Apple-tising autumn tours at Seed Savers

FOR the month of September and the first two weeks of October, Irish Seed Savers are offering free Apple Tasting Tours every Thursday at 2pm.

During this tour, visitors will get an opportunity to taste some of the varieties of 140 heritage apples grown at Irish Seed Savers. Irish Seed Savers hold the native apple tree collection at their site in Scariff and people are unlikely to get the chance to taste varieties such as Irish Peach, Cavan Sugar Cane and Irish Molly anywhere else. There will also be an opportunity to ask the Irish Seed Savers’ orchard staff questions on apple-tree growing.

Irish Seed Savers’ Association, a registered charity, has 20 acres of organic seed gardens, orchards and woodlands. Children will also enjoy this fun day out as kids’ bug hunts will be held, followed by lunch.

Visitors to Irish Seed Savers this year can also enjoy seeing Irish Seed Savers’ new Leader-funded seed bank, which was opened by President Higgins in June. It is the first of its kind in Ireland and is where Irish Seed Savers stores its 800 heritage varieties of vegetable, flower and herb seeds which are grown there.

New from this Thursday, Irish Seed Savers will also have free after-school activities for children (accompanied by an adult). Starting at 3.30pm every Thursday, there will be free apple tasting and juicing, leaf rubbing, mask making, seedsaving and willow crafts. Meanwhile, over the Hallowe’en mid-term break, Seed Savers will have extra children’s activities, which will be outlined on their website, www.irishseedsavers.ie, closer to the time.