Denise & Richard Jones of Old Holly Farm in Abbeyshrule, Co Longford are second time farmers having farmed previously in Mayo before moving to Dublin for seven years to refurbish an old Georgian house. Their search for a farm that had woodland, old hedgerows and that had not been intensively farmed, led them to Old Holly Farm, where they moved in May 2021.

They have spent the last seven months sorting out roadways, drainage, ponds, field divisions, pastures, arable areas, yards and refurbishing the old stone house and cottages. This farm consists of 26 acres of good pastureland and several acres of Oak and Sycamore woodland and an area of mixed species trees. Their overall plan for the farm and woodland is to be self-sufficient in food and fuel for themselves and their animals. Two & a half acres is to be given over to their market garden and they are about to start erecting poly tunnels and laying out vegetable growing areas. 

Richard & Denise are firm believers in regenerative farming, biodiversity, working with nature and old traditional organic methods. Their animals will be part of this closed loop system, where they aim to grow animal fodder on-site. Richard likes to work the land with horses and traditional machinery, so no supersized tractors or plant here! 

They intend Old Holly Farm to be a place of learning and shared experiences for others who seek a viable alternative to the industrial farming practices that prevail today.