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RegenWA newsletter
April 2024
Welcome to the April edition of the RegenWA newsletter and the Noongar season of Djeran - a time of red blossoms 🌱.
We have been very busy behind the scenes and have some exciting announcements to make which we are pleased to share with you throughout this newsletter! We have lots coming up over the next few months and you can catch us at the upcoming Ag institute careers night and the Gidgegannup small farm field day, as well as other events shared in this edition of the RegenWA newsletter!
Have an upcoming event? Want to share your story or find out more information? Contact us at info@regenwa.com, @regenwa on Twitter/X, @regenwa on Instagram or visit our website.
REGENWA ANNOUNCEMENTS
RegenWA becomes a Company Limited by Guarantee and a member of the Grower Group Alliance
We are pleased to announce that RegenWA has been classified as a Grower Group Member [voting] of the Grower Group Alliance as of 25 March 2024. Forming strategic alliances like this enhances our collaborative approach to support the application of evidence-based practices that generate on-farm natural capital with beneficial outcomes for the environment, and farming enterprises.
This was made possible through Perth NRM recently establishing a separate Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) from which to run the for-purpose RegenWA program, which is governed by its own Constitution and Board. RegenWA’s Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and guiding the organisation’s long-term strategic vision, priorities, policies and oversee the governance aspects of the organisation. Read more in the ‘About us’ section of our website.
We will send a follow-up communication with more details about this new structure soon.
New RegenWA Website launch!
Over the last few months we have been working on developing a new and improved website which is now live! We have created pages for those who are getting started on their regenerative journey, a page for conscious consumers and have collated an abundance of resources to read, watch and listen covering a range of regenerative topics. Check out the new website here.
2024 Regenerative Agriculture Events EOI
RegenWA, in partnership with Lotterywest, are pleased to present the Regenerative Agriculture Events as a part of the Restoration Impact Framework project, a Collective Impact approach. Groups or individuals are invited to apply to host a Regenerative Agriculture event in partnership with RegenWA and receive up to $2,000 (ex GST) to go toward event costs. The events can be held in the form of a field walk, workshop or webinar and must cover topics that explore evidence based regenerative agriculture, sustainable food production and logistics or sustainable food provenance. Find out more and submit your EOI application here.
RegenWA is on Facebook!
Following on from your feedback in our 2023 survey, we have recently created a RegenWA facebook page! Visit our page and give us a like to keep up to date with upcoming events, news and opportunities.
We encourage you to send us your farming photos or videos so we can share with the RegenWA community online. Send through DM to our social media pages, or via email at info@regenwa.com
REGENWA EVENTS
Improve your property in Perth’s peri-urban areas – addressing water quality, soil health, fire management, and biodiversity.
Don’t miss this afternoon workshop led by landcare and sustainable gardens expert, Chris Ferreira. The workshop will be held on Saturday May 4 at the Kalamunda Community Centre from 1-4pm. Get ready to dive into valuable insights on managing your property sustainably!
We'll be addressing a range of topics including improving soil health and water quality, protecting and enhancing bushland and native vegetation, managing stock, and tackling threats to your property such as weeds, pests, dieback and fire.
Plus – door prizes worth up to $200 to be won!
Presented by the Shire of Mundaring, City of Kalamunda, the Forever Project and Perth NRM. This project is supported by Perth NRM, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government State NRM Program.
Landcare Checks In - Revegetation on Farms
Join WALN, Perth NRM and RegenWA for an informative Landcare Checks In discussing Revegetation on Farms on Tuesday April 30 from 1.30-2.30pm on zoom.
Hear from Louise Tarrier (CEO of Carbon Positive Australia), Zoe Johnson (landholder in the Southwest – Healthy Estuaries WA), and Dr Geoff Woodall (native plant agronomist and revegetation industry expert) on topics such as:
- Practical planting methods, tips and tools
- Understanding soil types, conditions, and appropriate species
- Benefits and challenges on starting a reveg project
- Where to find funding and support?
This event is supported by WA State NRM Program and the National Landcare Network. This event was also supported by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation through their Soil Wise Program. Soil Wise is funded by the National Landcare Program Smart Farms Small Grants – an Australian Government initiative. It is supported by Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program.
Landcare Build Skills - Communities of Practice
Join us for a collaborative online workshop with WALN on Tuesday 23rd April from 1 - 2:30 pm on zoom as we take a deep dive into the framework around developing a successful and coordinated Community of Practice (COP).
Guest speakers will include Dr. Kristin Exeter, National Landcare Network’s Partnership Manager who will provide an overview of the guiding principles and ideas around a COP and why they can be so incredibly valuable in the community landcare and environmental space.
We will also have presentations from Kate Tarrant from Lower Blackwood LCDC and Tam Connor from The Mulloon Institute, who will share their knowledge around the design and development of their COP programs, key learnings, helpful hints and tips around building a beneficial COP.
This event is supported by WA State NRM Program and the National Landcare Network. This event was also supported by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation through their Soil Wise Program. Soil Wise is funded by the National Landcare Program Smart Farms Small Grants – an Australian Government initiative. It is supported by Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program.
NEWS
RegenWA facilitated a get-together with six farmers to chat about their experience with regenerative farming and the highs and lows of their journey. Agroecology consultant, Col Bowey, was there to provide expert advice to help the farmers overcome challenges and explore practical solutions. Read more here.
Thirty people gathered in Perenjori for the Foliar Nutrition for Broadacre Farming Workshop, facilitated by Joel Williams and organised by Yarra Yarra CMG. The day was an opportunity for the farmers to take practical information back to the farm and trial new methods in their systems. Read about it here.
RegenWA and Perth NRM engaged with Minister for Agriculture and Food, Hon. Jackie Jarvis MLC last month about regenerative agriculture and natural resource management in the context of Western Australian food systems. Read more about the meeting here.
What do you get when the Mulloon Institute brings buckets, ping pong balls, pipe cleaners, laser levels….and a wealth of knowledge captured in an organised course? A brilliant 2 day bootcamp for harnessing the water cycle to improve landscape functions in a saline context! Visit the full article here.
Stuart McAlpine, RegenWA chair and member of the Liebe Group, wrote this article for the Liebe Group newsletter where he shares his experience of having two opportunities to discuss regenerative agriculture on the global stage! Read the full article to hear about his international experiences here.
OPPORTUNITIES & SUPPORT
The NAB Foundation Community Grants program provides funding of up to $25,000 for local projects that help communities withstand and recover from natural disasters. Applications will close on 30 April 2024, with funding awarded in June. For more info and to apply visit their page here.
Community Stewardship Grants are available annually to support community-based projects that serve to protect and restore the local environment, enabling local community groups to undertake stewardship of natural resources in their local area. More information can be found here.
The Elders annual grant program supports initiatives that will make an impact in your community. The Project supports initiatives that provide sustainable, tangible and long-term benefits with positive outcomes for Australian rural, regional and remote communities. Find out more here.
The Gallagher and Landcare Australia Electric Fencing Grants provide support for conservation and biodiversity protection projects aligned with the priority areas of Conservation Exclusion/Inclusion Fencing and Riparian Protection and Farm Dam Restoration on agricultural land. Find out more here.
This survey aims to understand how regenerative agriculture is defined among WA farmers, as well as the specific practices being adopted. To complete the survey or find out more details and how your responses will contribute to CSIRO research, visit the information page here.
Young Farmers Connect need your help to understand the small scale farming sector in Australia. This survey will provide vital information to inform industry, business and government decisions that will assist our farming communities and businesses into the future.
Grain farmers’ perceptions of regenerative agriculture and their farming practices is the focus of a survey led by Southern Cross Uni. The survey has the support of the GRDC as part of their project Regenerative Agriculture: Understanding the intent, practices, benefits and disbenefits. Complete the survey here.
This research aims to provide a way to measure the human influence on soil security. By completing this evaluation, your insights will help the Australian Farm Institute and University of Sydney uncover the complex relationships between farmers, farming practices, and soil security. Find out more here.
OTHER EVENTS
- DPIRD Carbon Farming workshops and events
- Ag Institute Australia careers night Perth; 24 April 2024
- Lower Blackwood LCDC Plan your Farm Landscape; 16 - 21 May 2024
- Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day; 26 May 2024
- Lower Blackwood LCDC Reboot your Grazing online course; starts 18 July 2024
If you have upcoming events, or see an event the RegenWA community would be interested in, make sure you hit us up on info@regenwa.com, @regenwa on Twitter, @regenwa on Instagram or on our website.
REGEN ONLINE
Lower Blackwood LCDC has a podcast 'Talkin after Hours' which features conversations all things regenerative with experts to those who are farming regeneratively! Check it out here!
Tune into this podcast with renowned author and farmer, Matthew Evans, as he talks about his engaging speaking tour across five regional WA communities and about the everyday importance of soil, referencing his 2021 publication of the same name.
RegenWA Network Membership
We ask all our members to share this newsletter with their contacts and community groups and invite growers to register (no cost) regardless of what type, size, location, interest, and knowledge level of biological farming.
A diverse community is a strong, healthy community.
RegenWA is supported by Perth NRM through funding from Lotterywest, Commonland and Soil Wise.
Soil Wise is funded by the National Landcare Program Smart Farms Small Grants – an Australian Government initiative. It is supported by Healthy Estuaries WA – a State Government program.
