Newbard Farm

26/01/2026

I didn’t ever imagine I’d find myself at a Butchers’ Convention , that’s exactly where I was yesterday.

I went because of our involvement with Short Food Chain Meat Supply project., because of local butchers., because of traditional skills that are quietly disappearing all around us.

Across Ireland, we’re losing small abattoirs, independent butcher shops, and the hands-on knowledge that has been passed down for generations. Skills you don’t learn from a manual you learn them by doing, by watching, by caring about the craft.

Today reminded me why this project matters so much. Local food systems only work when farmers and butchers are supported, respected, and connected with the infrastructure to allow them to keep going.

Huge respect to everyone keeping the tradition alive, and to Affiliated Craft Butchers of Ireland for continuing to represent and support the craft in a changing food system.

This is about more than meat. It’s about skills, people, place  and making sure they still exist for the next generation.

Support your local butcher. Ask where your meat comes from. And support policies and projects that protect local abattoirs, traditional skills, local & regional food systems.

We need to keep going.

10/12/2025

🌱 Feeding Ireland Local Food🇮🇪

For the past 18 months, a group of us farmers across the southeast have been working together to solve a problem we all know too well the lack of small, local meat processing facilities. This was made possible by a grant awarded through Short food chain supply for the planning & consultation phase.

We want to sincerely thank , , for their continued support and collaboration throughout this journey. Their backing has helped strengthen our visibility and momentum as we continue developing a farmer-led approach to local processing and sustainable food systems.

When our local abattoir closed, we were left stuck. But instead of giving up, we came together to build a solution that keeps food local and supports our rural communities. Here’s to working closely with our local butchers and abattoirs to regenerate local food systems in 2026.

05/12/2025

29/11/2025

A huge thank you to Bioregioning South East Ireland (BioSEI) for hosting such a meaningful event on Wednesday.

We were delighted to be part of it and to stand alongside so many inspiring local farmers, growers, and community projects.



For those who may not know, the bioregion movement is about working with the strengths of our place our land, our people and our communities to build a healthier, more resilient future. It’s guided by the “four returns”:

NATURAL – restoring landscapes and farming sustainably

SOCIAL – building stronger communities

INSPIRATIONAL – creating hope and momentum for change

FINANCIAL – supporting viable local livelihoods

we’re proud to be part of this network. to be working alongside fellow farmers in revitalising existing abattoirs now supported by up to 90 organic and conventional farmers, it fits right into this approach: strengthening local food systems, keeping best practice at the centre, and ensuring farmers have community-rooted processing options.

Thank you again to everyone involved, especially to BioSEI for weaving all of us together. Exciting things grow when communities collaborate. 💚

30/10/2025

22/10/2025

Ireland’s weak local food economy is not simply a modern oversight or the result of consumer preferences. Instead, it is deeply rooted in historical and structural forces—chief among them, colonial extractivism. The foundations for this vulnerability were laid centuries ago, and they have laid d...

25/09/2025

🐣 New Life on the Farm this weekend

80 eggs spread across 2 incubators & and the 8 spare went under our ladies who are doing fantastic job

Our slow-grown chicks are nearly here! To be raised the natural way, taking 80 days to reach maturity, no shortcuts, just time and care. 🐓

This gives better flavour, better texture, better for the bird & the land & of course us

Follow their journey… good things take time. 💛