Cotter Bros Firewood Open Farm Day

The Cotter Bros Firewood Open Farm Day aims to provide practical information for firewood producers and the public on the processes and techniques involved in producing high quality firewood. The Cotter’s are also proud to announce the launch of Cotter Organic Lamb at the event by a local celebrity chef.

This free-to-attend event take places on August 29th on the Cotter Farm outside Abbeyfeale, West Limerick (Eircode V94 A3H3 Loc8 Code QY9-31-B53). Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about best practice in the industry and meet with experts relating to firewood production. After the event catering will be provided where attendees can get the first taste of Cotter Organic Lamb.

Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss and Air Quality have rightly become key issues of our time. The main purpose of the day is to demonstrate to firewood producers, policymakers and the public how high-quality dry firewood can be produced in Ireland. This is important as studies have shown that burning wet firewood in old stoves and open fires can contribute to poor air quality whereas burning dry firewood in modern Eco-design labelled stoves can reduce Particulate Matter emissions by 80 to 90%; this would go a long way towards meeting EU Air Quality standards.

This exciting event will include live demonstrations of firewood machinery involved at all stages of the production cycle; cutting, cleaning, weighing, packaging; including remote controlled teleporters. The event will also feature panel discussions with other WFQA certified producers and various guest speakers giving their perspective on topics including raw material sourcing, firewood processing, drying techniques, quality assurance, costs & challenges, marketing and the future of firewood.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about best practice in the industry and meet with experts relating to firewood production. After the event, catering will be provided where attendees can get to taste Cotter Organic Lamb.

The Cotter farm was originally a dairy farm which converted to beef in the mid ‘90’s and then to sheep in the mid 2000’s. Due to poor market returns the decision was made to convert to Organics in 2014. Profitability improved due to direct subsidies but the return from the market was poor due to an under-developed supply chain. ‘We were producing really good quality organic lamb but most of it was ending up in the conventional lamb market’ according to Nick Cotter, ‘this is really bad because a lot of people are looking to buy meat that is produced in an environmentally sustainable way; 100% grass-fed; organic and raised on a farm rich in biodiversity and wildlife. By starting Cotter Organic Lamb with assistance from our local Leader group West Limerick Resources, we hope to overcome this problem’.

From next month, people will be able to go online and buy Cotter Organic Lamb, craft butchered and either collect it from the farm or have it delivered to their door, anywhere in Ireland.