Farm Walks 2025
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Farm Walks 2025 〰️
Manna Organic Farm August 20th
12pm to 2pm.
Manna Organic farm is a mixed farm on 25 acres on the Dingle Peninsula. Trees and the principles of Agroforestry have played a big role in the establishment of the farm over the past 15 years. What started out as fields of Ryegrass is now a well established ecosystem where vegetables are grown on 4 acres surrounded by trees that act as shelter as well as providing biomass to improve soil fertility and health. Additionally they have created a 4 acre permaculture field which is divided in sections using shelterbelts of Whitethorn and in between planting of fruit producing trees and shrubs. Another section of the farm consists of a 4 acre terraced Agroforestry plot which is planted with soft fruit bushes surrounded by coppiced Willow, Birch and Sycamore. This event is funded by Forestry Skills Funding provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
Join us for a agroforestry farm walk at Brian Nicholson's Farm in Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny!
Discover how Brian, a progressive farmer, is successfully integrating organic practices and agroforestry to enhance sustainability, improve farm resilience, and create a better work-life balance.
Date: Thursday, August 28th Time: 1:00 PM Location: Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny (Full address details will be provided upon booking.)
Brian's 90-hectare farm, primarily focuses on sheep with some beef cattle, tillage, agroforestry and forestry. He's made significant strides in soil fertility, with an impressive 41% of his soils now at optimum levels for pH, P, and K. Through the strategic incorporation of clover and multispecies swards into his reseeds over the years, Brian has achieved a notable reduction in chemical input.
A key highlight of the walk will be his 19 hectares of FT8 Broadleaf Agroforestry, demonstrating how trees are being integrated to provide multi-ecosystem services including shade and shelter, protect water quality and provide a valuable additional income stream. Brian himself attests that the switch to organic farming has brought tangible benefits, not just for the farm's sustainability but also for his own work-life balance.
This is a fantastic opportunity to see practical agroforestry and organic farming in action and learn directly from Brian's experience. This farm is a Teagasc Sign Post Farm. This event is funded by Forestry Promotion Funding provided by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.