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Brigid speaks to Kim McCall about why and how he makes biochar. Kim and his wife Mireille own a 214-acre mixed livestock stock farm in Calverstown, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare with a herd of 75 pedigree suckler cows, a flock of 80 sheep, as well as a few pigs in the summertime.  

James Gilmartin is a 7th generation mixed farmer. He keeps a suckler herd and a small herd of Dexters, as well as a small flock of sheep. Part of his farm is commonage and a very important High Nature Value habitat for various species, including the endangered Marsh Fritillary butterfly. 

Maurice Deasy farms 120 acres in northwest Tipperary. He grows heritage Irish grains to preserve their genetic diversity, and uses them in his own brewery on the farm. He also has 20 acres of mixed woodland and wetland through his farm.  He tells Brigid how he farms with nature in mind. 

Aonghus Ó'Coistealbha is a market gardener from Connemara Co. Galway, and he owns 'An Garraí Glas',  a 1-acre farm where he grows chemical-free vegetables including lettuce/salad leaves, onions, tomatoes, radishes, herbs and more. A tremendous amount of vegetables are grown from a small space, not to mention a challenging landscape with plenty of stone and a strong Atlantic prevailing wind.  Aonghus is particularly interested in regenerative farming; composting, soil health and building fertility is of utmost importance to this farming system. 

Gearoid Maher farms 80 cows on 80 hectares in Co.Limerick. He tells Brigid how he manages to operate an economically successful farm while restoring nature on his land. 

Jim has a 16 acre hill farm in Clare where he intensively grows vegetables and fruit.  He tells Brigid why homemade compost is the backbone to his farm, and how it works with nature to boost fertility.

Colm talks to Brigid as part of Farming for Nature's "Ask the Farmer" series. Here he explains in detail how - and why - he changed from an intensive farm, now farms with nature in mind.  (Please rate, review and share this pod!)

James Ham of Moyvore, Co. Westmeath is one of the last farmers in his county to use traditional technique of hedge laying. He farms 128 acres with his wife Martina, and their land is 50% woodland, with the rest grass and spring barley.  He talks to Brigid about trees, coppicing and hedgerows. James Ham's profile here. Farming for Nature website here. Contact Brigid [email protected] or go here. Farming for Nature on twitter, facebook and instagram.

Eoghan has a farm of 73 acres (including 40 acres of mountain commonage) overlooking the Atlantic near Eyeries on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork. For the last 12 years he has given 30 acres over to nature, mostly in the form of highly species-rich native Atlantic temperate rainforest. Please rate & review the pod, and spread the word! Eoghan - http://www.eoghandaltun.com Farming for Nature- https://www.farmingfornature.ie/nominees/eoghan-daltun/ Contact Brigid - [email protected] Twitter - https://twitter.com/farmfornature

Aoife Reilly of Glasraí Farm owns a 7.5-acre farm in Hollymount, Mayo, with her husband, Joe. They employ seven people, and nature is intrinsic to what they do.   The farm is highly productive not only in terms of food production but in terms of soil health and wildlife. There are three ponds, mixed hedgerows and a variety of trees, all of which provide habitats for wildlife. Aoife's farm - https://www.glasrai.ie Farming for Nature - https://www.farmingfornature.ie Email: [email protected] Address: Farming for Nature, C/O Burrenbeo Trust, Glebe Road, Kinvara, Co.Galway Project Coordinator: Brigid Barry Phone number: 087 1797352

Cathal Mooney owns Heather Hill Farm in Donegal, where he produces pasture-raised turkey, pasture-raised chickens, lambs and eggs and wildflower honey.  He says, "Our goal is to produce local food for the community. We want our customers to become friends and come to the farm to see how their food is produced.” Guest - Cathal Mooney Presenter - Brigid Barry

Donna Mullen has a 43-acre farm in Meath, and she's found different ways to make her farm a magnet for seven bat species.  She explains what she's done and how any farmer across Ireland can do the same... Guest - Donna Mullen Presenter - Brigid Barry, Farming for Nature Contact - [email protected] Twitter @farmfornature