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Thomas and Claire live on a 25-acre organic farm on the Dingle penisula, Co. Kerry,
Ireland. While this is not an open farm, we do hold regular open days for the public to
come and visit. For details on the next open day, call into the shop and talk to Claire.

The Woodland:

The 15 acres of land 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 Irish ancient woodlands: Oaks
and Hazels from Ballyseedey Woodlands, and Oaks, Ashes and Hazels from an ancient
woodland near Macroom in west Cork. Eventually this woodland will be the home of our
geese, who will be responsible for keeping the grass down.

The Orchard:

There is a native Irish orchard planted in 2009/2010 with 100 apple trees from Irish
Seedsavers in County Clare, of approximately 30 different varieties. The trees range from
a very early Irish Peach to the commercial Red Stripe and George. There is the famous
Kerry Pippin, and the all-purple Lough Key Crab.

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 orchard was planted in 2009, but it will be 2011 before the first few apples make it
into the store, and another 2-3 years before there is a consistent regular supply of our own
apples. Trees don’t grow overnight but it is lovely to watch them grow; it is amazing how
fast time passes on a farm.

The Vegetable Fields:

The main horticultural field has been divided into 6 smaller fields with ditches. The
whole field is surrounded by shelterbelts of alder and elder trees. In four of the sections
the green manure, red clover, is growing well and increasing the soil fertility.

So far, only 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 other fields is growing Brassicas: cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and
cauliflowers, another is growing Alliums: leeks, onions and garlic, and for the summer
we also have some outdoors lettuce, rocket and mixed salads.

We are only farming ourselves for 2 years, and most of that has been spent on
groundworks and setting up to be able to grow. This year is the first year we have any
really quantity of our own vegetables in the shop. Next year we hope to provide 30-
40% of the shops vegetables and salads, and this should increase as the years go by.

The Poultry:

Decent organic eggs are a top priority in our kitchen, and so we decided to get our own
supply. Earlier this year we took in some day-old chicks and are now the proud feeders of
42 ducks, 43 geese, 48 hens and a strutting happy rooster.

We have 3 types of hens, Blackrocks with the beautiful black, purple, green and golden
brown plumage; the black-tipped, glossy-white Light Sussex and the more timid grey
Speckledy hens. These 3 varieties are particularly suited to ranging outdoors, and are
often found all around the fields even on the wettest, windiest Kerry day. The ducks are
Chiltons – a cross of Indian Runner and Argyle. All our birds came as day-olds from
Mike Gloser who specializes in rare-breed poultry, and who can be found at the Listowel
Market most Fridays.

The ducks and hens are all layers and will hopefully be providing the farm and shop with
fresh organic eggs from August onwards.

The geese are currently still living with the other birds, and are doing a grand job of
keeping the grass down in the vegetable fields. However, they will soon be on their way
up to the orchard for a while before finally being housed in the woodlands, where we
hope they will be very happy.

The Pigs:

We recently collected our 2 baby Tamworth piggies – Peppa and Georgia - from Caroline
Rigney’s lovely farm in Curraghchase, Limerick. Caroline runs a B&B on the farm as
well as her own business raising rare breed pigs, and making exceptional pork products
that keep winning awards for taste.
www.rigneysfarm.com