Behind the Brand – Brookfield Farm
Ailbhe’s dad grew up on a small holding in the Dublin mountains. He remembers farming in a different era, a time before rural electrification when farming was less mechanised and when neighbours lent a helping hand at harvest time, part of the old meitheal tradition that was prevalent in rural Ireland. He remembers milking every morning when young, and the impact the arrival of electricity had on the farm when he was ten years old.
In 1972 he moved to County Tipperary, where he kept cattle, horses and hens, growing vegetables to feed the family of nine. Years later he was delighted when his daughter Ailbhe took on Brookfield Farm just up the road, and he has been there ever since to support her on the journey. Together they took on new challenges, learning about forestry, food production, soil fertility, organic farming and agritourism. Farming is about lifelong learning, and both father and daughter find joy in the process. Ailbhe studied sustainable development in University College London, and organic farming for three years in the renowned Scottish Agricultural College (SRUC). She was honoured with a Nuffield Agricultural Scholarship, and lectures in agriculture at third level. At 78 her dad brings wisdom and a sense of perspective gained over many years of experience. Together they strive to bring agriculture back to its sustainable roots, producing good food for people in harmony with nature.
Caroline
Caroline Normington is an invaluable member of the team at Brookfield, helping to keep everything running smoothly in the background. As well as helping with the administrative side of things, she helps with making beautiful Brookfield Farm candles. Crafted using a traditional method, the candles are hand-dipped and poured from pure natural beeswax direct from hives on the farm. It’s a time intensive process, with each run taking 8 to 12 hours. During this time the candles are dipped up to 20 times in hot beeswax to make a thin layer, and cooled. It’s a process that takes patience and judgement, one which Caroline excels at.
Emma
Brookfield Farm is a beautiful place, where the rich landscape of Tipperary meets the shores of Lough Derg. Photographer Emma Burke-Kennedy sees the beauty in things, in both the place and what happens there, and knows how to capture it perfectly. Emma is also a yoga teacher and runs outdoor yoga sessions on the farm in the summer. Participants can enjoy yoga accompanied by magnificent lake views, gentle breezes and birds flitting overhead – a very special experience!
Farming and community
Ailbhe and her team are deeply committed to fostering meaningful engagement with farmers and local communities, and as part of this will host Field Exchange Agricultural Creativity Festival at the farm this August. This is the next iteration of the highly successful Field Exchange programme funded by the Creative Climate Action Fund which ran at Brookfield for the first time in the summer of 2022. It brought farmers, artists, agri industry experts and the public together to learn and share knowledge about organic and sustainable agricultural practices. This year’s festival promises performances, talks, tours and demonstrations, all in a beautiful setting, built around fostering a deeper appreciation of the role of organic and sustainable farming in our wider community. It promises to be a very special event!
To learn more about Brookfield Farm, the great work of Ailbhe and her team and how you can get involved, visit:
