If you have an interest in developing your love of food into a food business we can inspire, help and support you. Start small, organic, keep control, learn and think big.
This was our philosophy when Gaby and myself started our small cheese making enterprise in 1985. Mind you there wasn’t much support around at the time, probably the local Enterprise Board was the only real help with financial assistance and training courses in “Cottage Industry”. Times have changed quite dramatically since and there are many more opportunities out there to access help and support, but the challenge remains the same: Have an idea, fine tune it and go for it and you will find out if that’s for you.
Bearing in mind that the most common failure is the business rather than the product side of things we have enlisted the help of experienced consultant Oonagh Monahan, the one person who knows with the one book to read: “Money for Jam – The Essential Guide to Starting Your Own Small Food Business”. Oonagh has over 10 years of experience working with small food producers, helping them with starting and growing their business. She will help you to open doors and provide you with knowledge of what it takes to start up.
Course content: Opportunities- is there a market? New product development – generating ideas. Food packaging and branding. Hygiene and food safety. Farm diversification to food production. Shelf life considerations and labeling. Economics of production. Plus a case study and tour of The Organic Centre!
This course is part of our Food Entrepreneurs Bundle and combined with any one day course from our program can be booked for only €100. Popular bundles last year were this course plus workshops on Sourdough Baking, Cheese Making and Preserving and Fermenting! Please call for advice! www.theorganiccentre.ie
Oonagh Monahan:
“I hear all the time that people don’t know where to start or who to ask for information in relation to starting a food business. They are afraid to put their heads above the parapet in case they’re stopped before they even start. This course is practical, structured and easy to understand, with lots of hints, tips, directions and guidance on everything from suppliers to legislation to retailer. It will help you turn that food business idea into a reality! My course at The Organic Centre can be booked here.
The Organic Centre supporting small food businesses!
The Galway Goat Farm is now producing an excellent range of cheeses. Their journey started with courses at The Organic Centre. Here is what Larry Maguire says: “I would recommend anyone interested in how cheese is made to check out the Organic Centre in Rosinver, County Leitrim. Hans does a great introduction to cheese making It’s where we started out on our cheese quest. Himself and Gaby are wonderful teachers.”
Carolanne Rushe from award winning Sweet Beat Cafe in Sligo says: “Many courses at The Organic Centre given by Hans and Gaby Wieland have inspired me, especially their fermentation courses have had a huge impact on what I offer in my cafe! I also love to get some of my organic vegetables from there.”
The Organic Centre – where inspiration becomes action
The Organic Centre from the very beginning has championed local food production and we can proudly say that without us the food scene in the North West and beyond would look differently today.
Training and education in food production are still at the core of what we do and our courses and events have had a lasting effect.
Some of our ex-students of the full-time horticulture course are now producing organic vegetables in kitchen gardens for award winning restaurants, some of our former course participants have opened cafes and restaurants like
- Carolanne Rushe with Sweet Beat Cafe in Sligo and
- Paul Monaghan with FEED in Riverstown, our own
- Aisling Stone with The Grass Roof Cafe has hugely benefited from sitting right in the middle of a huge garden.
We provide the “hinterland” for
- “The Taste of Leitrim” and the newly launched
- “Leitrim Food Strategy 2017 -2021”. We are a member of the highly successful
- “Sligo Food Trail“ and supply many of their members with weekly produce from the gardens and polytunnels.
Paul Monaghan, Chef Patron, FEED Cafe and Restaurant, Riverstown, Co. Sligo:
“The Organic Centre in Rossinver, deeply rooted in in the landscape of Leitrim is a place of high learning and deep serenity.
Over the years I have attended several courses, symposia, workshops and talks. It is a trip I eagerly anticipate, as I always come away feeling much better Informed, refreshed and energized.
Having recently set up a new food business the Organic Centre offers practical courses which have been of direct benefit to my enterprise most notably How to start your own small food business facilitated by Oonagh Monahan and the excellent and always popular fermentation courses, which we practice in the restaurant.
I would highly recommend the courses offered by the center. You will receive the warmest of welcomes and are conducted in an efficient and professional manner.
There is also an excellent cafe restaurant on – site, serving delicious seasonal food.
All our courses can be booked online by clicking this link or call us now on 071 9854338
Source: FreshProduce News Room
