ABOUT THE FARM HOLDING

Gráinne and Fergus’ farm is on 3 acres in Collinstown Village. They have cultivated a small area for vegetable growing with the potential of expanding production space to possibly grow food for the community as well. There are a variety of vegetables, herbs and soft fruits in the garden. All the produce is grown organically. Fergus and Gráinne also keep sheep on 2 acres of land, along with a small flock of hens.

Fergus is a stone cutter who comes from a local sheep farming family. He studied Horticulture in Kinsale. Gráinne also studied Horticulture and is a physiotherapist and yoga teacher.

A SOCIAL FARMING DAY

• Horticulture:  vegetable and herb growing- preparing beds for cultivation, making lazy beds, sowing, propagating, weeding, hoeing, hedge planting & laying, pruning and harvesting.
• Landscaping: Creating garden structures with willow and hazel, dry stone wall building.
• Animal care: looking after the sheep and hens; feeding animals and collecting eggs.
• Other activities: preserving garden produce making jams, chutneys, and cordials. Baking sour dough bread.
• Yoga, music, story- telling or sitting quietly in the garden.

LOCAL & COMMUNITY INTERESTS

Lough Lene (swimming facilities), Pitch and Putt, GAA pitch, shop, church garden, post-office.

SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE FARM

Gráinne, has a BSc Physiotherapy, MISCP, and has written several articles on the role of physiotherapy in addressing mental health issues and the growing body of evidence supporting the role of nature and ‘green care’ (social farming) in delivering a variety of benefits to those with mental health issues.