bounty
& sustenance

Moy Hill Farm is a community that cultivates accountability for our use of the land, reverence of the natural world, and joy for rich nourishing food. All staff and interns are expected to uphold these company values.

“Subtle work is happening here, work which outlasts any box of lettuce or sugar snap peas. That is the work of healing.”

fergal

Fergal Smith is an organic farmer and educator at Moy Hill Farm, advocating locally-conscious and diversified agriculture.

Working on commercial vegetable gardens since childhood, Fergal is dedicated to sustainable agricultural systems, which includes supporting the next generation of farmers.

Moy Hill Farm was established in 2013, and for the last eight years, Fergal has been facilitating internships and on-site trainings in regenerative agriculture, agri-forestry systems, Korean Natural Farming and no-dig gardening techniques.

Fergal studied under international regenerative agriculture experts: Nicole Masters, Richard Perkins and Allan Savory; completing each of their holistic management course programmes. Key aspects of his formal training are the diagnostic and actionable skills developed in planned grazing, land planning, financial planning, and ecological monitoring.

As an ambassador of Farming for Nature, Fergal speaks on soil health and diverse farming integration at industry events and educational outreach programs. Farming for Nature is a non-profit initiative hosted by the Burrenbeo Trust to educate farmers on habitat enhancement.

Fergal is a director and co-founder of Talamh Beo. Talamh Beo is a membership-based Irish farming organisation that is working to improve regional agricultural systems and food sovereignty.

  • sally

    founder

    Sally has studied holisitc managment, horticulture and Steiner Waldorf kindergarten education. She is from Cork and grew up swimming and sailing and has always been a lover of the outdoors.

    Sally is a full-time mother of three children along with helping run the farm where her main roles have been seed sowing, packing, deliveries, accounts and feeding the workers.

  • Charlie

    market gardener and bee keeper

    After completing an MSc in Climate Change, he spent some time working on farms in Italy and North Dublin. These experiences sparked a belief that by reconnecting with our food and the land, we can foster community and build soil.

    Charlie completed the internship in 2024, and now manages the market garden and bee hives at Moy Hill Farm.

  • laura

    livestock manager

    Laura is trained in Permaculture Design and Korean Natural Farming. Laura’s passion is in animal welfare and how their holistic management improves soil health.

    She grew up on a family-run cattle farm in Cork, and has international experience working in fruit orchards. From firsthand experience witnessing the damage of conventional farming, Laura joined the Moy Hill Farm team in 2023 to better support ecosystems.

  • Jirka

    project manager

    Jirka ensures integrated project plans that improve business processes; working alongside farm advisors, architects, accountants, marketing professionals and local politicians.

    Jirka's formal education is in Business Administration and Economics. He has worked in the food and agricultural industry since 2010, managing multiple restaurants in Ireland with a passion for local sustainable solutions.

our story

Moy Hill Farm started in 2013 as a small community garden nestled into the slope of a hill. This first half-acre was completely overgrown and wild and it took a full day to unearth the little entrance gate. It was a place to work with the earth, be part of a community, and share dreams around a fire.

Fergal, who had grown up on an organic farm in Mayo, felt drawn to return to the land: grow good food and share skills with others who wished to become tomorrow's regenerative farmers. A thriving community garden and tree nursery at Moy Hill was the first seed of this vision.

With 17 acres at Lackamore, overlooking the water of Liscannor Bay, a collective venture was woven together by the original core founders.

Produce was first sold in local markets and a  Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme was set up for local people.

The hands of close friends, travellers, surfers, builders and gardeners came to share in the creation of this vision. We are forever grateful for the camaraderie and friendships that developed from this effort.

Generous donations and loans were raised to purchase another 60 acres in 2017, establishing a mixed regenerative farm with animals.

To facilitate working and living in a community we studied non-violent communication methods, hosted mediators and had experienced elders give support and guidance along the way.

We are using the many lessons learned over the past 12 years to make sure the vision of a holistically managed farm will hold true in the long-term future.

An education centre is in the funding process which will enable the training of new farmers in regenerative agriculture.