Community Events Archive

Farm walk with Farming for Nature Ambassador Norman Dunne

Farm walk with Farming for Nature Ambassador Norman Dunne

These farm walks are an opportunity for Farming for Nature farmers to showcase their contribution to nature and good farming practices on their land.

Norman Dunne along with his father Michael Dunne, run a 400-acre tillage farm outside Maynooth, Co. Kildare. The land has been under intensive tillage production for years. About four years ago Norman and his father decided it was time to move away from conventional, intensive tillage and implement a regenerative farming system operating under the principles of conservation agriculture.

Cereals grown on the farm include beans, oats, barley and wheat for the animal feed market. Norman also produces hay for the equine market. The family keep a small number of pigs and sheep to graze cover crops and pasture. Participants of the Danú EIP Project and members of BASE Ireland, the focus has been on regenerating soil biology and reducing external inputs where possible on the farm. Cereal crops are grown on the land using minimal disturbance methods like direct drilling and/or min-till. Crop rotations and permanent organic soil cover systems are in place. Additionally, multi-species cover crops are used to build soil fertility and enhance soil structure, all the while providing a food source for pollinating insects.

Norman is also experimenting with Biodynamic preparations and Korean Natural Farming methods to enhance the soil biology and to inoculate seeds before sowing – "You're getting the seeds off to the best possible start that you can give them by inoculating it with something biological rather than something chemical. It encourages with the bond between the seed and the soil. It’s a natural defence from pathogens. It's like colostrum for a baby."

Since the reintroduction of regenerative farming methods on the land, there has been a significant increase in biodiversity and a return of numerous bird species to the farm - “Biodiversity has exploded on the land here in the past 3 or 4 years. There are birds here now that I have never seen on the farm before.” Norman and Michael have enjoyed seeing the return of barn owls, skylarks, sparrowhawks, kestrels, buzzards, woodpeckers, wood pigeons, lapwings, yellowhammers and more.

These farm walks are an opportunity for Farming for Nature farmers to showcase their contribution to nature and good farming practices on their land. They are a great opportunity to meet like-minded farmers and to gain an insight into the creative and inspiring ways that farmers are working to incorporate, protect and enhance nature on their land. There is a great diversity of ambassador farmers set to host farm walks this year covering a range of farming systems from tillage to dairy, forestry to market gardening, mixed stock to high nature value farming, from conservation agriculture to productive smallholdings, and much more./p>

The walks cost €10 to attend. This is a not-for-profit initiative and all monies received will be circulated back into the farming community.

Purchase tickets for this farm walk here: Farm Walks - Farming for Nature
Email: info@farmingfornature.ie
Address: Farming for Nature, C/O Burrenbeo Trust, Glebe Road, Kinvara, Co.Galway
Project Coordinator: Brigid Barry
Phone number: 087 1797352

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