The Irish Agroforestry Forum is proud to announce the launch of the Cultivating Resilience Through Organic Farming with Trees (CROFT) Project, a comprehensive initiative aimed at promoting agroforestry and organic farming practices on the island of Ireland. This project is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine Organic Promotion Fund.

The CROFT Project is a collaborative effort involving BioBeo Horizon Europe Project (BioBeo), BiOrbic, Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre, University College Dublin (UCD), Maynooth University, Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT), National Organic SkillNet, Trees on the Land, Kinsale College, Teagasc, Queens University Belfast, Pocket Forests, and The Organic Trust.

An integral part of the CROFT Project is the educational outreach to primary schools, featuring an educational poster series and the distribution of willow baskets filled with organic vegetables. These baskets will include a tree book, recipes, and additional resources, distributed to 12 schools in June and September/October 2024. The willow baskets have been handcrafted by the Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) and filled by the Red Shed Organic Farm and Manna Organic Farm.

Five schools are already actively engaged in the BioBeo project, participating in various bioeconomy education activities led by the BioBeo team. All schools involved in the CROFT Project will have access to BioBeo's educational resources, including an educational website, bioeconomy comics in both English and Irish, animated videos, and lesson plans.

Thanks to all our participating schools for the 2023/2024 school year.

Stonehall National School, NewmarketonFergus, Co.Clare 5th and 6th Class

Scoil Naomh Eoin Baiste, Dingle, Co.Kerry 6th Class

St Marys Special School, Navan, Co.Meath Special Senior Class

St Patrick’s National School, Clare Island, Co.Mayo 3rd/4th/5th/6th Class

St Patrick’s National School, Ringsend, Dublin 5th Class

Mallow Community National School, Co.Cork Special Needs Class

Castleroe Primary School, Coleraine Primary 6

St Colman’s National School, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath 5th Class

Delvin Special School, Delvin, Co.Westmeath

Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath 5th Class