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Farming for Nature

Conversations with Irish farmers about how and why they make space for nature while operating a profitable farm.

FFN is a not-for-profit initiative set up by scientists & farmers to restore the ecological health of Irish farmland. FFN on twitter and Instagram

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20 episodes
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#43
May 16, 2024 · 52 min
43: Making money from field to fork: farmers Liam and Justina Gavin, Roscommon
Liam and Justina Gavin own Drumanilra Organic Farm on the shores of Lough Key, Co. Roscommon. When they took over the farm in 2012, they had two ambitions: to feed their family with home grown food, and to generate a sustainable and independent income from the farm by supplying food directly to the public. They tell Brigid how they've done it.
#42
Apr 25, 2024 · 18 min
42: On fungi and farming, with Thomas O'Connor
Thomas O’Connor farms 25 acres in the Gleann na nGealt valley near Camp, Co. Kerry, and sells his fresh organic produce in a farm shop, Manna Organic Store, in nearby Tralee. He talks about how fungi is the basis of everything he produces on his land.
#41
Mar 13, 2024 · 20 min
41: Bruce Thompson, dairy farmer & dung beetle expert
Bruce Thompson is an intensive dairy farmer from Laois. He has a particular interest in reducing animal remedies through prevention, and is a strong advocate for the urgent need to protect our dung beetle populations.
#40
Jan 24, 2024 · 23 min
40: How to make Biochar, with Kildare farmer Kim McCall
Brigid speaks to Kim McCall about why and how he makes biochar. Kim and his wife Mireille own a 214-acre mixed livestock stock farm in Calverstown, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare with a herd of 75 pedigree suckler cows, a flock of 80 sheep, as well as a few pigs in the summertime.
#39
Dec 5, 2023 · 28 min
39: James Gilmartin, Mixed Stock Farmer, Leitrim: My land's natural carrying capacity
James Gilmartin is a 7th generation mixed farmer. He keeps a suckler herd and a small herd of Dexters, as well as a small flock of sheep. Part of his farm is commonage and a very important High Nature Value habitat for various species, including the endangered Marsh Fritillary butterfly.
#38
Oct 3, 2023 · 37 min
38: Maurice Deasy, brewer, sheep & arable farmer: Why conservation agriculture is worth the risk
Maurice Deasy farms 120 acres in northwest Tipperary. He grows heritage Irish grains to preserve their genetic diversity, and uses them in his own brewery on the farm. He also has 20 acres of mixed woodland and wetland through his farm. He tells Brigid how he farms with nature in mind.
#37
Sep 12, 2023 · 27 min
37: Aonghus Ó'Coistealbha, Connemara, Galway: How I make a living from 1 acre
Aonghus Ó'Coistealbha is a market gardener from Connemara Co. Galway, and he owns 'An Garraí Glas', a 1-acre farm where he grows chemical-free vegetables including lettuce/salad leaves, onions, tomatoes, radishes, herbs and more. A tremendous amount of vegetables are grown from a small space, not to mention a challenging landscape with plenty of stone and a strong Atlantic prevailing wind. Aonghus is particularly interested in regenerative farming; composting, soil health and building fertility is of utmost importance to this farming system.
#36
Aug 29, 2023 · 30 min
36: Gearoid Maher, dairy farmer, Co. Limerick: Being economically viable while restoring nature on a dairy farm
Gearoid Maher farms 80 cows on 80 hectares in Co.Limerick. He tells Brigid how he manages to operate an economically successful farm while restoring nature on his land.
#35
Apr 26, 2023 · 30 min
35: Composting with Jim Cronin, mixed farmer, Co. Clare
Jim has a 16 acre hill farm in Clare where he intensively grows vegetables and fruit. He tells Brigid why homemade compost is the backbone to his farm, and how it works with nature to boost fertility.
#34
Apr 12, 2023 · 47 min
34: Rehabilitating an intensive farm with Colm Flynn, a Kildare tillage farmer
Colm talks to Brigid as part of Farming for Nature's "Ask the Farmer" series. Here he explains in detail how - and why - he changed from an intensive farm, now farms with nature in mind. (Please rate, review and share this pod!)
#33
Mar 8, 2023 · 34 min
33: James Ham, the tree farmer.
James Ham of Moyvore, Co. Westmeath is one of the last farmers in his county to use traditional technique of hedge laying. He farms 128 acres with his wife Martina, and their land is 50% woodland, with the rest grass and spring barley. He talks to Brigid about trees, coppicing and hedgerows. James Ham's profile here. Farming for Nature website here. Contact Brigid info@farmingfornature.ie or go here. Farming for Nature on twitter, facebook and instagram.
#32
Feb 28, 2023 · 28 min
32: Rewilding with Eoghan Daltun, Beara, West Cork
Eoghan has a farm of 73 acres (including 40 acres of mountain commonage) overlooking the Atlantic near Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork. For the last 12 years he has given 30 acres over to nature, mostly in the form of highly species-rich native Atlantic temperate rainforest. Please rate & review the pod, and spread the word! Eoghan - http://www.eoghandaltun.com Farming for Nature- https://www.farmingfornature.ie/nominees/eoghan-daltun/ Contact Brigid - info@farmingfornature.ie Twitter - https://twitter.com/farmfornature
#31
Jan 26, 2023 · 29 min
31: Aoife Reilly - making a living on 7.5 acres
Aoife Reilly of Glasraí Farm owns a 7.5-acre farm in Hollymount, Mayo, with her husband, Joe. They employ seven people, and nature is intrinsic to what they do. The farm is highly productive not only in terms of food production but in terms of soil health and wildlife. There are three ponds, mixed hedgerows and a variety of trees, all of which provide habitats for wildlife. Aoife's farm - https://www.glasrai.ie Farming for Nature - https://www.farmingfornature.ie Email: info@farmingfornature.ie Address: Farming for Nature, C/O Burrenbeo Trust, Glebe Road, Kinvara, Co.Galway Project Coordinator: Brigid Barry Phone number: 087 1797352
#30
Dec 6, 2022 · 28 min
30: Why the best time for producing a Christmas turkey is actually in the summer
Cathal Mooney owns Heather Hill Farm in Donegal, where he produces pasture-raised turkey, pasture-raised chickens, lambs and eggs and wildflower honey. He says, "Our goal is to produce local food for the community. We want our customers to become friends and come to the farm to see how their food is produced.” Guest - Cathal Mooney Presenter - Brigid Barry
#29
Nov 22, 2022 · 19 min
29: What do bats need to make a farm their home?
Donna Mullen has a 43-acre farm in Meath, and she's found different ways to make her farm a magnet for seven bat species. She explains what she's done and how any farmer across Ireland can do the same... Guest - Donna Mullen Presenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for Nature Contact - info@farmingfornature.ie Twitter @farmfornature
#28
Oct 29, 2022 · 10 min
28: And the winner of the Farming for Nature 2022 award is...
On 29th October, the annual Farming for Nature awards took place in Corofin, Co. Clare. Brigid Barry spoke to the winner, Sean Condon, who is a dairy farmer from Limerick. Guest - Sean Condon, Templeroe Dairy, Limerick Presenter, Brigid Barry, Farming for Nature
#27
Oct 27, 2022 · 17 min
27: So you have a bog on your farm...now what?
Tommy Earley has a 25 acre bog on his farm in Roscommon, and a few years ago he started the process of restoring it. What did he do? And how did he do it? Guest: Tommy Earley, beef farmer Presenter: Brigid Barry, Farming for Nature For more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ie/nominees/tommyearley/
#26
Jul 29, 2022 · 26 min
26: How Anthony Mooney attracts birds to his Kildare farm
With a 200 acre beef farm in Kildare, Anthony Mooney knows that he has a vital role in attracting bird species to his land. He explains how he does it. Guest - Anthony Mooney, beef farmer Presenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for Nature For more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ie Contact Brigid - info@farmingfornature.ie Twitter @farmfornature
#25
Jun 23, 2022 · 12 min
25: Nicholas Redmond, mixed farmer, Wexford
Nicholas Redmond has a 50-acre farm in Gerry, Wexford. He talks about his diverse beef & sheep farm, which includes species-rich meadows (from which he makes hay), oak woodlands and mixed-species grasslands. Guest -Nicholas Redmond, mixed farmer Presenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for Nature For more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ie Contact Brigid - info@farmingfornature.ie Twitter @farmfornature
#24
May 27, 2022 · 14 min
24: How to attract bat life to a farm
Where you see bats, you'll find insects and bats on a farm are a good sign that nature is being supported. Tommy Earley, a beef farmer from Roscommon, explains how he encourages bats to his land in the West of Ireland. Guest -Tommy Earley, beef farmer Presenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for Nature For more information visit https://www.farmingfornature.ie Contact Brigid - info@farmingfornature.ie Twitter @farmfornature

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