profile

Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

Nature Restoration Law - an Irish Farmer’s Perspective

Published over 1 year ago • 1 min read

Tommy's Outdoors

Conservation and Science

Recently I had the best podcasting experience of this year. And it’s definitely in the top 5 ever! I was invited by Bill O’Keeffe to his farm in Churchclara. Bill’s family has been farming there for the last 400 years. Being a guy whose family has been moving around between cities and countries, I can’t even begin to think how it must feel to be so rooted in a place. I got a strong suspicion however that it must feel pretty good. I think, that I might actually be jealous!

Before we sat down to record a podcast episode, Bill showed me around his farm. That’s something that all farmers do when you visit their land. As in all such cases, I could sense his pride in his work and sense of strong connection to the local community. Walking around Bill’s farm and listening to him was an opportunity to make a video to accompany the podcast episode. You can find it on my YouTube channel alongside the actual podcast episode.

Nature Restoration Law - an Irish Farmer’s Perspective

Why was the farming community so opposed to the EU’s Nature Restoration Law? Doesn’t a healthy ecosystem benefit agriculture? Isn’t the availability of additional payments for alternative use of unproductive land a good thing? Aren’t the measures built into the law sufficient to protect the actively used agricultural land? To find answers to those and other questions related to farming and biodiversity I sat down (in his kitchen) with Bill O’Keeffe a dairy farmer from Co. Kilkenny.

In case you are wondering, Bill is involved with the Irish Farmers’ Association but he spoke with me very much from his personal perspective. His family has been farming in the area for the past 400 years, so without a doubt, his perspectives on farming are different from those of people who don’t have such a sense of belonging to a place. And so we talk about farming practices and their impacts on the environment, farming communities and the looming changes. We also discuss the important difference between a farmer and a landowner.

I strive to deliver the most interesting and educational conversations with the most engaging guests about the natural environment. It is my goal to continue to deliver this content at no cost to you. However, the production of the podcast requires a significant investment of time and money. So I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Support My Work!

Join the wonderful group of people who have already donated. Simply buy me a coffee!

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science

I am an outdoorsman, podcaster and speaker. I talk and write about the natural environment, biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. I am particularly interested in wildlife and human-wildlife interactions. I enjoy reading scientific papers on those subjects as much as being outdoors weathering the elements and getting first-hand experiences.

Read more from Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science
Podcast episode cover art featuring conservation photographer Tony Bynum. Split-screen design with a landscape photograph on the left showing traditional tipis reflected in still water beneath a dramatic pink and blue sunset sky, and on the right, a heads

Conservation and Science There's no other way to start this newsletter than with the first paragraph of this week’s episode description. The episode features one of the most important conversations about hunting and impacts on nature that I can remember in 10 years of making the podcast. It's not surprising though as our guest today is a long-time supporter and friend of the podcast, Tony Bynum. Tony is an accomplished wildlife photographer who spent 15 years travelling the world...

4 days ago • 1 min read
Podcast episode cover art for 'Conservation and Science' featuring a split image: on the left, a smiling bearded man in a black t-shirt against a white background; on the right, a brown and white belted cow grazing amongst lush green vegetation and shrubs

Conservation and Science When the opportunity to talk with John came up, I knew this was going to be a good conversation. A chance to discuss farming, habitat restoration, deer management and rural communities all in one episode. After the conversation, I thought it was even better than I expected. John has all those things really well thought through and it was a pleasure to hear his views articulated so clearly. John is also an entrepreneur and there is no hiding that his appearance was...

18 days ago • 2 min read
A woven wicker basket filled with freshly harvested apples sits on a wooden garden chair in an allotment setting. The apples display natural variations in colour, ranging from deep red to golden yellow. Behind the basket, a compost bin and green foliage a

Conservation and Science Happy New Year! Welcome back after my year's end hibernation. It wasn't planned and happened organically. So, I hope you didn't miss me much and that you had a nice Christmas and New Year, or if you're one of those who worked through the period, power to you! In this issue of the newsletter I have two podcast episodes for you and an announcement. First is an episode published today, which kicks off a series of episodes I'm going to be producing over the next two years...

about 1 month ago • 4 min read