"Experience days"
We are currently offering days in which to experience a wide variety of topics ranging from constructing a wormery to sustainable house building. Our emphasis is on exploring innovative and creative ways to deal with waste products and rubbish. The projects are ongoing throughout the year :
1. Earthship building.
Our major project for the year is building a large, beautiful, completely self -sufficient greenhouse from mainly re-used materials. The 20m by 6m "Earthship” will incorporate a solar shower, composting toilet system, photo-voltaic power, solar thermal water heating and rain water harvesting; all to encourage the growing of Mediterranean and Tropical fruiting trees and plants. The project will show how to turn used car tyres, drinks cans and bottles into something that is both functional and lovely to behold. The techniques used to build this project will, at some later date, be used to build Irelands’ first “Earthship” dwelling house.
Enjoy hands-on experience through the many stages of its development. Our team will guide you through the many aspects of construction: through layout and design, foundations and damp proofing, building rammed earth tyre and bottle walls, laminating timber arches, using renders, creating mosaics and planting banana trees!
Click onto layout map no.15 for further photos
2. Aqua-culture
Learn about the planting up of a newly created pond that will provide food and cover for fish and invertebrates. We will be building habitats within the pond to encourage biodiversity and landscaping around the area. The course will include information on fish culture and maintaining water quality.
3. Bio-digester 
and reed-bed.
We are in the process of constructing a bio-digester and reed bed system for the treatment of grey water and sewage. On this project you will learn about the uses of the special plants that draw out various toxins from wastewater as it flows around a reed-bed, leaving the water fit for drinking at the end of the process. Enjoy the experience of planting them up amid spectacular views and on wild bogland!
4. Wormery.
Learn how to constuct a wormery using recycled household materials and how to fully enjoy the benefits of the humble yet mighty worm!
5. Sustainable
house building.
We can take you step by step through sustainable house construction methods as you experience them first hand in the Unicorn houses.