of living which contributes, rather than causes damage to the environment.

The promoters provide a range of products and services, from courses in permaculture and other related areas, to consulting and design services, sales of equipment and planting stock for reed bed water purification services. The concept of reed bed waste water treatment is new to Ireland. It is based on the principle that plants normally found in wetland areas have, through millions of years of evolution, become natural water cleaners.

Perennial plants are used in permaculture. The fertility is recovered and the resultant potential for plant diversity is tremendous.

• To promote sustainable living practices and to make them available commercially;

• The project seeks to provide a genetic database of plant materials for future generations;

• To make training available around sustainable living practices.

The project was started by a core group of the residents who were concerned about the amount of waste that was being generated in the locality by restaurants and high-rise buildings. Temple Bar is right in the centre of Dublin and a busy entertainment district with many restaurants. The residents decided to set up a pilot project to rmanage their own waste in a way that might be adopted later by the restaurants and other businesses in the area.

Marcus McCabe and his family operate Ark Nursery. There is a loose network in Ireland of like-minded individuals and enterprises with which Ark Nursery is associated and within in which ideas are shared and developed. For example, Seed Savers in Co. Clare is putting together a database of plant species, e.g. apple trees, cabbage; Sandro Cafolla, based in Co. Carlow, is involved in wildflower growing. There are many other aspects of permaculture, e.g. forestry, animal husbandry, etc., around which Ark Nursery keeps abreast of developments with a view to their introduction.

Since 1995, all the waste water used on this farm in Clones, Co. Monaghan, has been purified by plants found in wetlands areas which act as natural water cleaners. The demonstration site is open to the public and the promoters provide information, equipment, plants and design services related to the establishment of permaculture projects.

The large wooden house on the farm is heated entirely by biomass. It caters for students learning about permaculture systems. The Ark was the site of EcoVillage, a project which has since been suspended due to financial constraints.

• It is providing a livelihood for the McCabe family;

• It is demonstrating eco-friendly waste management practices in a rural settlement;

• It is promoting the concept of permactulture and educating people around it;

• It is seeking to link in with local authorities, the academic worlds, and civic society towards promoting and increasing the adoption of permaculture principles.

If starting out again, a narrower focus would perhaps be better, i.e. Ark Nursery has narrowed its range of activities to become more efficient.

The business is now going well in 2002, after 7-8 years. The design and installation of reed beds has really taken off in the last 2 years and the business is benefiting from the growing popularity of permaculture as an approach to waste water management. As the first business of its type in Ireland, it has acted as a model for others to follow. There are now around 6 enterprises involved in the discipline of permaculture and a further 6 or more involved solely in reed beds.

The business is progressing well and has focused on fewer activities than heretofore in order to increase its efficiency and profitability.

There is still a huge need in Ireland for education around fertility and land management and the potential which the principles of permaculture present for a better society and environment.

Marcus McCabe believes that there are many missed opportunities though under-adoption of permaculture which could further contribute to the green image of Ireland.