Greenhouse Culture Newsletter #1 : Harvest Season


August 2025

Harvest Season

Happy Harvest, everyone! This is the season of Lughnasa - an ancient Celtic festival celebrating abundance and gratitude. As we embrace this harvest season, we’re delighted to share our very first newsletter. First and foremost, thank you for being part of our Greenhouse Culture community - we’re so grateful to connect, learn, and grow together with you.

This month we are shining a spotlight on our Biodiversity Ambassadors, plus sharing updates, community highlights, and a few seeds of inspiration.


About Greenhouse Culture

Greenhouse Culture was founded by ecological artist Ashleigh Downey during the pandemic to bring like-minded people together. What began as a space for knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer learning, and open conversations about art, ecology, philosophy, and sustainability has grown into a vibrant creative community - one that fosters connection, inspires action, and nurtures care for the environment and all our communities.

Ashleigh’s artistic background shapes much of what we do - using creativity to open dialogue, share knowledge, and reimagine our relationship with the natural world. From workshops and collaborative projects to events and community gatherings, Greenhouse Culture blends art and ecology to spark meaningful change.


Mindset Shift: Harvest what you sow! 🌾

The ancient harvest season Lughnasa reminds us that even the smallest seeds - whether actions, ideas, or collaborations - can grow into something meaningful.
What seed are you planting this season?

Spotlight: Biodiversity Ambassadors

The Biodiversity Ambassadors Programme (BAP) was launched in September 2021 as a collaboration between Greenhouse Culture and Green Sod Ireland Land Trust, with a simple but powerful aim: to give nature a voice.

From the outset, the response was incredible. 43 inspiring people across Ireland (and beyond) signed up to become ambassadors, showing the hunger and hope for a biodiversity-focused community. Over the next two years, we met regularly online, shared resources, and created a supportive space for people to honour biodiversity, take action locally, and advocate for the rights of all living beings.

What has grown is a diverse, passionate network - people from all walks of life, working hard to protect biodiversity in their schools, campuses, workplaces, and communities, united by a deep love for the Earth.

Looking Ahead – Based on feedback from our ambassadors—who highlighted the need for nurturing networks and expressed a desire for deeper connections and a culture of mutual support - we’re excited to announce that an interactive locations map is in development, set to launch early next year.

This will coincide with a special in-person gathering in February 2026 - a time to reconnect, celebrate, and plant seeds for the future. Mark your calendars - this special gathering is for you, our ambassadors at the heart of the celebration.

This next stage of the programme is made possible thanks to the generous support of Community Foundation Ireland. Working in collaboration with Green Sod Ireland, we received funding from the Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund, enabling us to reignite connections with our Biodiversity Ambassadors, strengthen community engagement, and grow biodiversity action across Ireland.

Thank you to all our ambassadors. We hope to reconnect with you soon and can’t wait to meet face-to-face! Don’t forget to keep February in mind for our in-person event, and keep an eye on our newsletters for more details.

Ambassador Highlights

Before we look ahead, let’s celebrate memorable moments from the Biodiversity Ambassadors Programme pilot.

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"Why We Do What We Do", features Biodiversity Ambassadors: Bridgette Brew, Anna Browne, Suzie Cahn, Sofia Fonseca, Mary Moynihan, Deirdre O'Carroll, Codie Preston, Brian Reilly, Keith Scanlon. Special thanks to Mary Moynihan, The Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and editor Daragh Twomey for producing this video.

video preview

Tea Table Talk #9 – A chat with sustainable micro-flower farmer and Biodiversity Ambassador Anna Browne on the benefits of mindful enjoyment with nature and nurturing outdoor spaces. Presented in association with Green Sod Ireland's Wild Acres Week 2022:

More stories and highlights will be shared in upcoming newsletters - so stay tuned!


Meet Hannah 🌱 – Social Media & Communications Coordinator

We’re thrilled to welcome Hannah Joung to the team! She brings fresh energy, a love of creative community projects, and will support storytelling, social media, and communications. Keep an eye out - her name will start popping up as she helps share the voices and values of Greenhouse Culture.

Hannah will guide this newsletter series, sharing:
✨ Project and event updates
🌱 Stories of community and personal achievements
💡 Practical tips for sustainable living
🦋 Highlights of biodiversity and ecology
🎨 A platform for your voices, initiatives, and stories!

If you have ideas or would like to contribute, send us a message - we’d love to hear from you.


Friday Focal – New on Social Media

Don’t miss our Friday Focal series on Instagram & Facebook! Every two weeks, we share short reflections on wildlife, plants, and local biodiversity—in both English and Irish. Each post invites you to pause, notice, and enjoy nature, embracing our dual-language heritage.


Blog highlight: Let’s party, but more sustainably!

As summer festivals wrap up - whether you danced at All Together Now, Electric Picnic, or hosted your own gathering - let's take a moment to reflect on how to celebrate with care. Explore sustainable party tips in our latest blog post by Hannah Joung: Let’s Party, but More Sustainably.


Community Highlights

Citizen Scientist: Join the Climate Conversation
The Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment has launched an online questionnaire on climate change. Your voice matters, so please take a few minutes to share your opinions - click here

🦟 Watch Out for the Asian Hornet
A second Asian hornet nest has been confirmed in Cork City. These invasive species threaten honeybees and biodiversity. Authorities are removing the nest - learn more here.
*Report sightings via the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s Alien Watch portal.

Community Call
Biodiversity Ambassadors : Do you have an achievement, event, or story? Tag us on Instagram, as we’d be happy to share your posts! Or send us a DM, and we can help spread the love by featuring you in one of our upcoming newsletters.


Seeds of Inspiration

Find a fun book to share - let stories spark new ideas and conversations.

I love this prompt from our new social media coordinator, Hannah! A delightful book that springs to mind is The Stick Book, full of creative ideas for turning ordinary sticks into adventures. Perfect for enjoying together and sparking imagination.
- Ashleigh


🤝 Stay Connected


In unity, we cultivate knowledge, deepen wisdom, weave community, and create pathways forward ... ... ...

With gratitude,
Ashleigh & the Greenhouse Culture Team 🌿

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246

We are grateful to share stories, events, and green initiatives with you as part of the Greenhouse Culture community. 🌱 If you'd like to adjust how you hear from us, you can update your Preferences or Unsubscribe anytime.

🌿Together, we cultivate wisdom, community, and meaningful action. 🌱

Greenhouse Culture

Green Thinking : Experimental Learning : Knowledge Sharing : Sustainable Action

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