Sustainability & Restoration
We begin with the premise that we are stewards of the earth, entrusted with this land. We engage in agriculture not for the purpose of domination, but the purpose of careful cultivation. As we work to raise healthy food, we also work to feed the land itself and thereby restore a balance long ignored by previous generations.
Tir na nOg Farm strives to apply the principles of organic farming, sustainability, and permaculture. All three of these approaches focus on the health of the land. Healthier livestock and safer, tastier produce are welcome byproducts!
We recognize the limits of an extraction-based economy. Our farm takes the scarcity of fossil fuels and mined minerals very seriously. Rather than a gasoline-powered mower or string trimmer, we use scythes and grazing cattle to manage brushy areas and grasslands. We do not own a tractor or any other large oil-reliant machinery. We also strive to incorporate rhythms of work and play that ensure our own long-term health and well-being. We believe ourselves to be Luddites in the best possible sense: people who embrace technology only to the extent that it serves us well, never to the extent that we indenture ourselves into technology's service.
We are proud members of MOFGA, the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association. Although our farm is not yet certified, we faithfully maintain an organic operation. No artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides are ever used. We abide by national and local lists of amendments and supplements approved for organic production. Even the fly spray we use on our cattle is organic, because there's nothing more pleasant than a pasture full of citronella-scented cows.
Tir na nOg Farm strives to apply the principles of organic farming, sustainability, and permaculture. All three of these approaches focus on the health of the land. Healthier livestock and safer, tastier produce are welcome byproducts!
We recognize the limits of an extraction-based economy. Our farm takes the scarcity of fossil fuels and mined minerals very seriously. Rather than a gasoline-powered mower or string trimmer, we use scythes and grazing cattle to manage brushy areas and grasslands. We do not own a tractor or any other large oil-reliant machinery. We also strive to incorporate rhythms of work and play that ensure our own long-term health and well-being. We believe ourselves to be Luddites in the best possible sense: people who embrace technology only to the extent that it serves us well, never to the extent that we indenture ourselves into technology's service.
We are proud members of MOFGA, the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association. Although our farm is not yet certified, we faithfully maintain an organic operation. No artificial chemical fertilizers or pesticides are ever used. We abide by national and local lists of amendments and supplements approved for organic production. Even the fly spray we use on our cattle is organic, because there's nothing more pleasant than a pasture full of citronella-scented cows.
Permaculture
This approach to agriculture is based on the premise that "mother knows best". The earth has evolved its own simple and complex systems for optimal health and sustainability. It therefore behooves us to observe, understand, and follow nature's lead when it comes to farmstead and garden design. Companion planting is one example of this approach: planting two or more different species together in order to improve yields and discourage insect pests. Because there is much to learn, permaculture is a lifelong process that offers us continually unfolding opportunites for improvement. We are currently experimenting with the use of edible mushrooms for soil preparation, the creation of swales for drought-resistant hillside gardening, and other permaculture projects and techniques. Come learn with us!