Regenerative agriculture has at its core the intention to improve the health of soil or to restore highly degraded soil, which symbiotically enhances the quality of water, vegetation and land productivity” *Rhodes, (2017).
I believe the role of wine growers, especially the huge, economy-orientated ones, can have a massive positive impact on the environment and on people's mindset in general, in terms of how they view wine and make the links between healthy soils and healthy minds/body/soul. Without going too deep into the subject and 'hippyfying' it, painting the ecological benefits with the narrative of regenerative agriculture through the canvas of wine is a simple and effective way of educating and recruiting new members into the guild of Earth stewards.
Why does The Gallery say ‘NO’ to Palm Oil?
Palm oil is a globally traded agricultural commodity that is used in 50% of all consumer goods, from lipstick and packaged food to body lotion and biofuels. Approximately 85% of palm oil is grown in the tropical countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) on industrial plantations that have severe impacts on the environment, forest peoples and the climate.
Please read the following article about salmon farming.
I also took wild salmon off the menu due to their decline in numbers, we use Goatsbridge Trout as they are farmed in earthen ponds that replicate their natural habitat as closely as possible, living a happy life. Click the salmon image below for an interesting Guardian article about it.
Why do we say ‘NO’ to blood avocados?
Initially, I was thinking to remove this humble fruit, at least until a more appropriate supplier, i.e. more sustainable, closer to Ireland and organic (obviously!) source could be found. However, I have decided that it is simpler to just take it off the menu entirely, and that’s without going into all the chemicals sprayed on the huge scale of these crops, and the colossal amount of water required to produce just 1kg of them. (It takes up to 1,000 litres of water to grow just 1 kg of avocados–roughly 3 avocados.)
- Natural WineIreland’s first natural wine bar, because it was the right thing to do, not it because it’s trendy!
- Ethical FoodFocusing on Irish and conflict free food, promoting small scale producers and regenerative agriculture.
- UP Cycle HubPromoting up cycling via our yard sales and swaps, as well as running free workshops on basic bicycle maintenance.
- ActivismWorkshops, talks and webinars to help indigenous people, promote equality and earth rights and human rights.
