Autumn Experience Week, 2022
Earlier this Autumn Hometree hosted Autumn Experience Week, we hope that it was as nourishing to the participants as it was for us and the whole Hometree HQ. This week was a great example that showed the dedication of Irish people to engage and learn about the environment and how to protect and regenerate it. Participants of the week and Hometree staff met on Monday morning; so everyone had some time to get to know each other, learn about why we are all here and what we hoped to get out of the week.
The purpose of the Autumn Experience Week, same as it was for the Spring Experience Week, was to find a way to bring people into the fold of Hometree in a physical way, to get hands on experience but also have time with the staff and each other. It has been said we know exactly what we need to do to protect the environment, but for some reasons it is not happening. At Hometree we want to un-block any obstacle that gets in the way; be it access to land or needing a little confidence boost.
During the experience week participants got a chance to learn on the field alongside the whole Hometree team. Mitch, Tree Nursery Manager, started each day with the participants; they planted trees, gathered seeds, created beds for tree nursery, and did everything that needed to be done to prepare for the winter ahead, the tree planting season here in Ireland. Ray, Education Officer, brought them to a rainforest and bog, which allowed participants to learn more about the biodiversity. Matt, General Manager, guided them through an immersive workshop and showed them more behind the scenes of Hometree. Baiba, Communications Advisor, facilitated a forest therapy session as the week draw to a close, and each participant shared their knowledge and wisdom, alongside their own personal connection with the land.
Mitch, Tree Nursery Manager, notes about the week:
“The Autumn Experience Week was an absolute pleasure, it was full of really great times, practically nursery work wise and just so much fun having a group of incredibly enthusiastic, intelligent, diverse and wonderful people. We did a variety of work from weeding nursery beds full of this winters saplings for Hometree plantations, general site maintenance, sowing wildflowers and general learning about this beautiful spinning ball of stone that we inhabit. It was fortunately forfeited with great weather and fulfilled by how much we were able to look back on at the Hometree spaces that we had either maintained or created for future saplings/woodlands. I can only but hope that everyone will come back or spread the word about what we did and hope to do more of. Thanks again for all your energies and wish you all well!”
We asked the participants whether they would like to share their experience during this week and what they gained from this week to inspire others to join next Spring, for our Spring Experience Week, 2023.
“The entire Experience week at Hometree felt like a slice of magic. I never could have expected what a special experience it would turn out to be! It was a week of sharing chats over morning coffees (and the best porridge of my life!) with a bunch of people I felt instantly connected to, spending the morning outside on the land learning from Mitch, doing jobs that felt purposeful and busy in the best way, lunch-times spent eating delicious food prepared by Caolann. Afternoons were for learning, exploring, discussing and reconnecting with nature with Ray, Matt, Lia & Baiba. I've been describing it as "the week I didn't know I needed" and I am so grateful for this magical little spot in the hills of Ennistymon & the people I met there!” - Sarah
“The week with Hometree was truly a special week. My goals were to learn more about trees and to make new connections with people who also love nature and that is what happened. The group was small and it was the perfect set up to form close connections with everyone. We learned so much from Matt, Mitch, and Ray, and also from each other. Everyone coming from different places but carried the same feelings and thoughts about life and nature. Throughout the week we became closer as a group as people opened up and spoke of their experiences, feeling supported, accepted and more connected. I feel so lucky to have been a part of the week and to have met such amazing people. I also have a greater sense of purpose after it to collect seeds and start growing and planting as many native trees as possible. Hometree has a magic energy, made so by the land, the guys taking care of it, and the people that come to help. It is a very special place.” - Melanie
The Hometree team would like to say a massive thank you to each and every participant. It was an honour to meet you all, and a wonderful experience. We hope that this will inspire you to join us for our open volunteer days or for Spring Experience week, 2023!
