Healthy Landscapes project

Regenerative agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that increases biodiversity, enriches soils and improves the water cycle. It is based on five key pillars:  

• Don’t disturb the soil (utilise no-till agricultural methods) 
• Keep a living root below the soil 
• Keep green growing cover above the soil
• Diversify the crop rotation (multi-species cover cropping)  
• Integrate animals into the farming system

Regenerative agriculture aims to capture carbon in soil, trees and vegetation contributing to carbon sequestration while also increasing on-farm resilience to climate variability.  

Regenerative grazing aims to increase perennial pasture species, including native grasses, while also increasing species diversity, by integrating livestock into the system. Landholders incorporate high-intensity grazing regimes followed by long rest periods, the approach increases the organic matter in soils and facilitates all-year-round ground cover, protecting soils from sunlight and erosion. This approach increases soil health and improves water retention and drainage. Livestock benefit from a consistent and complete diet, which results in improved health and productivity.

Biodiversity refers to the diversity of life forms on a property, a locality and your region. This includes the micro-organisms found in soils and water, fungi, plants, insects, birds and all other animals that live on land, in rivers and wetlands.

These life forms interact between themselves and with the non-living parts of the environment to form ecosystems. Healthy ecosystems benefit farms by maintaining soil and water quality, providing shelter and a balanced diet for livestock while assisting with reducing pests and diseases. In turn, on-farm biodiversity has the potential to connect positively with the ecosystems of neighbouring properties and surrounding bushland. 

All land managers in Macedon Ranges Shire, Hepburn Shire, Mount Alexander Shire and the City of Greater Bendigo are eligible to participate.

Priority for individual, on-farm advice will be given to properties over two hectares in area.  

Individual advice is practical and matched to landholders with any experience level and livestock including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and alpacas.