Lecturer & Horticulturist - Culinary Arts & Food Technology

Email: rachel.freeman@tudublin.ie

Rachel Freeman has been a lecturer in Horticulture on the Blanchardstown campus of TU Dublin for the past 18 years. Rachel has 30 years experience in the horticulture industry, and horticultural education at both Further Education and Higher Education level.

In teaching Rachel enjoys making the theory come alive for the students with hands on labs and enquiry-based learning practices. A practitioner of her discipline, she embraces opportunities for students to learn with communities where collaboration with the community builds sustainable relationships that support community-based learning and community-based research with benefits for all involved. Her research interests are in the areas of Community Horticulture and Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, with a particular interest in participatory action research focused on practical outcomes. Rachel writes for Horticulture Connected Magazine.

Outside of work, Rachel loves to head home to the west, in Mayo she loves to help out on the farm, roam the land and enjoy the remoteness of the environment. Here in Dublin the 'Gra' for all things outdoors horticulture continues, supporting nature based sustainable endeavors in the community, through involvement with Stepping Stone forests, local environmental groups and local schools.