The pros and cons of opening a farm shop

This week on Organic Matters, we speak to husband and wife team, Dominic Leonard and Alison Duck, who farm 250ac near Durrow in Co Laois.

They run a mixed enterprise including tillage and livestock. Dominic explains the farming system and why he thinks sheep are an important part of the arsenal organic farmers have when it comes to managing land.

They speak about getting LEADER funding to open a farm shop and tearooms to sell their organic meat directly from their farm. They share their experiences, including the challenges of running a micro-business, and why after eight years, they decided to close it.

Produce from the farm is now sold at their local farmers market in Abbeyleix every Saturday.