David Storey organic farmer, grower, teacher, musician, campaigner and agricultural journalist extraordinaire died on Friday morning of January 20th.
Known to generation of organic farmers and especially students in West Limerick, David was a regular speaker at public meetings and seminars that looked at alternatives for farmers and especially towards conversion to organics.
As an External Examiner at An tIonad Glas the Organic College in Dromcollogher, he brought a balance of rural realism together with a passionate vision to hundreds of Certificate and Diploma students over the past decade. Together with the College staff and the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association he pioneered the development of the one year National Certificate course and the two year Diploma in Organic Enterprise which has grown in numbers and in standards by the year.
As a grower and farmer his knowledge was widespread, deep and often first hand. He produced the first and only Irish tailored book on growing in low cost polytunnells.
He generously shared this knowledge as National Chairperson of the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association which he guided through a crucial period in its formation. Later as an Organic Inspector he developed tools for avoiding bureaucracy while still setting the highest possible standards.
All of these roles fed Davidâs razor sharp mind and laser pen as one of the foremost agricultural journalists in the country. His weekly Organic Diary in the Examiner on Thursdays was factual, critical, encouraging and positive to producers and enterprises around the country.
His Country Diary on the back page of the same paper was the vehicle to take on every sacred urban or rural cow in the country. The players on this page varied from the man from RTE, the Department, the visiting cousins from the city, the cranky neighbour, the tiger husband, the posh wife, the auctioneer and of course the fast rising politician.
With Swift like ease he led on his reader sometimes with a few paragraphs of the totally familiar, only to drop one or several shocking revelations and nearly always with the twist at the end to leave us thinking.
David did with the clever use of humour what many farmers leaders failed miserably at.
He put a pro-rural, intelligent, sustainable vision of a mature Ireland without favour or apology to anyone.
His own crystal clear vision was always tempered by the practical and a healthy, self mocking sense of humour, which helped sustain him as well as those who worked with him over the years.
He frequently appealed for what he termed a âWake up callâ to those charged with policy formation. He cared deeply for animal welfare and the environment as well as for farmers.
His advice to students and young people thinking of entering farming was always positive and practical âFollow the dream however unfamiliar the landscape or challenging the terrain. Go for it! but with the two eyes openâ
Davidâs last public engagement was in November where he received a special award for his services to Organics. On that occasion his appeal again was for a serious investment in research and education towards giving us the tools and vision to farm successfully and sustainably in the years ahead.
To Davidâs wife Karin and his family we extend our deepest sympathy and gratitude for their years of support to an outstanding rural observer and activist.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis!
Jim Namara is co-author of the Herb Book Cluain Chumhra Fragrant Meadow and the Educational Director of An tIonad Glas the Organic College in Dromcollogher Co Limerick.
Photo of David Storey back row on the right, with Diploma students a Jonathan Coulston New Zeland, Adrienne Murphy Wicklow, Josephine Curtin Kilmeedy, Ita Haverty Clouncagh, Derrick Lyons Clonmel, John Horgan Freemount, Dr Sinead Neiland and Jim Quinlan Staff of An tIonad Glas.