Students to gobble up turkey profits
The students at Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant, set up the Fowl Play company to rear 25 white turkeys – one of which they will eat themselves.
Their teacher, Ann-Marie Flavin, said the inspiration for the project has come from the recent interest in food self-sufficiency and the growth of allotments.
“The aim of the project is to teach the students to become self-sufficient by learning how to rear their own poultry. Furthermore, students are developing invaluable skills of setting up and running their own company,” Ms Flavin said.
She said they identified a gap in the market for turkey rearing and the 17 students, who ran a marketing campaign, “had no difficulty in selling the turkeys to locals and members of staff”.
The students had received seven-week-old turkeys from Con Chawke, who also provided expert advice on the rearing and care of the turkeys.
In the meantime, they built a corrugated iron shed with an outdoor run which offer the turkeys ample space and fresh air.
In addition to turkey feed, they’re being fed with unused organic matter from the local shops and restaurant. They’re also eating dock leaf roots in order to enhance their flavour.
“Parents and members of the local community have been a great support providing materials, advice and help in construction of the turkey house,” Ms Flavin said.
She added that celebrity chef Darina Allen had kindly offered to visit Coláiste Mhuire and provide students with plenty of delicious turkey recipes.
“The students hope to prepare and cook turkey for the transition year class Christmas lunch. Also, as part of this project, the company are going to present a turkey to the local chapter of St Vincent de Paul as a goodwill gesture,” Ms Flavin said.
