Quick Update & New York Organic Farming and CHEK Institute HLC2

Happy Friday

What an amazing return to Ireland over the last week and a half.

By God hasn't the weather been amazing!

I have been lucky enough to spend some much needed time close to the sea restoring my natural circadian rhythm.  This included some Tai Chi out in Portmarnock (below), a visit to an old team mate Eddie Barrett by Waterford castle, getting some vital time in the sea in Tramore, Co. Waterford and believe it or not to a naturist beach in Sandycove (you will be most grateful I didn't take the camera out there) with a fellow Soar facilitator Joe.

I caught up with John Cantwell of slianchroi.ie for a very deep workshop on Sunday, ran in celebration of the summer solstice; worth checking out for all interested.

The Soar foundation held a Teenage Kicks workshop last Wednesday at the Chocolate Factory in Dublin to show to their investors just what inspiring work we are doing in schools.  For anyone interested to find out more about Soar you can check out their website at soar.ie and even better if you feel like you could add something, feel free to get in touch as donations are what keeps this dream a reality.  Tom (photograph below) has came over from the reach foundation in Australia to train myself and group of facilitators.  Thank you Tom for your wisdom.  It turned out to be very powerful event due to hard work of the Soar crew.

full set of photographs here

New York Organic Farming

Kilpatrick Family Farm

I spent four weeks with Kilpatrick Family farm based in Granville upstate New York. www.kilpatrickfamilyfarm.com This was incredible learning experience of what it takes to produce healthy nutritious food in a sustainable profitable practice. Michael prides himself as a steward to the land which doesn't see him as a business man looking to extract profit from the soil but to nurture the land and leave it as a fertile base for nutritious food  that's farmed in a sustainable manner. Thank you Michael for your share of knowledge in one of the busier ends of the farming season.

Here is quick video of intern Chris Thompson feeding out the layer hens and guard dog Liberty doing her thing.

(http://youtu.be/Y5rGT7vxLGk)

A few photos from around the farm over the four weeks. Thanks again to everyone that made my stay so special.

Rock Heavan Hills Organic Dairy Farm

I got the opportunity to visit a organic pasture based dairy farm. I was truly impressed by the glow/shine from the milking cows. The cows are out on pasture at present and diet is pasture grass and hay harvested on farm. On entering the farm you pass a conventional dairy, which truly stinks on contrast an absolute pleasure to walk though this farm.

The herd are very calm and content friendly animals that walk straight by you without bating an eyelid. I got a photo with resident bull Rocky. 

I got some jars of fresh raw milk that went down a treat with my rhubarb. Big shout out to Skylor and Liebig family for the tour.

Brooklyn Grange

I arrived down to New York to attend the CHEK Institutes HLC2 course which I have been looking forward to since last December.

I had a couple of days before hand to catch up with some friends in New York. I was told about some of the roof gardens that supplied some restaurants around the city. 

I was sitting on fifth avenue at 4:30 pm and had a quick google search. Brooklyn Grange was the first one that popped up and when I looked at the subway route was only couple of stations away. I jumped up and landed there for 4:50pm. I thought why not go up and have a look around as on Kilpatrick Family Farm there was open door policy for anyone that wants to visit. I reached the top and was blown away with what I seen.

  

I got talking to farm manager Bradley Fleming and with what I am putting down to the T shirt (thanks Troy) got to work on the farm the next day.

Really touched by the positive outlook from the crew, that really capped of my experience of organic farming  in New York.

Well worth looking up the history of the farm brooklyngrangefarm.com

CHEK Institute Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Level 2

I have been looking forward to this advanced training course since December after getting to spend three days with Jo Rushton in Melbourne during the HLC1 training. ( I highly recommend btw )
This course has a quite stringent prerequisite list of attending & passing exam from HLC1, attending online & passing exam of Paul Cheks program design course, an extensive reading list and actually living the lifestyle that is discussed during HLC1.

I was blown away by lecturer Angie Lustrick, her energy and passion for optimal health is overwhelmingly contagious, which spread throughout the group throughout the course.

There is more information from the main man himself Paul Chek here.

Lastly, ill be catching up with grass finished beef farmer Joe Condon soon if you have any questions be sure to let me know.

Lorcan

What Inspires You?

I got asked this question by a medical student soft more who is very spiritual and thought out guy.

It took me time to come up with answer but it was under my nose.

Living In the moment.

Reaching for your dream.

Soaring to the best version of yourself.

Tuning into your core values.

From working with clients that work incredible hours in a job that causes them physical, mental and emotional stress, when I ask what is your dream the most common answer is,"I don't know". 

Have you taken a moment to yourself and thought about what your dream is, and then how you can achieve it.

Dream big!

From the depths of the state of New York.