A family-run organic farm in the Slieve Aughty Mountains will open its gates later this weekend to give farmers and the wider public an insight into how food production, biodiversity and a diverse range of farm enterprises can work together.
The Farming For Nature Farm Walk with the Muller Family will take place on Saturday, 26 September from 2pm to 4.30pm in Feakle, Co. Clare. The walk will explore the family’s whole-farm approach to organic farming, with a focus on how livestock, horticulture, seed production, tillage, forestry and beekeeping are integrated into one farming system.
The Muller family farm on the wet grasslands of the Slieve Aughty Mountains, within the Hen Harrier Special Protection Area. Their certified organic farm is managed according to biodynamic principles, with a strong emphasis on working with the natural characteristics of the land rather than trying to work against them.
The farm supports a wide range of livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, horses, hens, ducks and turkeys as well as bees. The animals play an important role in the system, grazing natural vegetation and contributing fertility to the soil. The family also grows fodder and cereals for winter feed and uses draft horses for ploughing where possible, helping to keep external inputs to a minimum.
Alongside livestock, the Mullers grow organic vegetables and heritage vegetable seeds for Irish Seed Savers. The farm also has a heritage orchard with apples, pears and plums, while produce including meat, eggs, milk, yoghurt and cheese is sold directly to the local community. This diversity is central to the way the family farms, with different enterprises supporting and complementing one another.
The farm’s wet and species-rich grasslands are particularly important for biodiversity, providing habitat for a range of wildlife within the Hen Harrier Special Protection Area. Native woodland along the river also provides an important habitat and adds another layer of diversity to the farm landscape.
The upcoming walk will give visitors the opportunity to see this approach first-hand, with the family guiding participants around the farm and discussing the livestock, crops, habitats and practical decisions involved in managing the land. The event is designed as an interactive knowledge exchange, giving farmers the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the challenges and opportunities of farming with nature.
The Muller Family are long-standing members of the Farming For Nature Ambassador network, sharing their experience of organic farming and biodiversity with other farmers and the wider community.
The Muller Family Farm Walk takes place on Saturday, 26 September 2026, from 2pm to 4.30pm in Feakle, Co. Clare. Tickets cost €12 and the exact farm location will be sent to ticket holders during the week of the event. The walk will take place across working farmland so suitable footwear and clothing are recommended. Dogs are not permitted.
