TOTALLY TERRIFIC TOMATO FESTIVAL AT AIRFIELD ESTATE

TOTALLY TERRIFIC TOMATO FESTIVAL

AIRFIELD ESTATE

 

SATURDAY, 27^TH AND SUNDAY 28^TH AUGUST 2022 09.30am-5pm daily

Pre-book via www.airfield.ie

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Twitter @AirfieldEstate

After a two-year hiatus, the colourful “Totally Terrific Tomato Festival” is back with a smash and a brand-new venue. This year, Dublin’s favourite Urban Farm and Gardens, Airfield Estate, will play host to the two-day festival, where there’ll be no tomato shortages and plenty of fun to be had with tips aplenty from tomato growing enthusiasts and experts alike. Celebrating its 10th birthday this unique festival which champions the culture and diversity of tomatoes will have a specific focus on taste for its residence in Airfield on the weekend of August 27th & 28th 2022.

The cost of living has dramatically increased over the past few months, with the humble tomato causing political unrest in India (price of tomatoes has jumped 70% from a month ago, and vegetables have an unusual history of toppling governments in the country) (ref Bloomberg) . 

 In Ireland, retailers have cited that the cost of tinned tomatoes has risen in price by 29% and a tray pack of tomatoes by almost 10% (ref RTE). Even if the consumer isn’t buying fresh produce, the humble tomato is used in a wide range of products including ketchup, prepared sauces, and convenience ready-made meals, so the costs have risen for these items too. Ireland does grow and produce tomatoes, but also imports over 25,000 tonnes last year (ref CSO) and add the outrageous fuel prices and other inflation factors it looks like the costs will continue on an upward spiral for the foreseeable future (ref RTE). Therefore, the ‘Totally Terrific Tomato Festival’ is the ideal destination for those looking to start growing their own or learning more about this versatile and precious commodity.

As was the intention of its founder Nicky Kyle, this festival will continue to celebrate the delicious and diverse fruit with a jaw dropping display of over 100 tomato varieties. Community involvement will be key to creating this display and already 60 tomato growers from across the country have pledged to grow tomatoes for the festival. 

Individuals who contribute tomatoes to the display will be automatically entered into the tomato competition with prizes awarded for several categories including the much-coveted title of “ugliest” tomato. This visually stimulating display will be accompanied by informative talks, tomato seed saving demonstrations, tomato growing tours and the all-important tomato taste test.

“Airfield Estate is encouraging people to get to know their food. We are delighted to put the spotlight on tomatoes and host the festival. The catalyst for bringing the festival to Airfield was the desire to carry out a tomato taste test, a sensory experiment whereby Airfield will pitch four distinct tomato varieties against each other to find the tastiest tomato for our garden team to grow. Our four open pollinated contenders have big boots to fill but ultimately with the help of the public the tastiest tomato will reign supreme” said Airfield Estate’s CEO, Claire MacEvilly.

For Colm O'Driscoll, Head Gardener at Airfield Estate The GAIA Seed Exchange trail in the UK was the initial inspiration behind the new addition to the Festival, The Tomato Taste Test as the GAIA celebrate their seeds and the stories behind them in order to connect the wider community with issues around crop genetic diversity just like the ‘totally Terrific Tomatoes Festival’ wishes to.

Whether you are a rookie gardener or a tomato grower this festival is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the Totally Terrific Tomato and ultimately will help you to get to know your tomatoes better. There will also be a series of talks and events throughout the two-day event with more to be confirmed. Scheduled talks and demonstrations for now include:

· Garden tour of tomato growing in Airfield including top tips on how to grow tomatoes.

· Tomato seed saving demonstrations.

· Demonstration on how to prune your tomato to make it more productive.

As with all community-based events, there will be a competition prize giving, for the ‘best in show’ or rather the ‘tastiest in show’.

 
Airfield Estate is located just off the M50 and reachable by LUAS to the Balally stop, by Bike with bike-parking onsite, by Bus routes 11,14, 14C, 44, 44B, 75, 116 and 175 and finally by Car or Coach taking the M50 to Junction 13, following the R826 for 2 kilometres to Overend Way.

Annual pass holders do not need to prebook to visit the Estate. Day tickets can also be purchased on arrival at the ticket desk, but workshops must be booked in advance where indicated. To book your day pass please click here

Airfield Estate Presents: The Rare & Special Plant Fair 2021 in association with Bord Bia

 Airfield Estate, Dublin Presents

The Rare & Special Plant Fair in association with Bord Bia

·      Sunday 11^th July 2021 from 9 am – 5 pm

·      Discounted entry fee €6 at the gate, no pre-booking required

·       The event will be run by Airfield Estate under current COVID guidelines for outdoor activities

 

For event updates please follow: Instagram @AirfieldEstate // Facebook: AirfieldEstate

Twitter @AirfieldEstate

It’s the height of summer and the gardens throughout the country are in full bloom. Airfield Estate, is delighted to be hosting the 2021 Rare & Special Plant Fair in association with Bord Bia. The rescheduled plant fair will take place on Sunday 11^th July 2021 from 9 am – 5 pm.

Over 40 specialist nurseries and associated businesses will be in Airfield Estate giving visitors the opportunity to purchase from an array of rare and unusual plants, advice on care and planting and much more.

 

Entry to the fair is at a discounted rate of €6 per person and you can only pay on arrival to Airfield Estate (no pre booking available).

The Rare & Special Plant Fair was established in 2001 with the assistance of Bord Bia, to ensure that the gardening public has an opportunity to purchase rare and difficult to source plants, while at the same time visit a garden of note that they may not otherwise visit. 

 

The fair is an annual event and over the years has grown in stature and reputation with the fair being hosted in some of Ireland’s most notable and beautiful private gardens, and more recently in public and state gardens of note.

 

In addition to this The Rare and Special Plant Fair offers the chance to visit some of the finest gardens Ireland has to offer. With past venues including Russborough House in Wicklow, Fancroft Millhouse Gardens in Roscrea and Farmleigh in Phoenix Park, this year’s venue, Airfield Estate, is now added to a list of the country’s most notable and beautiful gardens. Make the most of your visit by enjoying a wonderful summer day out exploring Airfield’s ornamental and food gardens, lovingly tended to and cultivated by an expert team of gardeners Headed up by Colm O’Driscoll. Visitors on the day can also experience Dublin’s only working farm open to the public, display garage of vintage cars, and Overends Kitchen.

 

The event will be run by Airfield Estate under current COVID guidelines for outdoor activities.    For more details please visit here.

Press release

 

Airfield Estate Sets Ambitious Goal to Lower Overall Carbon Footprint by 25%

Organic gardens at Airfield

Airfield Estate is set across 38-acres in the heart of Dundrum, in the Dublin suburbs, a charitable trust gifted to the people of Ireland by the Overend family in 1974. While widely recognised as a beautiful urban farm and food destination for family and friends, the core mission of Airfield is to inspire and enable people to make food choices that are better for their health, their wealth and the environment.

Airfield Estate, Dublin

Sets Ambitious Goal to Lower Overall Carbon Footprint by 25%

 

Instagram @AirfieldEstate  // Facebook: AirfieldEstate

Twitter @AirfieldEstate

 

  

With sustainability at its core, Airfield Estate, has committed to ambitious plans to significantly lower its carbon footprint by 25% by the end of 2021.

 

Airfield Estate has carried out a carbon footprint assessment of the estate for 2019 to establish its baseline carbon footprint data. The review was conducted by RPS and it highlighted the level of emissions produced by the estate together with practical solutions to reduce them.

 

“Airfield Estate continues to be a very carbon-conscious organisation with sustainability at the heart of all its activities. The carbon footprint of our energy, livestock, water, waste and land management has now been measured and we are accelerating our journey to reduce our footprint . The goal is to reduce our overall carbon footprint by 25% by the end of 2021” said Grainne Kelliher, CEO, Airfield Estate.

 

The 2021 goals set to reduce Airfield’s carbon footprint are as follows:

• Decrease Waste by 46% (improve waste segregation, on site composting and a reduction of waste to landfill)
• Decrease Electricity & Gas Consumption by 26% (implement additional energy saving practices)
• Decrease Vehicle Fuel Consumption by 7%
• Implement site wide Regenerative Land Management practices (enhance biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration)

 

“We would like our annual pass holders and visitors to know that when they are visiting Airfield Estate that they are visiting a low carbon and sustainable environment. As measures are implemented to help reduce the carbon footprint of our activities, we will highlight these as “sustainable stops” on the paths around the site. We want people to understand the concept of small changes can mean big impact, to leave the estate inspired to make changes in their homes and workplaces to reduce their own carbon footprint. Additional rainwater harvesting, improved solar technology and regenerative land management practices will feature in these initiatives. We are publicly declaring our carbon footprint and communicating our reduction journey so that others can learn from our experience and feel empowered to follow suit” continues Grainne.

 

For more information on Airfield Estate please visit www.airfield.ie