162: Sheep, Soil and Biodiversity with Suzanna Crampton

The impact of farming on nature is one of the most contested subjects. The negative impact on biodiversity and soil health is juxtaposed with food security and benefits to certain species of wildlife. But does it have to be one or the other? Join me for the conversation with Suzanna Crampton who is one of the most recognisable figures in Irish agriculture. She graduated from Sterling College in Vermont, where she studied agricultural and environmental sciences and learned about farming that works with nature, not against it.

I was delighted to accept Suzanna’s invitation to her farm to record this episode in person rather than online like most of the episodes. We started the day with a walk around the farm where she shared her encyclopedic knowledge of nature, explaining how the lifecycles of different species of plants and animals create complex natural processes. I also had the opportunity to meet the ‘girls,’ as Suzanna fondly refers to her famous flock of dark brown Zwartbles sheep.

It would likely take a substantial blog post to describe all the wonderful and interesting things that Suzanna showed me on her farm before we sat down in her office to record the podcast. It would take another blog post to talk about Suzanna’s many other talents, as she’s also an accomplished writer, photographer and woollen blanket designer, among other things. After listening to this episode I encourage you to visit the Zwartbles Ireland website where you can learn more about Suzanna’s farm and her work.