Regenerative Agriculture Program Webinars and Events

The Healthy Landscapes: Practical Regenerative Agricultural Communities project aims to raise awareness in the community about sustainable land management practices that improve soil health, reduce exposure to climate risk, enhance biodiversity and increase on-farm productivity.

This program is being delivered as a partnership between Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, the City of Greater Bendigo, A Healthy Coliban Catchment project (North Central Catchment Management Authority and Coliban Water), Melbourne Water and the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network.

Events

Discussion Group: Grazing and Farming Regeneratively in Romsey

Join Jason McAinch to discuss how the property owner is managing grazing and trading cattle. Learn from other people in the region and discuss the situations on your own property.

The location of the field day is on a property between Romsey and Hesket.

Date: Friday, 24 February, 2023

Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Pollinator Farm Walk - Sedgwick: Promoting pollinators on your farm

Participants will take a farm walk to see some pollinators in action on a farm in Sedgwick, discuss where they can live and how to promote a healthy functioning farm full of diverse pollinators.

Presented by Dr Mark Hall, Biodiversity Officer for the City of Greater Bendigo.

Date: Sunday, 5 March. 2023

Time: 10am

Background information can be found at our related webinar "Pollinators on your farm: Who, where and what do they do?" to be held on Tuesday 28 February 2023.

Further information is listed below in the Webinars section or on this Registration link.

Workshop: Understanding and Managing Soil Biology on your Farm

Join the Healthy Landscape program in welcoming Declan McDonald to a workshop to share his knowledge on soils, (physical, chemical and biological) and then travel to a farm property that is starting their journey in applying regenerative agricultural practices.

Declan has over 30 years’ experience in soil and landscape management and is convinced of the intelligence of natural systems. He has authored / co-authored a number of publications aimed at improving understanding and management of soil as a living realm. The focus of this workshop is to maximise the productive capacity of the soil through promotion of biological activity supported by carefully selected fertilisers and other inputs. The aim is to provide participants with tools to leave their land in better condition, improve profitability, and reduce stress.

Lunch included.

Date: Wednesday, 8 March, 2023

Time: 10am – 2:30pm

Workshop: Equiculture in Malmsbury

Do you own horses? Would you like to learn how to graze them with a minimal impact on the natural environment?

Do not miss this opportunity to attend a workshop with Stuart & Jane Myer, to learn about Equiculture. Short for equine permaculture, Stuart and Jane will teach participants how to develop a holistic horse property management program.

Jane and Stuart Myers' workshops are aimed at horse owners that either own land (including boarding/agistment owners), lease land, or keep their horse/s on agistment/boarding (so that’s everyone who owns or manages a horse!).

Learn how to make changes in horse and land management that improve the 'lifestyle' of horses and people and at the same time greatly benefit the wider environment. A true win-win-win situation.

Cost $50. Lunch and morning tea included.

Date: Friday, 10 March, 2023

Time: 9:30am – 3.00pm

Dung Beetle Workshop - Goornong

Join us for a Dung Beetle workshop with guest speaker Karen Thomas, Melbourne Water.

Find out:

What beetles are in your area
Why dung beetles important to your farm ecosystem and how to attract more
How you can monitor and rear more dung beetles

Workshop will be followed by an on-site farm walk to find some dung beetles.

Be aware this is an outside event, you will require a level of fitness to walk around paddocks and make sure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Once registered, the Goornong property details will be emailed out 72 hours prior, and again 2 hours before the event to all registered participants.

To find out more, Melbourne Water have made their dung beetle information sheets available.

Date: Thursday, 30 March, 2023

Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Webinars

Webinar: Pollinators on your farm: Who, where and what do they do?

In this webinar, we will talk about which insects (and some other animals) pollinate flowers and provide other ecosystem services that keep your farm healthy and productive. We will discuss who they are, where they live, what they like to feed on and what they need to survive.

Presented by Dr Mark Hall, Biodiversity Officer for the City of Greater Bendigo.

Date: Tuesday, 28 February, 2023

Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm

RELATED EVENT

Register for the "Pollinator Farm Walk - Sedgwick: Promoting pollinators on your farm" event, to be held on Sunday 5 March 2023

Further information is listed above in the Events section or on this Registration link

Short courses

Equiculture Course

Do you want to improve the health of your horse and your land?

Council and Melbourne Water are offering a $100 discount on an online equiculture course from renowned equine experts, Jane and Stuart Myers. The discount is available to land owners in the Macedon Ranges Shire and City of Greater Bendigo areas.

Equiculture – short for equine permaculture – is a holistic horse property management program that promotes sustainable farm and pasture management techniques designed with your horse’s welfare and natural behaviour in mind.

The program is delivered digitally, with participants able to learn at their own pace. Fifteen modules teach participants all about healthy soil and pasture, managing weeds, mud and erosion, property design and layouts as well as managing optimal equine health.

To get your discount code, you must fill in the Expression of Interest form. The discount code is required at the point of registering for the equiculture course. Discount code will not be given out retrospectively.

Places are limited and are given out on a first in basis.

Completion of the Equiculture course can also be incorporated into the Pony Club Australia K or C* certificates. Find out more

Small Property Grazing Course

The course has been designed to assist land managers to improve their skills and knowledge about grazing livestock, resulting in an increase in soil carbon and perennial pasture species, including native species.

It is structured for small landholders (2-20Ha) with grazing livestock (including horses, sheep, cattle, alpacas etc.).

Landholders in the Macedon Ranges Shire, Hepburn Shire or the City of Greater Bendigo are eligible to attend.

The course is presented by Jason McAinch, Council's Private Land Conservation Officer and will incorporate: