Farming for Nature farm walk with Ger Deegan
The latest Farming for Nature in this area has been lined up for this weekend, on Gerard Deegan’s farm at Cloughan.
Ger is a lifelong farmer and his farm has been certified organic for more than 20 years.
Originally a dairy farmer, Gerard transitioned to a mixed beef and forestry enterprise in 2012.
There are now 100 acres of forestry on the land – 50% hardwood and 50% softwood.
Gerard is an advocate for diverse forestry systems – he practises continuous cover forestry and has incorporated wildlife strips between rows of trees.
There are approximately 60 different species of trees on the farm – including Norway spruce, Scots pine, Larch, Douglas Fir, Ash, Oak, Sycamore, Beech and many more. Gerard won the RDS Farm Forestry Award in 2019.
Additionally, he manages a small suckler herd producing organic beef. He also keeps bees, producing honey for neighbours and friends.
Gerard holds a holistic outlook on his farm, understanding and valuing the importance of every living creature on the land – from the microscopic soil fungi to the cattle, from the bees to the oak trees.
“The bees are a lesson in life. They have taught me a lot about nature. How we are all connected, and how everyone has a role to play, no matter how big or small that role may be.”
An advocate for the importance of community, Gerard is involved in Social Farming and a member of Leitrim Organic Farmers Coop since 1990.
The 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.
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.