Emo Court Horticulture
It’s a fantastic opportunity for the participants, many of whom would have been interested in horticulture previously, but would not have considered that they could have made a living from it
Set in the two-acre walled garden of Emo Court, the organic horticulture local training initiative has helped the career paths of 45 participants to date.
Laois Partnership Company is the course’s sponsor company, with funding from FAS, the Department of Social Protection and Laois Offaly Education and Training Board. Use of the garden has been facilitated by the OPW.
The FETAC level five course which is aimed at the longterm unemployed, has had a visible impact on both Emo Court and those taking part, according to Eileen Kenna Quinn, co-ordinator.
“When we started here three years ago, it was just a blank canvas – the garden hadn’t been touched in 30 years,” she said. “Since then pathways have been reinstated using OPW guidelines, and a polytunnel erected. The students designed and built a netted fruit garden; developed vegetable plots; and planted a 90m herbaceous border.”
Delivered five days a week, the course involves a mix of indoor and outdoor work. There are nine modules covering all aspects of horticulture and work experience. One day a week is spent on computer tasks. Fifteen people completed the course at the end of August and another fifteen started in September. Covering everything from seed to plate, the course involves a mixture of practical work, written assignments, projects and exams. Three past students have just finished first year of their degree course in Dublin’s Botanic Gardens
“Others have gone onto level six related programmes including the level six nursery stock course in the Botanic Gardens”, Eileen said. “One past student has gained employment with Mount Venus Nurseries, Rathfarnham, Dublin, and was involved in the design and build of their awardwinning garden at the Bloom festival this year. One of the students this year has already secured an internship with an organic grower in Kilkenny.”