OGI Internship in Organic Horticulture
Host Farm Profiles
CO. CLARE
IRISH SEED SAVERS ASSOCIATION
Scariff, Co. Clare
The Irish Seed Savers Association is situated in east Clare on a hilly 20-acre site. We grow organic crops for their seeds, which are harvested, processed and packaged on site. The site includes the gardens, the orchards and the buildings used for workshops and seed processing/storage.
The work of the garden team is to sow, plant and maintain these crops (mainly vegetables with some flower and dye plants) until the seed is ready to be harvested. We are looking for an intern who would assist in the hands-on side of this work, including ground prep, sowing, weeding, and other practical tasks, as well as engage with our values of food sovereignty, conservation and sustainability.
irishseedsavers.ie
MOY HILL FARM
Lahinch, Co. Clare
Moy Hill Farm was started in 2015 and has evolved over the years. We now grow on about 1.5 acres, mainly higher value crops. All crops are grown in a no dig system. We also practice KNF (Korean Natural Farming). We have six big tunnels and two small and are building two more new tunnels this season.
The garden is part of a mixed farm of 111 acres with Dexter cattle and 400 laying hens on pasture. We have about 300 fruit trees, mainly apples.
moyhillfarm.com
CO. CORK
BALLYMALOE ORGANIC FARM & GARDENS
Shanagarry, Co. Cork
Ballymaloe Cookery School is situated on a 100-acre organic farm in East Cork, embracing a sustainable and environmentally conscious ethos. The farm provides fresh produce for the school’s renowned 12-Week Certificate students, with vegetables grown in both outdoor gardens and extensive glasshouses.
The farm is home to free-range livestock, including pigs, beef and dairy cows (Angus, Kerry, Dexter, and Jersey breeds), as well as hens supplying organic eggs. A commitment to organic principles drives continuous experimentation with biodynamic planting, “No Dig” methods, and natural pest control. On-site composting fosters biodiversity, enhancing soil fertility without synthetic inputs.
ballymaloecookeryschool.ie/organic-farm/our-organic-farm
CO. GALWAY
AN GARRAÍ GLAS
South Connemara, Co. Galway
Fáilte go dtí An Garraí Glas. It is a one-acre South Connemara vegetable farm molded in North American small scale organic farming fashion. It is highly productive and independent of machinery and oil for everything (bar transporting the veg to the customers), but we also have an on-farm roadside shop to balance that out. We focus on growing salads and fast-maturing root crops for supermarkets and for restaurants.
We grow about 16 different vegetable crops and through succession sowing and responding to market demands we have very little waste and we manage to have all our land working for us all of the time. We are based in a Gaeltacht area on the west coast of Ireland.
instagram.com/angarraiglas/
GREEN EARTH ORGANICS
Corrandulla, Co. Galway
We are the biggest online retailer of organic produce and products in the country, and we deliver to every corner. We employ over 35 people, farmers, drivers, marketeers, packers, administrators and more.
You’ll be exposed to a diverse range of production, from polytunnel growing to cutting-edge machinery use. Help us grow over 20 different crops in a sustainable and ethical way, from leeks to tomatoes and everything in between. 10 acres, 7 polytunnels, 2 tractors an array of fantastic machines and great people, that’s our set up.
We need people who are willing to work hard, love the west of Ireland climate for all its diversity. You will also need grit, determination, physical well-being, and we can promise you will be lean and fit at the end of the summer and will have accrued a healthy respect for what it takes to grow food.
greenearthorganics.ie
CO. KILDARE
MOYLEABBEY ORGANIC FARM
Athy, Co. Kildare
The farm is approximately 13.5 acres. We actively farm about 5 acres at a time with the rest in green manure ley. We grow approximately 18 different crops outside and in tunnels. The farm is owned and run by Liam with the support of two other employees (both former interns), and we host volunteers through wwoof.ie all year round.
We sell direct at our home farm shop on Fridays and at Carlow Farmers Market every Saturday and do a small amount of wholesaling. There are no farmed animals on the holding. We are certified by the IOA and have had full organic status since 2006.
facebook.com/moyleabbeyorganicfarm
CO. LIMERICK
MASTER CHEFS
Ballyneety, Co. Limerick
Ellan Farm is a 20-acre holding in Ballyneety, 10 minutes from Limerick City. The farm is owned & managed by Master Chefs, a catering company with a substantial national portfolio. Its sole purpose is to supply Master Chefs with year-round produce. The range of produce currently growing includes all root veg, brassicas, fruits & berries, salads, herbs, garlic etc.
From 2025 all our produce will be processed onsite in our 5,000 sq ft processing plant at the farm & distributed through our own refrigerated transport to our outlets nationwide. Within this facility there will also be a demonstration & training kitchen for our chefs, meeting rooms & full commercial scale vegetable processing equipment.
The farm is managed by Shirley Morrow and her partner Anthony Hartnett, both certified organic specialists with many years’ experience. The intern will not only learn from two organic growing experts but will also get exposure to vegetable processing for the end user from the Master Chefs team.
masterchefs.ie/ellan-farm
CO. MAYO
GLASRAÍ ORGANIC FARM
Hollymount, Co. Mayo
Glasraí is a 7-acre organic vegetable farm growing a wide range of fruit and vegetables. We keep chickens also for eggs. Our main focus is on soil health and the sustainability of small farms. We use a combination of minimal soil disturbance and continual cover cropping to protect soils and build microbiology and fertility. We make our own compost using biodynamic preparations. The farm is constantly evolving and improving. There are 8 people working here (most part time, including ourselves). We are a great team and plan together, eat together and weed together.
We save seeds from certain crops and experiment with plant feeds, ground cover etc to create a natural and healthy closed loop system farm (as much as practical). We are invested in seeing small ecological farms succeed in supporting families and communities, and in a way that is healthy for everyone who works there.
glasrai.ie
CO. WATERFORD
GIY IRELAND
Waterford City, Co. Waterford
Grow It Yourself is a not-for-profit social enterprise that encourages people, in Ireland and abroad, to grow some of their own food. One aspect of this is the growing of our own organic vegetables and fruit to supply our on-site restaurant. The garden has had organic status for a number of years and is becoming established as a visitor garden and is used for training and group tours.
We now also have a walled garden of c.10 acres in-conversion that supplies vegetables, pork and eggs to our restaurant, shop and a box scheme.
giy.ie
