{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Forestry Now","title":"Farming in an Irish Forest with Brendan Guinan","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2517,"description":"In this podcast I speak to Brendan Guinan of Fiorbhia farm about what happened when he sold his hazardous waste business and transitioned into agroforestry. He explains his experience raising cattle, pigs and chickens in his neglected mixed species forest near Portlaoise, Ireland. We discuss the forest itself and his management approach, thinning the forest, creating paddocks and his system of rotational grazing. He also shares the criticism he received, his experience managing windblow, observations around nature, natural regeneration, rainfall and much more.Key TopicsBrendan explains how he used the animals to open up the understory.The general ecological benefits of using cattle, pigs and hens in forest management.How innovative methods lead to biodiversity improvements.Brendan argues that agroforestry management requires understanding of local ecosystems.The importance of balancing bacterial to fungal ratios in the forest to allow grass to thrive.The value Brendan sees in the soil itself and how the forest enhances livestock welfare.How carefully controlled rotational grazing through defined paddocks prevents damaging the soils and the trees.How Brendan brings the community into his forest.The ForestryNow newsletter signupLinksFiorbhia website: https://www.fiorbhiafarm.ie/Fiorbhia on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/fiorbhia_farm/?hl=enBrendan's Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-guinan-99395662/Read about Brendan in the Irish Indepedent at https://www.independent.ie/farming/rural-life/how-this-26ac-of-abandoned-forest-in-laois-is-now-producing-premium-meat-for-irelands-top-chefs/42273708.htmlFor general advice and information about agroforestry in Ireland: https://www.irishagroforestry.ie/Department of Agriculture Food and Marome Forestry Information including the Agroforestry Scheme at...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/y-Ns7qgeQc4APOd80Zlamk7qjqkdHoEVT6BTEG7fO4A/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84ZmZj/ZWY3Yjg1ZjZiZmYy/ZTNjMGQ5YWZlY2Jh/NWUwMS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}