42: On fungi and farming, with Thomas O'Connor

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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!)