In this podcast I speak to Brendan Guinan of Fiorbhia farm about what happened when he sold his hazardous waste business and transitioned into agroforestry. He explains his experience raising cattle, pigs and chickens in his neglected mixed species forest near Portlaoise, Ireland. We discuss the forest itself and his management approach, thinning the forest, creating paddocks and his system of rotational grazing. He also shares the criticism he received, his experience managing windblow, observations around nature, natural regeneration, rainfall and much more.
Key Topics
Brendan explains how he used the animals to open up the understory.
The general ecological benefits of using cattle, pigs and hens in forest management.
How innovative methods lead to biodiversity improvements.
Brendan argues that agroforestry management requires understanding of local ecosystems.
The importance of balancing bacterial to fungal ratios in the forest to allow grass to thrive.
The value Brendan sees in the soil itself and how the forest enhances livestock welfare.
How carefully controlled rotational grazing through defined paddocks prevents damaging the soils and the trees.
How Brendan brings the community into his forest.
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Links
Fiorbhia website: https://www.fiorbhiafarm.ie/
Fiorbhia on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/fiorbhia_farm/?hl=en
Brendan's Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-guinan-99395662/
Read about Brendan in the Irish Indepedent at https://www.independent.ie/farming/rural-life/how-this-26ac-of-abandoned-forest-in-laois-is-now-producing-premium-meat-for-irelands-top-chefs/42273708.html
For general advice and information about agroforestry in Ireland: https://www.irishagroforestry.ie/
Department of Agriculture Food and Marome Forestry Information including the Agroforestry Scheme at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forestry-grants-and-schemes/
[email protected]Chapters:
[0:00:00] – Introduction to Fíorbhia Farm & Biological Agroforestry - Brendan Guinan introduces his unique 100% biological agroforestry enterprise in Ireland that operates without chemical intervention to enhance the living conditions of both trees and animals.
[0:00:55] – From Hazardous Waste to Forestry: The Origin Story After 16 years running a hazardous waste business and experiencing burnout at age 40, Brendan explains how he sold his company and eventually found a forgotten, overgrown forest in 2019.
[0:02:08] – Assessing the Land: Soil Health Over Timber Value Brendan describes the state of the 25-year-old unthinned forest and explains why he saw more value in the thriving soil biology (worm castings and tilth) than in the neglected, stunted trees.
[0:04:49] – Integrating Animals: A Lifelong Farming Philosophy Drawing on 20 years of experience growing 80% of his family's food on a small plot, Brendan discusses why cattle, pigs, and poultry were always a central part of his plan for the forest.
[0:08:04] – Forest Composition: Planted Species vs. Natural Regeneration A breakdown of the site’s species, including planted Sycamore, Red Alder, and Lodgepole Pine, as well as the diverse natural regeneration of Oak, Hazel, Willow, and Rowan.
[0:10:46] – First Steps: Infrastructure, Licensing, and Initial Thinning Brendan recounts investing €40,000 in a roadway, securing a rare continuous cover felling license, and using a chainsaw to open paddocks and create fencing from the harvested timber.
[0:13:24] – The Multi-Species Grazing System & Ecological Impact Details on how cattle first cleared the eight-foot-tall overgrowth, followed by pigs to turn the soil and hens to spread waste, effectively restoring the ecosystem's balance without machinery.
[0:18:19] – Soil Microbiology & Managing the Fungal-to-Bacteria Ratio An exploration of soil science in agroforestry, where Brendan explains how animal intervention reduced the fungal-to-bacteria ratio from 60:1 to 5:1 to encourage healthier grass growth.
[0:20:59] – Managing Animal Impact & Rotational Grazing Strategy Addressing concerns about root damage, Brendan explains his use of small 1–2 acre paddocks and the importance of moving animals before they transition from "regenerative" to "destructive".
[0:24:00] – Diversification: Fruit Trees, Lakes, and Cob Houses Brendan discusses his trials with "nurse crops," planting walnuts and blueberries, and how he converted a flooded, nutrient-poor area into a one-acre lake and built a cob house using on-site clay.
[0:30:24] – Navigating Grants, Bureaucracy, and Commercial Viability A candid look at the lack of support from official organic and agricultural schemes, and Brendan’s reliance on direct sales and marketing rather than government grants.
[0:32:10] – Future Vision: Demonstration Farming & Succession Planning Brendan outlines his 2026 plans to turn the farm into a destination for training and public engagement, aiming to create a viable intergenerational model for young people in agriculture.
[0:35:27] – Critique of the Agroforestry Scheme & Advice for Farmers Brendan argues that financial payments alone won't sustain agroforestry and offers advice on choosing native species, understanding "right tree, right place," and the importance of long-term planning
Ireland