Patrick Frankel

FARMING FOR NATURE AMBASSADOR NOVEMBER 2020
Patrick Frankel runs Kilbrack Organic Farm with his partner Judith and their young family. This is a 145-acre farm in Doneraile, Co. Cork. His main focus is a wide a range of organic vegetables with 45 crops throughout the seasons, that he sales directly to consumers and supplies 26 restaurants in Cork city and the surrounding areas. He also has shorthorn cattle which he sells at 30-months, and a beech and oak woodland. Patrick has a deep interest in biodiversity, soil heath and sustainable food production. He grows in a walled garden combining an orchard with potatoes and a wide range of vegetables including leeks, kale, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, potatoes, tomatoes, french beans and salad leaves. He has 4 polytunnels that specialise in overwinter salads, and summer crops such as peppers, tomatoes and aubergines. The diversity in produce at Kilbrack is outstanding while enhancing the diversity in the surrounding agroecological system. “I am amazed by what can come off relatively small piece of land. What it gives back over and over if you look after it. The market is not filled, there is so much demand for organics, there is so much opportunity here without importing. I have faith in farmers that they will adapt to our changing climate as they are in touch with elements and will react.” Patrick and Judith are keen on educating others on market gardening with up to 50 Woofers each year coming to the farm.

NOMINATION DESCRIPTION
Patrick Frankel runs an organic farm just beside Doneraile Park in Doneraile, Co. Cork. He has beef and sheep, forestry and he grows a wide range of organic vegetables for sale direct to consumers and also to supply up to 30 restaurants in Cork city and the surrounding areas. Patrick is a great producer with a deep interest in biodiversity, soil heath and sustainable food production.

His passion is vegetable production and he grows in a walled garden combining an orchard with potatoes. He grows a wide range of vegetables including leeks, kale, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, potatoes, tomatoes, french beans and salad leaves. He has 4 polytunnels that specialise in overwinter salads, and summer crops such as peppers, tomatoes and aubergines.

For many years Patrick has sold his organic produce at the Coal Quay market in Cork joining a group of other local food producers. In addition he sells fresh produce to a range of restaurants and cafes in the area. He is renowned for his tasty salad leaves. Patrick loves talking to chefs about what he is growing at his farm and the passion Patrick shows for what is produced at Kilbrack farm is passed onto chefs to grow inspiring dishes with the fruit and vegetables from the farm. A native of the area Patrick is carving out a career for himself and those at Kilbrack as a farm growing excellent quality produce while enhancing the locally diverse ecosystem. The diversity in produce at Kilbrack is produced while enhancing the diversity in the surrounding agroecological system.
Nominator: Grace Maher, Development Officer, Irish Organic Association