Work Party at the farm
On Saturday 9th August, 10 members of the NCCE came together for a community team working morning and shared lunch at one of our member’s farm.
From 10am we all worked together to move furniture between two of his outhouses and by 1pm, with all hands on deck, the task was completed!
At the same time, some other members cut up logs, split them, piled them into a wheel barrow and finally stacked them neatly in another out building.
It was incredible to see the progress made in a few hours by a small, yet very enthusiastic and willing group.
The feast after work
In the middle of it all we took a very welcome break and our host made us all an exceptional cup of coffee before we set out again to finish the tasks. By 1pm with the job done, a feast was laid out in the farmhouse kitchen. The shared meal was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and a selection of delicious desserts rounded the meal off perfectly.
After lunch, some members went back to work, cutting, splitting and stacking more logs, while others set out a market stall on a bench in the yard. Lots of exchange transactions took place and people went home with a variety of items such as plants, seeds, eggs, books, fresh fruit and vegetable.
mini market for waves
On leaving, everyone agreed that this, our second community working party, was a very enjoyable and rewarding experience and a great way to help each other in the exchange community.
We plan to have our 3rd working party at Liz’s place in Donegal when the apples are ready for havesting this September.
A busy Summer
What an active Summer we’re having! Our July transactions report shows the diversity of the community, with members supporting each other across many different areas of life.
Wellness & Health Services have been particularly popular this month, with multiple massage sessions, yoga classes, and other therapeutic services being exchanged. Wonderful to see the community prioritising wellbeing and supporting local practitioners.
Food & Local Produce continues to be a cornerstone of our exchanges, from fresh bread and focaccia to eggs, watermelon, saplings, seeds, and locally grown vegetables and meat.
Community Organisations have been actively participating, with several local groups receiving Waves donations and rewarding their volunteers’ time in return.
Skills & Services trades have included everything from technical support and website work to CV assistance and various repair services and DIY jobs. Members have been sharing their practical skills, from power washing to gardening, furniture and clothing repairs.
Creative & Cultural Activities with choir participation, circus activities, meditation classes and various workshops being offered and enjoyed.
Administrative Support has been strong, with members contributing to coordination, social media management, and meetup organisation.
Portrush Library Information session
On Saturday 26th July the North Coast Community Exchange held a meeting in Portrush Library.
The library is a lovely venue and the staff were very accommodating and thoughtful.
The meeting was very well attended and consisted of both new and established members as well as a member of the public joining us to hear more about the North Coast Community Exchange.
Therese explained how she is promoting the exchange through social media (www.facebook.com/NorthCoastCommunityExchange). Olivier said how the membership and diversity of offers and wants has increased since Therese has been working on this. She asked that people contact her with stories, experiences, photos etc., in relation to the North Coast Community Exchange.
Everyone there had an opportunity to say how the exchange is working for them, their offers, wants and recent experiences. There was also discussion on future plans, such as another Community Work Day and our involvement with the Portrush Swell Festival in October.
It was agreed that meetings like these are a great way to put faces to names and to make connections around the table.
The next information session is in Ballycastle Library on Saturday August 30th at 11.30am.