Contact

Marijke grew up in Switzerland and trained as a biodynamic gardener (Hünibach and Goetheanum, Switzerland). She has been living and working in Camphill Jerpoint, Ireland, leading the garden team and growing vegetables and herbs for the community for well over ten years. Sharing her enthusiasm for sustainable ways to provide seasonal food with young people has been a main concern of hers.

Marijke is passionate about community involvement and is the main event manager when it comes to hosting our community events.

Cornelia grew up on a farm in the Emmental Valley in Switzerland. She gives this nature-based childhood on a farm most of the credit for her grounded, balanced and healthy nature. She made an apprenticeship as a gardener and studied special education and now holds a diploma as a teacher for children with additional needs. She has lived in Ireland since 2012, working for Camphill and as a teacher in a Waldorf School. She is profoundly involved with the local community, organizing or contributing to many community events and running diverse childrens’ activities ranging from holiday camps to choirs to puppet shows and story-telling.

Cornelia and Sam and their 4 children live in Thomastown and spend as much time as possible at Ériu Farm.

Sam grew up in Ghana where his childhood experiences of “community” deeply forged his values. The whole can be larger than the sum of its parts if of everyone works together, contributing what they can in accordance with their abilities.  Sam trained in social care and spent numerous years working in Camphill Communities around the world. He has been in Ireland since 2012, where he holds a position as social worker at Camphill Jerpoint. At Ériu Farm, Sam plans to work together with the participants of the social farming enterprise, growing and processing culinary herbs.

Sam and Cornelia and their four children live in Thomastown and spend as much time as possible on the farm.

Noel grew up on a traditional mixed farm in Co Mayo. Having worked in various industries and travelled widely he returned to farming in 2006.  Since then he has been involved in organic, biological and  biodynamic agriculture. He is passionate about soil ecology, plant, animal and human nutrition and in particular the link between soil health and human health.

Noel is currently chairman of the Irish Biodynamic Association and makes BD preparations for farmers and gardeners. Part of our vision for Ériu farm is to create a centre for the association where the preparations will be made and stored. He will host preparation making days, workshops and trainings through the year where people can come and get hands on experience and learn about biodynamics on a working farm.

Other on-farm projects will include pastured poultry production for both eggs and meat.  Some vegetable production and growing and processing of medicinal herbs. Noel aims to work closely with nature to produce nutrient dense food with vitality to feed ourselves and our local community.

Markus is from Austria, where from the age of 6 onwards he helped his dad create a “sanctuary” in the countryside by making a small lake, building several huts and planting a forest. They also kept all sorts of animals, and by practicing good animal husbandry, Markus learned as a child about the relationship between humans and animals and the importance of connecting to our food sources. He and his family separated the downs from the feathers of their ducks and geese and had down duvets made. Nothing was wasted.
Since moving to Thomastown Markus has been looking for an opportunity to have a similar project which would give his own children and others such a rich and meaningful way to connect with nature. Ériu Farm will make this and so much more, possible.
In 2022 Markus qualified as a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist, which is a gentle yet very effective way to help with pain, trauma, overwhelm and much more. By creating a safe space and using gentle guided touch our bodies can heal from within.
Markus’s vision for Ériu farm is to help expand the woods, to keep bees and to have a dedicated healing centre for therapy, retreats and workshops.

To book an appointment for a craniosacral therapy session please contact him directly.