January 2026

'Fully Booked' seems to be a theme...

Thanks to all of you for the positive comments and likes for the last newsletter - it is greatly appreciated! I write these newsletters as a way to record whats going on for me, kind of a journal or diary I suppose, and as a way to share my ideas and practices in the hope that they may inspire someone to live a little more sustainably, taking joy in all the lovely (free) things that nature provides. So it’s a lovely bonus when that has resonance for people and they give me feedback.

We began the year with a trip to Lough Boora - it was a sunny day and the sculpture was looking great. We were a bit late for the cafe , but luckily we had packed the Kelly kettle and some sandwiches, so we had a delightful picnic in the car park.

Trip to Lough Boora, and an amazing sunset on the way home.

Picnic buddies

January has been busy with a couple of things - planning the Talamh Beo Womens event in IMMA - Rooted in Strength- this has been very popular, and was fully booked in no time - I guess that what we are talking about is timely.

Lots of writing - Creative Westmeath applications are underway - I have something exciting planned, I hope that it gets funded. I was developing a DIY Wormery resource for the Rediscovery Centre - I’ll link to that when it’s published, it’s getting beautified right now. My ceramics class is coming to an end, lots of beautiful things made - I just need to write up the corresponding words now.

One of my latest ceramic creations.

A trip to Galway on a Saturday, a rare treat to be free then- checked out the farmers market, Sheridans , a quick flit around the charity shops and dinner in Kombu. I’d hope to get an outing like this in the calendar once a month - let’s see how that goes.

Doing about an hour of physio a day - most days - and strength and flexibility is gradually returning, but still not fully there. Can put on socks, and go up and down stairs at normal speed, so that’s great. Happy to be out of pain. And looking forward to being back at Pilates.

We are in the IMBOLC time - the earth is pregnant with possibility - lots of new shoots making their way upwards, and of course the January delight that is snowdrops.

Coole Meadow

I have not been to the meadow in some time! The fruit trees have been delivered, so that puts a sense of urgency on it - and with the days getting longer, and hopefully a little warmer. I’m planning some visits there in February - looking forward to snowdrops and pussy willow.

Workshops

2 workshops delivered for the Womens Community Project in Mullingar this month - we started with natural skincare, and the participants are all enthusing about how their olive oil and beeswax balm is making their hands feel and smell great.

This week was Brigids Cross making, and we also made some butter, seeing as she is the Patron saint of Dairy/cows, and butter making would have been a traditional IMBOLC activity. A little salt into the freshly made butter, and paired with some sourdough crackers, all were delighted with the new skill. We had some big butter fans in the room who will try making it at home.

Flower Farming

I have a few seeds starting - feverfew - can’t get enough of that - and some more sweet peas - they went straight out into the tunnel the second they germinated - not much activity above ground, but better that than getting weak and leggy inside.

I planted a few snapdragons too - the seeds are very tiny, and I’m not normally patient enough to only put one or two seeds per module, but this time, I managed. We’ll see how that works out - best case is that the plants have time to get pretty strong before they need transplanting. Worse case something eats them all and I’ll be sorry that I wasn’t more generous with the seeds.

Learning

I attended a most enjoyable workshop at Cuige - Maria (aka Masha) ran two workshops - Ink Drawing and Sketching, - details here. If you’re dipping your toe into making art - or would like to brush off some rusty skills, I’d recommend one of her workshops! She’s an excellent teacher - very encouraging and makes it easy for you to get creative, and she has plans for lots of workshops in the near future.

Upcoming events

I’m speaking on behalf of Talamh Beo at Climate Justice Universities Union All-Ireland Spring Meeting and registration is here: ClimateUni Spring Meeting TUS Athlone. Also speaking are Ruth Hegarty and Lisa Singleton - I’m in illustrious company!

We have 2 fully booked ‘No Knead’ Sourdough workshops in Feb in Red Roots in Killucan - we have another one in the calendar for March 22nd, starting at 11am - phone Tom (087 905 2686) to book your place - that will book up quickly too!

I’m organising an event in IMMA with the Talamh Beo Womens group, February 6th. There are lots of women farmers doing amazing things in spite of our messed up food systems and climate change disruptions. If you’d like to learn more, details are here, but the event is fully booked at this point.

Also, a Brigids day sound bath with friend of the newsletter Michaela in Fire and Earth on Feb 1st. Just a few spaces left there, so get yourself sorted quickly!

Mullingar Gathers has a few fun events coming up - click here for details, and seems to have settled in well to Cuige. Not on that web page, but exciting for me is a seed swap that Emma (the brains behind Mullingar Gathers) has organised with Mullingar Library. I have been dreaming of such an event for many years, and I’m so happy that we are finally having one here in Mullingar. That’s on in Mullingar Library , Feb 28th - 11am-1pm. I’ll be there with loads of seeds, hope to see some of you there too! No need to book, just show up either with seeds you have saved to share, or empty-handed and excited about planting!

Also - some great events coming up in Dun na Si, Moate - in particular the willow weaving workshops: Full list here

Links

Small-scale farmers produce more of the rich world’s food than previously thought – new study

Might be of interest - the global bio economy summit:

And this article about my brother from the farming section of the Independent

Music

This is a song I have featured before - Troy by Sinead O’Connor - this time sung by Jessie Buckley - currently Starring in Hamnet and doing us proud internationally.