Organic Matters

1. Season 5: Mountain Sheep, Connemara Ponies and Agri-tourism

   07.11.202636 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on Organic Matters, we speak with father-and-daughter team John and Niamh Joyce about their extensive organic hill farm in Connemara, where they keep sheep and ponies, native to the region. John talks …

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   This week on Organic Matters, we speak with father-and-daughter team John and Niamh Joyce about their extensive organic hill farm in Connemara, where they keep sheep and ponies, native to the region. John talks to Hannah about his experience converting to organic farming, a relatively straightforward and rewarding transition that uses a combination of lowland and upland grazing and commonage. He has been an active member of the Mayo Blackface Group over the years, with the breed a mainstay on his farm and well suited to the terrain compared to others. John also sees great potential for direct marketing of organic meat, albeit with its own challenges. Hannah also gets a chance to speak with Niamh, who is in the process of following in John footsteps and has a keen interest in breeding in Connemara ponies. Both John and Niamh highlight the potential for farms to diversify both in terms of the livestock they use to graze as well as other income streams, with plans to potentially venture into agri-tourism.

2. Season 5: Diversification with sheep, blueberries and paludiculture

   24.10.202637 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on Organic Matters, we speak to organic sheep and horticulture farmer John O'Sullivan, who farms over 800 acres of largely boggy soil in Connemara. John has also diversified into agri-tourism and is …

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   This week on Organic Matters, we speak to organic sheep and horticulture farmer John O'Sullivan, who farms over 800 acres of largely boggy soil in Connemara. John has also diversified into agri-tourism and is experimenting with paludiculture to support farm profitability and environmental performance. John talks about the various enterprises on Derreighter Organic Farm, including his flock of 200 ewes lambed outdoors in mid-April. He also specialises in organic berry production, with the wool used as a nutrient source for the bushes. Berries work well as they like acidic soil and adequate moisture. The O’Sullivans also host people on the farm, offering accommodation, workshops, a wood-fired sauna converted from an old trailer, and more. In addition, John is part of an EU-funded project called Palus Demo, which is exploring how to alter the water table on part of the farm to encourage sphagnum mosses to re-establish, which can help to sequester carbon, improve biodiversity, and rebuild the bogs, while at the same time exploring commercial opportunities for berry production on the same land.

3. Season 5: Suckler farming on Queen Meav's island

   10.10.202630 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on Organic Matters, we take to the water to bring you a very special podcast on Inis Cloithrinn or Quaker Island as it is locally known, where organic livestock farmer Herbert Farrell keeps native …

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   This week on Organic Matters, we take to the water to bring you a very special podcast on Inis Cloithrinn or Quaker Island as it is locally known, where organic livestock farmer Herbert Farrell keeps native Irish Droimeann cattle and the Lough Ree goat breed. The island is steeped in history, including being home to a monastic settlement, known as the resting spot of the legendary Queen Medb and being connected to the Farrell name since 1141. Herbert talks extensively about his Droimeann herd, which are born and bred on the island and about the important role that the landscape, flora and fauna play in supporting his animal husbandry throughout the year. Females are sold as weanlings for breeding, with males kept for finishing. He also touches on how he has developed short supply chains to market for his meat, supplying into the local restaurant Skelly’s Bar in Ballymahon as well as producing beef boxes sold direct to the consumer.

4. Season 5: Getting your organic suckler and sheep system right for you

   26.09.202624 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on Organic Matters, we speak to James Donnellan, an organic suckler and sheep farmer based in Northeast Galway. James talks about his love of Aubrac cattle and the importance of getting an organic …

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   This week on Organic Matters, we speak to James Donnellan, an organic suckler and sheep farmer based in Northeast Galway. James talks about his love of Aubrac cattle and the importance of getting an organic system right for the individual farmer. James speaks about why the Aubrac cattle breed may be suitable for some organic suckler farmers, from ease of calving to good carcass and conformation for finishing.* As well as his pedigree Aubrac cattle, he talks about his Belcare/EasyCare cross flock, with finished organic lambs sold to one of the main processors, together with other organic farmers. He also covers a range of other topics, including good animal housing for the winter months, sward diversity and management, sourcing feed directly from other organic farmers, and taking advantage of the Organic Capital Investment Scheme. Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/58f43efv *The Irish Aubrac Cattle Breed Society will hold its annual Elite Show and Sale on Saturday 24th October at GVM Mart in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

5. Season 5: Saving Ireland's seed and apple heritage

   09.09.202637 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak to Elaine Bradley from the Irish Seed Savers Association based in Clare. It works to protect and preserve Ireland’s traditional seed and heritage apple …

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   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak to Elaine Bradley from the Irish Seed Savers Association based in Clare. It works to protect and preserve Ireland’s traditional seed and heritage apple varieties. Elaine talks about the Association’s activities, which are based on practising conservation by use, with their seed and gene bank acting as a living resource and safety deposit box for our food heritage now and into the future. She explains how the Association safeguards and promotes Ireland’s national collection of heritage apple varieties, many of which were nearly forgotten but have been saved by their work over the years. Varieties are produced and sold on-site, and the team also works with communities to reintroduce heritage orchards into public spaces through their Orchard Way initiative. Elaine also touches on their more recent project to establish a farmer seed network to further facilitate the exchange of heritage and organic seeds.

6. Season 5: Growing organic potatoes, apples and beef finishing

   29.08.202614 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak to farmer Donald Treacy, based near Athy in Co. Kildare, who runs a mixed organic farm with his wife Aideen and two sons. Donald discusses the different …

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   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak to farmer Donald Treacy, based near Athy in Co. Kildare, who runs a mixed organic farm with his wife Aideen and two sons. Donald discusses the different enterprises on Battlemount Organic Farm, which include potatoes, apples, beef and inter-crops for animal feed. The Treacys converted over a decade ago and haven’t looked back since, as it has provided the farm with many options for diversification, and enabled all members of the family to be actively involved. Both the potatoes and processed apples are sold locally as well as to an independent organic retailer, while finished organic stock is sold to an organic processor. Donald touches on various aspects of the business, including the importance of fertility for crops, the management of his suckler herd, and the production of a popular apple juice from native apple varieties in recent years.

7. Season 5: Making a business from organic veg

   15.08.202625 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week, long time organic vegetable grower Dermot Carey, based in South Kildare, talks to the Organic Matters Podcast about his business. Coming from a family involved in vegetable growing and wholesaling …

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   This week, long time organic vegetable grower Dermot Carey, based in South Kildare, talks to the Organic Matters Podcast about his business. Coming from a family involved in vegetable growing and wholesaling over the years, Dermot cut his teeth in the industry from a young age. He speaks about the range of produce his grows and the different markets he uses. This includes selling directly to customers via farmers' markets, small independent shops, restaurants, as well as some wholesale. Dermot describes the changes in consumer buying habits shifting away from "traditional" Irish veg and about the types of vegetables that work well for him on his farm. In addition to touching on his approach to growing he also speaks about the need to be just as good at the business and numbers side of vegetables and being savvy about responding to consumer demand.

8. Season 5: Organic beef finishing and growing your own grain

   01.08.202625 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak to farmer Brian Meredith based in Co. Laois, who runs a spring and autumn organic suckler-to-beef herd with his father. He discusses coming home to farm, the …

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   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak to farmer Brian Meredith based in Co. Laois, who runs a spring and autumn organic suckler-to-beef herd with his father. He discusses coming home to farm, the transition to organics and re-integrating tillage back onto the farm to diversify the business and increase feed autonomy. Brian talks about breeding Angus and Hereford cattle as they finish well off grass, learning to grow their own grain to feed younger stock and their experience with preventative health management in the herd. He also looks ahead to the future of the farm and tells listeners about the farm’s involvement in an initiative commissioned by the Irish Organic Association to map all the different habitats and estimate the carbon storage and sequestration potential on the farm using LiDAR technology

9. Season 5: Managing organic grasslands in dry conditions and experimenting with living mulches

   18.07.202621 Min.Als Nächstes

   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak with Mary Lynch, an independent organic advisor and ACA member who also runs a mixed suckler beef and tillage farm with her husband in Co. Tipperary. Mary …

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   This week on the Organic Matters Podcast, we speak with Mary Lynch, an independent organic advisor and ACA member who also runs a mixed suckler beef and tillage farm with her husband in Co. Tipperary. Mary reflects on how organic farmers are currently dealing with dry conditions and the value of incorporating red clover and multi-species varieties into grasslands, where appropriate, to support more climate resilience on farm. She touches on the fact that drought conditions still come with their own challenges when it comes to re-seeding or stitching as well as maintaining a good sward over this period. Elsewhere, Mary talks about ongoing trials on ‘living mulches’ that they are undertaking and the results so far. This involves an oat crop being directly sown into a multi-annual cover of small leaf white clover with the aim of stimulating soil biology and assisting with weed suppression. She also shares her own experience on how the family farm finishes cattle on grass, capitalising on grass-clover ley in their arable rotation.

10. Season 5: Farming in the Burren and renovating old buildings for agri-tourism

    04.07.202619 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week's Organic Matters Podcast meets organic suckler farmer Pat McCarthy who is farming in the Burren. His children are the ninth generation on their family farm in Co. Clare where they have over 300 acres …

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    This week's Organic Matters Podcast meets organic suckler farmer Pat McCarthy who is farming in the Burren. His children are the ninth generation on their family farm in Co. Clare where they have over 300 acres of land, which includes a substantial amount of winterage as well as summer-grazing ground. Pat tends to breed a mixture of Angus and Shorthorn crosses, which he finds work well with his land. He has also put his building skills to work over the years, renovating old stone sheds into cottages on the farm to create a thriving business using Airbnb. The agri-tourism business has been successful in capitalising on the nearby Wild Atlantic Way tourism trail, with tourists from around the world interested in staying on a working organic farm.

11. Season 5: Going from conventional dairy to organic beef

    20.06.202623 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week, farmer Pat Maher talks to the Organic Matters Podcast about his journey from being a dairy farmer with a nitrates derogation to an organic suckler farmer. Based on the edge of the Golden Vale near …

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    This week, farmer Pat Maher talks to the Organic Matters Podcast about his journey from being a dairy farmer with a nitrates derogation to an organic suckler farmer. Based on the edge of the Golden Vale near Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Pat hasn’t looked back since converting to organics. He speaks to presenter Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about establishing a new suckler herd, trialling clover and multi-species mixes, understanding what weeds are indicating, and learning more about composting and soil biology.

12. Season 5: Converting from conventional to organic beef and building a new shed

    06.06.202617 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week, we are launching Season 5 of the Organic Matters Podcast brought to you by the Irish Organic Association. In this first episode, we are delighted to speak with organic beef farmer Ruth Young, based …

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    This week, we are launching Season 5 of the Organic Matters Podcast brought to you by the Irish Organic Association. In this first episode, we are delighted to speak with organic beef farmer Ruth Young, based in Co. Laois, about her transition from conventional to organic production. Ruth talks about developing relationships with other organic farmers and the expansion of organic marts for purchasing her finishing stock, building new winter housing and improving her soil management by optimising grazing practices.

13. Season 4: Outwintering beef cattle on cover crops and growing crop mixes

    20.12.202517 Min.Als Nächstes

    In the final episode of Season 4 of the Organic Matters Podcast, we meet organic farmers Aoife Gibney and Eamon Campbell on their beef and tillage farm in Co. Meath. The couple are recent converts to organics …

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    In the final episode of Season 4 of the Organic Matters Podcast, we meet organic farmers Aoife Gibney and Eamon Campbell on their beef and tillage farm in Co. Meath. The couple are recent converts to organics, becoming full-symbol organic this year. Aiofe and Eamon calve in both the Autumn and the Spring and artificially inseminate their heifers, with a mixture of Sailor, Limousine, Charolais and the odd bit of Angus, making up the herd. They talk about converting their housing to meet the organic spacing requirements, with a combination of slatted and straw-bedded areas. They also speak about some of the reasons they made the move and their experience going organic in recent years, which they have found very stimulating and a new challenge. This has included growing red clover and whole-crop silage for their cattle, as well as outwintering cattle on kale. Typically, cattle have been sold into the local marts, with Aoife and Eamon weighing up different options for the future.

14. Season 4: Switching from sheep to organic beef, cereals and agri-tourism

    06.12.202517 Min.Als Nächstes

    In this week's episode, we meet organic farmer and entrepreneur Richard Ball, farming on the Meath/Westmeath border. Richard and his wife Bairbre switched from lambing a few hundred ewes to a more diversified …

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    In this week's episode, we meet organic farmer and entrepreneur Richard Ball, farming on the Meath/Westmeath border. Richard and his wife Bairbre switched from lambing a few hundred ewes to a more diversified operation, including agri-tourism, organic beef boxes, more recently oats. Richard talks about the important role the farm plays in supporting his tourism business, Johnsfort, with the Balls hosting farm stays and a range of tours across the island. This includes local tours tapping into what the Boyne Valley and Ireland's Hidden Hearts have to offer. He also touches on his experience reintroducing tillage back onto the farm, producing oats and his herd of Dexters, Angus and Shorthorn cattle, with meat sold direct to consumers, as well as a small herd of Highland cattle.

15. Season 4: Producing Turkeys for Christmas, Milling Oats and More

    22.11.202519 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on Organic Matters, we meet mixed farmers John and Fiona Curran in Co. Meath. The Currans manage a range of enterprises, including turkeys, tillage, beef and sheep. Fiona speaks to our presenter …

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    This week on Organic Matters, we meet mixed farmers John and Fiona Curran in Co. Meath. The Currans manage a range of enterprises, including turkeys, tillage, beef and sheep. Fiona speaks to our presenter, Hannah Quinn-Mulligan, about raising turkeys for the Christmas market, while John talks through the ins and outs of the tillage, cattle and sheep enterprises. The Curran’s are currently growing winter barley, sold as animal feed and milling oats, which are sold to Flahavan’s. The tillage is complemented by suckler-to-beef and lamb enterprises, with the majority of cattle raised to beef and sold to The Good Herdsmen, while the lambs are processed organically by Irish Country Meats.

16. Season 4: Organics helping to save rare breeds and grasslands

    08.11.202526 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on Organic Matters, we meet cattle and sheep farmer Tom Keane, located on the banks of the Shannon estuary, Co. Limerick. Tom, along with his brother Michael, has been championing native breeds and …

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    This week on Organic Matters, we meet cattle and sheep farmer Tom Keane, located on the banks of the Shannon estuary, Co. Limerick. Tom, along with his brother Michael, has been championing native breeds and conservation grazing, and he speaks about how they complement his organic farm. Tom talks about his native Irish Droimeann breeds and how his farming system supports animal health and nature protection. He also keeps Galway pedigree sheep as well as Shropshire and Shetland breeds, with the wool fully utilised for bespoke products. The farm is located in a protected area and part of the Great Grassland Trails of Ireland, and Tom touches on the range of birdlife and wild plants, such as the bee orchid and hairy violet, present on his limestone grasslands.

17. Season 4: Balancing organic tillage, beef, horses and nature

    25.10.202522 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on Organic Matters, we meet Philip and Eleanor Cussen, who farm in Co. Tipperary. They blend their love for nature and Irish Cobs, with growing tillage and rearing suckler cattle. They talk about the …

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    This week on Organic Matters, we meet Philip and Eleanor Cussen, who farm in Co. Tipperary. They blend their love for nature and Irish Cobs, with growing tillage and rearing suckler cattle. They talk about the conversion of the farm over 10 years ago, re-establishing a suckler herd and dipping their toes into organic tillage, producing milling oats, which has become an important element of their enterprise. The Cussens touch on the importance of cooperating and learning from other organic farmers, and how Eleanor’s passion for the Irish cob horse breed is an integral part of their farming story. They also speak about how they have developed a greater appreciation for the wide range of biodiversity on the farm.

18. Season 4: First time tillage farmer successfully growing crops and selling direct

    11.10.202521 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on Organic Matters, tillage and beef farmer Reuben Cope, based in County Kilkenny, speaks to Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about converting to organic farming and taking the plunge as a first-time tillage …

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    This week on Organic Matters, tillage and beef farmer Reuben Cope, based in County Kilkenny, speaks to Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about converting to organic farming and taking the plunge as a first-time tillage farmer. He talks about the crops he now grows, including red clover, a range of cover crops, intercrops of barley and peas for animal feed, wheat for flour, and milling oats, touching on yields, sowing dates and more. Rueben also discusses selling wheat directly to produce flour, highlighting the value of heritage wheat varieties and the growing demand for high-quality organic wheat from artisan bakers. Much of the bread and pastries made with his flour can be purchased locally, as well as in his own seasonal farm shop, which also features his own beef and organic vegetables, many sourced from a local organic vegetable grower.

19. Season 4: Sums adding up for organic tillage and sheep in Carlow

    27.09.202520 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on the Organic Matters Podcast Joe Nolan, a relatively recent convert to organics, speaks to Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about downsizing from 1,000 sheep and reintroducing tillage on his family farm in …

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    This week on the Organic Matters Podcast Joe Nolan, a relatively recent convert to organics, speaks to Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about downsizing from 1,000 sheep and reintroducing tillage on his family farm in Carlow. He says the economics of the farm have never been better since switching to organics and upscaling the organic tillage side of his business. He grows a range of crops, including red clover, milling oats, oat seed and intercrops of cereals and pulses for animal feed. Joe has also introduced Easycare sheep into his mixed-breed flock, a self-shedding breed that does not require shearing, and speaks about the benefits of the breed and his experience so far.

20. Season 4: Direct selling your own suckler beef

    13.09.202520 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week, Organic Matters meets third-generation suckler farmer Padraic O'Donnell, based in South Galway. ⁠ After returning home from the UK to take over his family farm, he converted to organics in 2021 …

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    This week, Organic Matters meets third-generation suckler farmer Padraic O'Donnell, based in South Galway. ⁠ After returning home from the UK to take over his family farm, he converted to organics in 2021. Padraic has focused on improving the genetics of his herd by learning how to do his own artificial insemination (AI), experimenting with introducing new breeds into his existing stock of mainly Limousins and Simmentals. ⁠ He speaks about the different kinds of grassland on his farm, including pastures for grazing and silage, callows (seasonally flooded, semi-natural grassland), which he sees as great for summer grazing, and rocky areas that help to extend the grazing season. Padraic has also started selling his own meat directly to customers, processing the meat locally, and shares why he thinks it's important to keep small abattoirs alive.

21. Season 4: Championing native Irish sheep and wool

    30.08.202528 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week, Organic Matters meets Blátnaid Gallagher, an organic sheep farmer in East Galway who has been championing the native Galway sheep breed for meat and wool. She's spearheaded the creation of the Galway …

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    This week, Organic Matters meets Blátnaid Gallagher, an organic sheep farmer in East Galway who has been championing the native Galway sheep breed for meat and wool. She's spearheaded the creation of the Galway Wool Co-op in an era when the number of sheep farmers is dwindling. She talks about building a renaissance in Irish wool by focusing on the need for better processing and putting farmers back at the heart of the story of Irish wool. This includes a recent collaboration between the Galway Wool Co-op and Avoca to develop different kinds of products. Blátnaid also speaks about how she and her husband took on the farm and converted to organics, the importance of hay meadow conservation for nature and animal feed, as well as her passion for social farming, working with people with intellectual disabilities.

22. Season 4: Buying 20ac to address short supply chain issues in organics

    16.08.202523 Min.Als Nächstes

    In this episode of Organic Matters, host Hannah Quinn-Mulligan interviews Pat O'Sullivan, the CEO of gourmet catering company Master Chefs in Limerick. Pat discusses buying 20 acres of land to establish Ellan …

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    In this episode of Organic Matters, host Hannah Quinn-Mulligan interviews Pat O'Sullivan, the CEO of gourmet catering company Master Chefs in Limerick. Pat discusses buying 20 acres of land to establish Ellan farm and grow organic vegetables for his catering business, and talks about his plans for the future, creating his own on-site processing facilities on the farm and connecting his chefs with food production. He also speaks about a bio district that is currently being established in the Mid West. Pat considers that this initiative is not only of value to his business, in order to buy more local organic produce, but also for the wider community of organic producers, as well as the tourism and hospitality sector in the area.

23. Season 4: Growing an organic egg, veg and suckler beef system

    02.08.202526 Min.Als Nächstes

    In this episode, we meet Fergal Smith of Moy Hill Farm, who has a mixed organic farming system including eggs, vegetables and a suckler beef system. Fergal discusses direct selling at farmers markets, to …

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    In this episode, we meet Fergal Smith of Moy Hill Farm, who has a mixed organic farming system including eggs, vegetables and a suckler beef system. Fergal discusses direct selling at farmers markets, to restaurants and shops, as well as a box scheme based on a community-supported agriculture – CSA model. He also speaks about the challenges that he faces as a farmer and his love for the Dexter breed of cattle, outlining why he thinks they are perfect for an organic suckler system. He talks about the story so far, including his experience with soil management and the opportunities open to other farmers.

24. Season 4: Second year suckler farming in organics

    19.07.202525 Min.Als Nächstes

    In this episode, we meet Patrick Davoren, who is based in Carron in Co Clare, in the heart of the Burren. Patrick outlines his reasons for going organic, including the financial incentives and how he makes use …

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    In this episode, we meet Patrick Davoren, who is based in Carron in Co Clare, in the heart of the Burren. Patrick outlines his reasons for going organic, including the financial incentives and how he makes use of the famous Burren winterage. He speaks to Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about overcoming the recent storm damage and the impact that it has had on the farm, as well as his experience with producing red clover for silage on his improved grassland area for animal feed, and getting his nutrient management right.

25. Season 4: Making Organic Beef Farming Work for You

    05.07.202516 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week suckler farmer and beef finisher Donagh O'Grady speaks to Organic Matters from his farm in Limerick. Donagh discusses finishing beef cattle in an organic system, the benefits of sharing machinery with …

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    This week suckler farmer and beef finisher Donagh O'Grady speaks to Organic Matters from his farm in Limerick. Donagh discusses finishing beef cattle in an organic system, the benefits of sharing machinery with other farmers, as well as different things he has tried over the years. In recent times, Donagh has bought a woodchipper to create his own woodchip for organic animal bedding and is also producing apples and processing them into juice sold locally. He also looks ahead to the future plans for the farm and the need to diversify the farm business.

26. Season 4: Combining forestry with organics

    21.06.202526 Min.Als Nächstes

    In the first episode of Season 4, we meet Mitch Corbett and Harry Badrick at the Hometree charity near Ennistymon in Co. Clare. The pair are part of a team that organically grows native Irish trees from …

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    In the first episode of Season 4, we meet Mitch Corbett and Harry Badrick at the Hometree charity near Ennistymon in Co. Clare. The pair are part of a team that organically grows native Irish trees from seedlings and works with farmers and landowners to create native Irish forests. They discuss the many benefits that trees can provide to farmland and biodiversity

27. Season 3: Building direct selling veg and combi crop businesses

    13.12.202431 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on Organic Matters, we meet brothers Charlie and Dan Hogan, and Dan's partner Una Wycherley who all run Larkin's Hill Farm together on the outskirts of Nenagh in Co Tipperary. They sell salad and …

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    This week on Organic Matters, we meet brothers Charlie and Dan Hogan, and Dan's partner Una Wycherley who all run Larkin's Hill Farm together on the outskirts of Nenagh in Co Tipperary. They sell salad and vegetables to local retailers, and in addition to managing a suckler herd, they have more recently started growing and selling combi crops as animal feed to meet growing demand from organic livestock farmers. They talk about their experiences with the different farm enterprises and their complementarity as well as plans for the future, which include finishing cattle, incorporating trees onto the farm and further developing market outlets for their horticulture.

28. Season 3: Developing an organic oil and spices oil business

    13.12.202414 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on Organic Matters, we meet Andrea and Markus Miley who have developed an organic oil and spices business based in Portarlington, Co. Laois called ÍON Oil and Spices. Originally the pair were involved …

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    This week on Organic Matters, we meet Andrea and Markus Miley who have developed an organic oil and spices business based in Portarlington, Co. Laois called ÍON Oil and Spices. Originally the pair were involved in the timber business but over time have changed tack and today run a shop, and online business as well as taking their products to farmers' markets and shops. This year the company won Taste Awards for their Hazelnut, Poppy Seed and Walnut Oils. They talk about how they established the business, the range of oils and spices they produce and plans for the future.

29. Season 3: How Organic Exotic Mushrooms saved one Irish couple after Brexit

    13.12.202417 Min.Als Nächstes

    In the final episode of Season 3 of the Organic Matters Podcast, we meet Dolores and Joe Gorman from Garryhinch Wood Exotic Mushrooms in Co. Offaly. The pair were in the mushroom business for almost 30 years …

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    In the final episode of Season 3 of the Organic Matters Podcast, we meet Dolores and Joe Gorman from Garryhinch Wood Exotic Mushrooms in Co. Offaly. The pair were in the mushroom business for almost 30 years exporting to the UK but had to close when Brexit hit due to the fluctuation in sterling. After a two-year break, they were back in business having diversified into organic exotic mushrooms. They now produce 7 different varieties of organic exotic mushrooms for Irish retailers and food service and recently they won a National Organic Award for their shiitake and white beech mushrooms range in the New and Innovative Product category. Joe and Dolores talk about their transition to organics and how they have carved out a niche for themselves in the exotic mushroom business. Learn more at: https://garryhinchmushrooms.ie

30. Season 3: Mob grazing livestock in Cork

    07.12.202425 Min.Als Nächstes

    This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Charles Harold Barry and his wife Catherine who produce organic beef and lamb. They farm in north Cork and keep Angus cattle using a mob system. They also have sheep …

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    This week on Organic Matters, we speak to Charles Harold Barry and his wife Catherine who produce organic beef and lamb. They farm in north Cork and keep Angus cattle using a mob system. They also have sheep and use EasyCare rams to breed lambs that do not need shearing, with the stock seen as an important part of the farm’s grassland management. They have stopped making silage and focus on keeping enough grass around the farm to have all livestock out all year round. Hay is used to supplement grass for the cattle in the winter, with Charles using a bale unroller machine rather than a round feeder for better feed utilisation, and to prevent damage to the ground and ensure faster grass regeneration. Charles talks to our presenter Hannah Quinn-Mulligan about his experience with his grazing approach. including the impact he feels it has had on animal health and welfare.

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