Event Details
ONLINE TALK
Green Foundation Ireland, together with the Dublin Food Co-Op and the Cherry Orchard Community Garden, invite you to join us for an evening online talk:
The Power of Local, Ethical Food
for Community Well-Being
FRIDAY 23 MAY 2025 – 19:00 to 20:00 (Irish time)
by Zoom
(log-on details will be issued nearer the time to those who register)
As always at our events,
an important part will be the
Q&A session
which will allow full
participation by those attending.
Event Programme
OUR GUEST SPEAKERS
Anna Rita Mele
Originally from Sardinia in Italy and currently the Manager of the Dublin Food Co-Op, Anna Rita’s connection to the Co-Op began in 2008. Like many, she was looking for a way to shop affordably without compromising on quality or ethics. Volunteering once every four weeks not only helped stretch her budget – it also gave her a sense of purpose. The Co-Op quickly became more than just a place to pick up groceries; it became her Saturday ritual, a comforting anchor in the rhythm of weekly life.
Peadar Lynch
Peadar is an experienced horticulturalist and beekeeper with previous experience delivering community based horticulture training. Since 2019 he has worked as Manager of the Cherry Orchard Community Garden, an award winning social enterprise managed by the Liffey Partnership. In this time the garden has developed into a stand-out social enterprise addressing environmental issues and enabling climate action at a local level in Cherry Orchard. Peadar is interested in community climate action, community gardens, organic horticulture, permaculture, urban agriculture, regenerative farming, beekeeping and the Irish language.
TICKET DETAILS
While admission is FREE to this event, registration is REQUIRED. Please secure your place by booking here.
THEME
Our talk will focus on the importance of communities choosing to buy local, sustainable, and ethically sourced food. At the Dublin Food Co-Op, they believe this is not only better for the planet but also essential for building stronger, healthier communities. By supporting small businesses – many of which they’ve had the privilege of helping launch – they foster a local economy rooted in fairness and care. But their support doesn’t stop there. They also collaborate with other community-driven and social enterprises. One inspiring example is the Cherry Orchard Community Garden and during this talk, they will share more about their common mission and their ongoing partnership.
Together, they show how food can be a tool for connection, sustainability, and community well-being.
This event is part of National Biodiversity Week 2025
organised by the Irish Environmental Network.