Secure land for a biodynamic community farm

Ballydonnell Farm

The 60 acre property is coming up for auction at the end of July. It is situated 1.5 miles outside Thomastown , County Kilkenny, Ireland.

This farm offers the opportunity to create a platform to produce local organic / biodynamic food, offer training for future farmers and land stewards, have a place for the wider community to connect to the land and its seasons!

Help is needed to purchase this property but let us first present the project in more detail...

Lot 1

1. Why this project

We see a need in society where real life meaningful experiences -like the care for land and environment should come together with those that are in need for it. By creating a Biodynamic working farm and vegetable garden in the close proximity to Thomastown, we can answer a need in society, both for the locality, for people looking to learn and for people with support needs.

Secondly there is a need to restore land and it ecology to its fullest potential. Restoring soil that feeds plants, animals and us.

2. The opportunities at Ballydonnell Farm

Different opportunities come together on this one piece of land, and it is the connection between them that can create the beauty of the place and become a valuable asset for Thomastown locality and Ireland. Each project will be its own business but having a common goal.

A. The main farm will be operated by Ward and Marijke and will connect to their existing dairy project in Thomastown. The farm will be a family business. They will attract biodynamic students to live and learn on the farm. Local raw milk production will be started. Raw milk and especially locally produce milk is gaining interest again in Ireland. The dairy industry in Ireland is going through a rapid industrialization aiming for export. This creates the need for small scale farmers producing quality milk locally. Raw milk is legal in Ireland and has to comply with strict food regulations.

B. Sam and Cornelia will offer craft workshops and training on the farm for young people with mental health issues or people with support needs. A separate business is founded and uses the farm as a platform for their support work.

C. The development of effective Biodynamic practices and restore soil health, the basis for healthy food.

D. Open up the land for start-up initiatives that follow similar ideals.

E. The various initiatives on the farm will organize events and festivals on the farm, open to the public. They shall celebrate the seasons, and the connection to the land. Workshops on the making of biodynamic preparations, crafts, etc. are planned.

F. Collaboration with local schools, Camphill Communities,…

3. The location

Thomastown was home to the first biodynamic farm of Ireland in the 90ies. The town is home to 2 Camphill Communities, 1 craft school, a nearby Waldorf school and a range of artists and small food businesses. In short, this small rural town has a creative buzz and a community looking for real local food and real connection to the land. The city of Kilkenny is 15 minutes away and would open up a large catchment area for potential members.

Thomastown offers aswell easy access to public transport in both train and busses.

4. What is needed to create this project

The two families have gathered the substantial sum of money to purchase this property, either through inheritance, loans or donations and are able to buy most of the farm at asking price. This includes a gift of €200.000 that will make sure that a part of the land that goes into a biodynamic land trust. A business plan for the dairy farm is in place to start this project.

Yet another €65.000 has to be raised to purchase the rest of the farm. This would secure 5 acres.

The land purchased through this crowdfunding will be place into the Biodynamic Land Trust.

5. The Biodynamic Land Trust

The concept of a land trust in Ireland is fairly new and still in development. The purpose is to take land from the commodity market and secure it for the long term future that follows the trust’s principles. The Biodynamic Land Trust want the following principles upheld:

- The land is managed under holistic Biodynamic/organic principles and soil ecology and fertility is restored to its fullest potential.

- The land is used for educative and developmental initiatives in Biodynamic farming.

- The land is used to grow for and engage with the local community.

This initiative opens up land to skilled/educated farmers and growers engaging with the above principles. This initiative also abolishes the need for huge capital input every time the farm changes hands. In this way, farmers are land stewards for a given time and not land owners.

6. Who we are

The Kudiabor family: Sam and Cornelia and their 4 children . Sam will offer training and life skills for young people with mental health issues. Cornelia will create craft and herb workshops for the locality, including people with disabilities. Both have been working in Camphill communities in various countries and have vast experience in social care. Cornelia holds a diploma as special needs teacher, social care and fruit growing. Sam is trained in or-ganic agriculture and Applied Social Study

The Smis-Danzeisen family: Ward and Marijke and their 2 children also aim to live on the farm. Ward and Marijke al-ready run a small biodynamic dairy farm on the other side of Thomastown (land is leased) and will be the main farmers of Ballydonnell. Ward is a trained biody-namic farmer (Emerson College, Eng-land) and Marijke a trained biodynamic gardener (Hünibach, Switzerland) and

both are passionate about local food production and community involvement. Ward and Marijke have been training several biodynamic students over the last 6 years (https://bdacollege.org.uk/we-have-two-trainings-which-will-suit-you/work-based-learning-course/biodynamic-work-based-diploma/) and want to continue doing this. As former land work-ers in various Camphill places, they are both familiar with social farming.

We have come together between 1-2 years ago with the vision to create a place where we truly care for people, land, animals, and the environment. We work out of a holistic approach to create harmony between these elements. Each one of us wants to contribute their special skills but our common ground for the project is that:

• We farm in an organic biodynamic way

• We involve our local community/create seasonal festivals

• We create opportunities and meaningful engagement for people with mental health issues and disabilities

• We train people in “sustainable/biodynamic farming that connects to local communities”

7. Land sale by auction

As the land is sold by auction, no definit gaurantee can be given that the raised money, both from the two families and from the crowd funding will be sufficient to purchase the farm. In case the purchase is unsuccesfull, the raised money still will be put in to the Biodynamic Land Trust and used for the same purpose and a new opportunity will be searched for.

8. Contact

In case you have more questions, you like to support in a different way or you want to talk to us, please feel free to contact Ward on:

phone: 087 708 02 62