Culmore background

Culmore Organic Farm was established in 2008, with the purpose of marketing organic beef to local consumers, as well as supplying some local resturants with a high quality, dry aged beef.   To date we have enjoyed a steady local market, along with the business of Arbutus Resturant in Kilrea, who have ever increasing requests for our beef.  The proprieter, Barry Dallat, is a ‘Taste of Ulster’ chef, and is always looking for a unique dish.  Barry also runs cookery classes for local ladies (and gentlemen) and following the classes, brings his students to our farm to let tham see where the beef is produced.

At Culmore Organic Farm, we follow closely the organic ethos of high animal welfare, and sustainability.  We are also committed to lowerimg our carbon footprint where possible, and to this end we have undertaken two projects recently. 

Just over a year ago we installed a medium sized wind turbine, which produces more electricity than we can use in a year (over 70,000 units in year one)

We also have a twenty acre, managed hardwood forest, planted in 1994, which sequesters large amounts of carbon annually.

On the same principle, we have a local abbatoir licensed to slaughter our beef, and a local butcher does all the meat preparation and packaging.  In total our beef travels less than twenty five miles during this whole process.  This is a uniquely low food miles figure for any food.

With declining financial returns in the agricultural sector, we recently looked at growing organic potatoes, and now have four years experience with this crop.  So far results have been most encouraging, and the potental problems of low yields, and potato blight, have not materialised.  This year we have over twenty acres of potatoes planted, with one new variety which has a very high natural resistance to blight.  Crops are looking very healthy at present. 

Our vision for the future is that we will soon be able to offer ready to cook, organic meals which will incorporate mainly Culmore Organic Farm produce.  One example is an organic shepherd’s pie, to serve one or two people, and this will be aimed at the discerning young coulpes, who are both working, but still want a convenient organic meal.

Another area we hope to address is the production of organic vegetables, possibly on a ‘pick your own’ system.  This will allow customers access to high quality fresh organic vegetables, at an affordable price.  This project will be linked to a ‘grow your own’ organic vegetable system, where customers can have access to their own plots or allotments on our fields, to grow their own vegetables.

Another project recently undertaken was the establishment of three acres of orchards, using traditional Irish apple and pear varieties, which are highly disease resistant, allowing us freedom from any chemical sprays.  These trees are already producing limited amounts of fruit, some of which can be seen on our website images.