Hot tip

Practical Allotment Gardening Course: Ightermurragh Garden Allotments Ladysbridge, East Cork.

Five-week course starting Saturday, March 7, 2009, at 11am. Planning plot, preparation of seed bed, planting early crops, sowing and pruning of fruit bushes. Grow your own fruit and vegetables, you don’t need a garden, pre-cultivated ready to sow plots will be provided. €75 for five-week course with reduced rates for plot holders.

Course taught by: Michael Brenock B.Agric (Hort) and Donal Murphy B.Agric and Liam Murphy (owner). Telephone: Liam 021-4667330; Mob [phone].

Booking essential.

* Spring Lamb at the Nautilis: The Nautilis Restaurant by the Harbour in Ballycotton has reopened after a winter break.

Try the chef’s delicious new Moroccan Lamb dish made with locally sourced spring lamb.

Booking essential.

021-4646768.

* Reducing your Carbon Footprint: Feidhlim Harty sets out some straightforward and very easy ways to reduce your rubbish by a surprising amount — saving you money and helping the planet with his new book Get Rid of Your Bin and Save Money, published by Mercier Press.

ISBN no 978-185635-626-8.