August 8 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Organic Agroforestry Walk with Andrew Chilton
The Chilton family has a mixed farming enterprise in Co Roscommon. Their careful management has turned what was once a field of rushes into a productive diverse farm holding. Over the years they have been planting different types of hedgerows, field corners, orchards, a small woodland, and standard trees on the land. They have a small herd of Dexter cattle and keep bees, chickens, and the occasional pig on the farm. They closely monitor the livestock carrying capacity of the land throughout the year and adjust the stocking rate accordingly. All of the livestock are on a rotational grazing system and overwinter outdoors. They also manage a second farm bordering Lough Key which is surrounded by woodland. They keep a herd of Alpacas on this farm. The fleeces from the Alpacas are being processed in the UK and turned into duvets and pillows. All products from the home farm are sold directly to customers.
Visiting this farm will be an extraordinary learning experience, showing firsthand how a close-to-nature farming approach can be valuable for the entire farm enterprise. Andrew advocates for diversity and has been a Farming for Nature ambassador since 2022. He is also an organic farm advisor and teaches the Organic Production Principles courses for National Organic SkillNet.
