We have been lucky over the last few years to be able to turn our dreams of operating a smallholding into a reality.

Our love of food, gardening and animals has inspired us to expand from a very small veg patch to now stocking Pigs, Geese, Ducks and Chickens, as well as producing most of the vegetables and fruit we need.

Plans for the Orchard are complete and work begins soon planting Plum, Apple, Cherry and Apple trees. All of the Trees will be sourced from Irish Seed Savers who propogate rare native Irish varieties.

Use is made of wild produce as well as the cultivated at Croan. Nettle Beer is a delicious Spring and Summer drink that is well worth the occasional sting suffered during the collection.

Even the decorative plants are put to use, our poultry love the seeds from the Sunflowers that we plant every summer.

May and Marge our Large Black and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, have been a great help in rooting up weeds and giving the soil a little nourishment. They enjoy a happy life grubbing in the open.

It's not all hard work, there's plenty of time to enjoy a few laughs with the more friendly animals.