Castleruddery has been organically certified since 1989, growing vegetables in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, which makes it one of Ireland's longest established organic farms and still very much a working one. Dominic Quinn and Hilda Crampton run the ten-hectare holding near Donard, about twenty minutes south of Blessington just off the N81. It is not all vegetable beds. The land runs to old pasture, forestry, a small orchard and ground left as habitat, and some of it they have deliberately let go wilder. The growing has changed over the years. They began trialling no-dig beds in 2020, liked the results enough to keep converting more ground to it and most of the cropping now happens that way across their polytunnels and permanent beds. The range is wide and a little unusual, because they would rather try the varieties most growers leave alone than play it safe. You can buy direct from the farm shop on Friday and Saturday mornings and the rest goes to restaurants around Dublin and to other organic growers who buy from them wholesale. More than thirty years in and the farm still evolving how they grow and in doing so, continue to be among the pioneers of organic growing in Ireland.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CastlerudderyOrganicFarm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casorgfarm/

Can people visit or buy direct?

Yes. Their farm shop is open Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

Website

https://www.facebook.com/CastlerudderyOrganicFarm/

Address Summary

Donard, County Wicklow, W91 A722