Karen McCarthy from Clogheen is a third year Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship student in University College Cork, and the Marketing officer behind Roots for Life, a social enterprise selling food and flower seeds online with all the profits generated going to Marymount Hospice. Roots for Life wants to improve local areas by encouraging people to plant flowers around Cork, and aims to educate people on sustainable practices by selling food seeds to encourage people to eat what they grow. “We believe that ecology and the environment around us is a pillar of our community. Ireland is known worldwide for its lush, emerald green forests and native Celtic flowers and we have a reputation to uphold. Keeping the local flora and fauna thriving is monumental for our habitat and losing something so pure would be fatal in our eyes.” Karen, who also teaches gymnastics in Blarney with Blarney Gymnastics Club, told us, “I got involved with this project as I like to give back to society. Unfortunately cancer has affected everyone, this project wants to raise money for cancer research in Marymount Hospice in Cork. I believe that it is important to give back to society in a sustainable way and this is what UCC Roots For Life is all about.”
Check out their website on www.ucc-roots-for-life.myshopify.com/ and support Marymount.