FFN Festival Speakers | 2026
About Rod
Orchard Farmer • Highbank Orchards Farm • FFN Ambassador
Rod and Julie Calder-Potts run Highbank Orchards in Co. Kilkenny, a fifth-generation farm and industry leader in sustainability. Their organic apple orchard produces uniquely complex juice, certified by the Organic Trust. No chemicals, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers are used on the farm, protecting the land for future generations.
Nature-First Artisan Production
Everything grown on the land is processed into over 16 artisan products, including balsamic vinegar, syrups, and apple wine. Highbank is home to the award-winning Organic Orchard Syrup and features “Dodonus”—the smallest distillery in Ireland—built inside their old farm dairy to produce organic apple spirits and sulphite-free non-alcoholic ciders.
Tourism & Connectivity
Highbank offers passionate owner-led tours and a Self-Guided Red Gate Tour, where visitors scan QR codes to learn about the farm’s history. Rod remains deeply committed to sharing the importance of organic farming for both gut health and the environment, operating under the principle that human responsibility is key to global survival.
As a Farming for Nature Ambassador, Rod shares his experience of organic farming, biodiversity and farm diversification through workshops, farm walks and community events.
See Rod at the Festival
Join Rod at the Farming for Nature Festival to hear practical insights into orchard farming, biodiversity and diversified farm enterprises.
