The Maynooth University Edible Garden is a fabulous amenity for students and staff - a place to come together, cultivate (and learn to grow) food, improve biodiversity, and eat nutritious food to improve environmental and human health.
Nestled within North campus (between Rowan and Education House), the garden was established by Maynooth Green Campus Sustainable Food and Agriculture Working Group in 2021, and boasts a vibrant oasis of blooms, fruit and vegetables, two apple tree groves, seating areas, and a soon to be ‘outdoor classroom’ space. It was developed to provide an interactive space where students and staff are not bystanders, but active cultivators, sowing seeds of knowledge and reaping the rewards of their labour. Students and staff can exchange knowledge/skills, and amidst the fragrant basil, curry plants and abundance of produce, learning transcends the confines of the traditional classroom.
There are a variety of events organised by staff and students throughout the growing season. Every interaction with the earth becomes a lesson in stewardship and sustainability fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of life, and the importance of nature to improve our health and wellbeing. So come plant your own seed, then nurture, harvest and eat veg you’ve cultivated with your own hands. If you’re not interested in growing, simply come along to sit and enjoy the space.
Over the past two years, MU Environmental Society have become heavily involved in the garden; learning how to cultivate a variety of foods, and reaping the rewards of their produce, whilst improving their physical, mental health and enhancing biodiversity on campus. Find out more about the Enviro Soc on their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/muenvirosoc/, or come to the garden every third Tue of the month to meet them (11am–12pm), or on alternative Wednesday and Thursdays. The full meet-up schedule and list of monthly events is available in the MU monthly eZine, or you can also contact patricia.healykettle@mu.ie for more information.
Adequate hydration is a crucial part of a healthy diet. Simply put, we need to drink enough water every day to stay hydrated and keep our body functioning properly.
The Green Campus Team have made sure there is free, quality drinking water available at water fountains around campus. Remember, it reduces plastic consumption when you use a refillable bottle - a win-win for you and our environment.
Globally, over 500 billion single-use cups are used every year, and in Ireland alone, over 200 million. Although disposable cups are marketed as recyclable and compostable, only 1 in 400 cups are properly disposed of, meaning many end up in landfills or incineration.
Following incredible work by Green Campus Maynooth University and St. Patricks Pontifical University, in partnership with 2GoCup, has launched a new deposit and return scheme on campus. The scheme aims to reduce single-use cup waste on campus and promote sustainability within the University community.
Under the scheme, participants can acquire a 2GoCup for a €2 deposit which is fully refunded once the cup is returned. Participating locations include: The Phoenix Restaurant, Pop-Up in the Arts Block and Pugin Hall. There are plans to expand the scheme to more locations in the coming months.
Maynooth Green Campus Committee (MGC) is officially in existence since December 2012. It brings together stakeholders from St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, Maynooth University, and the Catholic world development agency, Trócaire, headquartered on campus.
MGC was awarded the Green Campus Flag in September 2018. The Flag is an international award under a scheme co-ordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Copenhagen. The Flag is awarded to third level institutions that satisfy an assessment of progress undertaken by An Taisce.
To achieve this goal and to further develop the reach of our activities, MGC created a roadmap with a set of realistic objectives that fall under a number of thematic areas: Biodiversity, Energy Management, Water Conservation, Waste Management, and Sustainable Travel and Transport. In addition, MGC adopted the theme of Climate Justice, which we see as absolutely urgent in the context of global warming and climate change. This theme has now been included as a sub-theme under the national Green Campus programme by An Taisce. The flag was awarded in recognition of our achievements under all of these thematic areas.
To find out more about all the Green Campus Activities check out their webpage https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/green-campus and instagram: maynoothgreencampus
