Brookfield Farm on the shores of Lough Derg, Co. Tipperary, will once again host the Field Exchange festival, a three-day celebration of sustainable farming, creativity, and local food from September 5-7.

Building on the success of last year’s event, Field Exchange has expanded into a full weekend of talks; workshops; art; craft, and food experiences that bring together farmers, artists, food producers, and community changemakers.

Supported by Creative Ireland’s creative climate action fund, the festival aims to highlight how creativity and collaboration can drive positive change in farming and rural communities.

The festival will open at Brookfield Farm, Coolbawn, Nenagh, on Friday, September 5, with a symposium titled 'Fields of Possibility' bringing together expert speakers including: author Anja Murray; chef and journalist Janine Kennedy; Nenagh Arts Centre’s Trish Taylor Thomson; and international artists Ackroyd + Harvey.

Topics will include agroforestry, creativity on the land, and the importance of local food systems in building resilient communities.

The day will conclude with a live performance by The Company of Trees, a blend of music and spoken word, and the unveiling of an art installation by Gerardine Wisdom.

The weekend will culminate on Sunday, September 7, with a sold out celebration lunch prepared by acclaimed chef, Valentine Warner, in collaboration with the Tipperary Food Producers’ Network, showcasing local, sustainable produce.

Owned by Ailbhe Gerrard, Brookfield Farm is an award-winning diverse organic farm, and a nature-friendly place for wildlife.

The 84ac farm incorporates broadleaf trees, meadows for organic hay, organic arable crops - including oats and barley - bee hives, and a sheep enterprise.

The farm is a conservation area for the native Irish honey bee and hosts farm experiences including craft demonstrations making bees wax candles and farm walks.

After a career in project management for construction, Ailbhe bought Brookfield Farm - which is located beside her family home - in 2010.

With aslew of qualifications in her arsenal including sustainable development and organic farming, she transformed the farm, which had been in tillage and was rented out long-term.

Both a climate ambassador and a Farming for Nature ambassador, she has now farmed at Brookfield for over 14 years, converting it to organic and operating under regenerative principles.

She has promoted biodiversity and soil health, developed new ideas, and collaborated with farmers, artists, and agricultural experts.

Ailbhe said: "At the heart of Field Exchange is the belief that creativity is not exclusive to artists. It's a quality inherent in everyone, including farmers.

"Traditionally, farming is seen through a lens of productivity and high inputs, a path that has led to significant environmental and social challenges, including pollution and declines in welfare.

"The Field Exchange festival is an invitation to connect with the land, celebrate local creativity, and explore how farming can become a cultural and ecological act," the Tipperary woman said.

Looking to the future, she plans to stay at the forefront of creative agriculture, dedicated to environmentally responsible agriculture and craft production.

Tickets for the first day of the symposium range in price from €30-€75. Admission to the Agrifood festival on the second day costs €20 per adult, while accompanying children up to age 18 go free.