{"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.\nKey Topics\nBrendan explains how he used the animals to open up the understory.\nThe general ecological benefits of using cattle, pigs and hens in forest management.\nHow innovative methods lead to biodiversity improvements.\nBrendan argues that agroforestry management requires understanding of local ecosystems.\nThe importance of balancing bacterial to fungal ratios in the forest to allow grass to thrive.\nThe value Brendan sees in the soil itself and how the forest enhances livestock welfare.\nHow carefully controlled rotational grazing through defined paddocks prevents damaging the soils and the trees.\nHow Brendan brings the community into his forest.\nThe ForestryNow newsletter signup\nLinks\nFiorbhia website: https://www.fiorbhiafarm.ie/\nFiorbhia on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/fiorbhia_farm/?hl=en\nBrendan's Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-guinan-99395662/\nRead 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.html\nFor general advice and information about agroforestry in Ireland: https://www.irishagroforestry.ie/\nDepartment of Agriculture Food and Marome Forestry Information including the Agroforestry Scheme at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forestry-grants-and-schemes/\n...","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}