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 restaurants with a high quality, dry aged beef.

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

In 2007 we installed a medium sized wind turbine, which produces more electricity than we can use in a year (over 140,000 units per year).

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 abattoir 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 started growing organic potatoes in 2008.  So far results have been most encouraging, and the potential 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.

Another area we had always hoped to address was the production of organic vegetables and this year we have carried out a pilot scheme in conjunction with Helen’s Bay Organic Gardens.  This gives our customers access to high quality seasonal organic vegetables, at an affordable price.

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.

In 2014 we took the initiative to sell raw organic milk directly from the farm. Consequently we became the first fully licensed raw milk seller in Northern Ireland. (see rawmilkireland.com)

We have also established a link with City Cheese, the only certified raw organic milk cheese maker in N. Ireland.