Manna Organic Farm is a 25acre small-holding owned by Thomas and Claire O’Connor.
It is located in the picturesque Gleann na nGealt Valley near Camp on the Dingle
Peninsula. The farm is in its first year of being fully certified organic, and its first year of
growing more than trial vegetables.

The 15 acres nearest the road is covered in Native Woodland that was planted in early
2009. The coverage is 60% Oak, 20% Ash, 10% shelterbelts of Alder and Scots Pine,
with the rest being made up of stock sourced from native ancient woodlands: Oaks and
Hazels from Ballyseedey Woodlands, and Oaks, Ashes and Hazels from an ancient
woodland near Macroom in west Cork. Eventually this field will be the home of our
geese, who will be responsible for keeping the grass down.

There is a native Irish orchard planted in 2009/2010 with 100 apple trees from Seedsavers
in County Clare, of approximately 30 different varieties, In front of the orchard there
is a small soft fruit area with different varieties of blueberry, gooseberry, tayberry,
redcurrants, raspberry, japanese wineberry and thornless blackberry.

Also surrounding this area are some more fruit trees: cherry, plum and a few more apple trees, with the pear
trees further up the field over the ditch planted with willow and sunberries.
The main working field has been divided into 6 smaller fields with ditches and
elderflower bushes. The whole field is surrounded by alder shelterbelts, and in 4 of the
sections the green manure, red clover, can be seen starting to sprout up.
The first section on the left now houses the poultry: 42 ducks, 43 geese, 48 hens and the
rooster. The ducks and hens are all girls and will be providing the farm and shop with
fresh organic eggs from the end of August onwards.

The next section is home to our 2 baby Tamworth piggies – Peppa and Lulu.
The final section on the left is where the first 2 polytunnels have been erected. This year
they are growing tomatoes and lettuce. There is a small crop of beans and peas in one of
the tunnels. We also have some spinach, scallions and rocket growing in beds outside.
One of the fields on the right is growing Brassicas: cabbage, broccoli and cauliflowers,
another is growing Alliums: leeks, onions and garlic.