In this episode of Talkin’ After Hours Jo & Kate chatted to molecular biologist, Dr David Johnson & his wife Hui-Chun Su Johnson about David’s research and development of an agricultural management method called BEAM (Biologically Enhanced Agricultural Management) and the now renowned composting system he devised with Hui-Chun called the Johnson-Su Compost Bioreactor. This composting process produces biologically diverse, fungal-dominated compost for helping to improve soil health & ...
Aug 01, 2022•34 min
In this episode of Talkin’ After Hours Jo & Kate tapped into Dr Judi Earl’s PhD on Pasture Ecology to talk grass, and also how land managers can enhance the condition and productivity of their land through improved ecosystem function, and more effective utilisation of their pasture.
Jun 29, 2022•27 min
In this Talkin' After Hours Podcast, Jo & Kate chat to agroecologist David Hardwick from Soil Land Food. The topic for this episode is something of a conundrum for this neck of the woods... that is, how do we go about transitioning from a primarily annual & low diversity pasture system to a multispecies & perennial system in a Mediterranean climate...and why we should consider doing it? This podcast forms part of the Lower Blackwood LCDC's Project 'Pasture Biodiversity to Build Soil ...
May 30, 2022•27 min
When done right, carbon projects boost a farm’s bottom line and increase the productivity of the land. The key is carefully integrating carbon farming projects within an existing production system, but navigating the process can be confusing. In this episode Jo & Kate talk to Carbon Farming Foundation (CFF) Founder & CEO Lachy Ritchie about the Carbon Farming landscape in Australia and how CFF’s Do-It-Yourself model works.
Apr 28, 2022•30 min
In this Talkin’ After Hours Podcast Jo and Kate talk to Mark Tupman from Productive Ecology. For over two decades Mark has been active in the fields of organic/biodynamic production, permaculture, sustainability, agro-ecology and holistic management and in between times managed an orchard, animals and food gardens on his own property. Recently Mark has been working with the LCDC as a project consultant on a couple of Lower Blackwood projects - Regenerative Agriculture in Practice & Pasture B...
Mar 28, 2022•24 min•Ep. 20
In this episode, Kate and Jo talk to beef farmer, cropper & seed grower Grant Sims from Down Under Covers. Grant Sims is a sixth-generation farmer running the family farm with his wife Naomi and 4 children in Northcentral Victoria Australia. The farm is 8500 acres of dryland and some irrigation. When Grant took over the farm full time he started looking at ways to improve the life and function of the soil through biology. One of the key tools that Grant has been using to do that is companion...
Feb 28, 2022•39 min•Ep. 19
In this episode of Talkin' After Hours, Jo & Kate talk to Rowan Reid from Bambra Agroforestry Farms. Rowan is the Managing Director of the Australian Agroforestry Foundation and co-founder of one of Australia's largest and most successful Landcare groups, the Otway Agroforestry Network. Their conversation with Rowan dives into the world of agroforestry & the topic of 'trees in farm for a purpose' - the what, why & how!
Jan 25, 2022•43 min
Dick Richardson is an internationally recognised leader in the practice of natural grazing to improve soil depth and health, water retention, increased biodiversity and animal production. In this podcast episode Jo & Kate talk to Dick about his method of grazing to regenerate soils, 'Grazing Naturally', - how it works & why Dr Christine Jones recommends it.
Dec 14, 2021•36 min
Neils Olsen is the inventor of the Soilkee Pasture Renovator, and together with Corporate Carbon was issued the first soil carbon credits under the Australian Government's Emissions Reduction Fund in March 2019. In just six years, Niels used his invention, in combination with multispecies cover cropping, to lift soil organic matter levels from 2% to 10% on his beef property in Gippsland, Victoria. In this episode Jo & Kate talk with Niels about his experiences in using cover cropping to impr...
Dec 10, 2021•31 min
In this episode Jo & Kate talk to internationally renowned and highly respected groundcover and soils ecologist Dr Christine Jones about biodiversity on the farm, why it’s important and how it can impact on soil health.
Nov 25, 2021•1 hr 7 min
In this episode Jo & Kate talk to revegetation expert Brook Devine from Cape Life, on how to successfully revegetate areas of your farm & farm waterways.
Oct 26, 2021•37 min•Ep. 14
In this episode Jo and Kate welcome Iszaac Webb from the Undalup Association, a not-for-profit organisation that supports the growth & diversity of Aboriginal & non-Aboriginal communities. Zac, as he likes to be known, is a Wadandi-Pibulmun cultural custodian of the Noongar nation. Zac’s family have lived continuously on this land (the south west of WA) for generations and have passed onto Zac the wealth of knowledge of his people’s culture, including their language. In this conversation...
Sep 29, 2021•45 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, Joh and Kate talk to South Australian viticulturalist and 2019 Nuffield Scholar Richard Leask. With support from Wine Australia, Richard travelled across Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, France, Canada, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, New Zealand and the US, meeting with regenerative agriculture farmers and leading soil researchers to identify practices that would be applicable in Australian wine grape production systems. As a result of his travels, Richard concluded that if Australi...
Jul 29, 2021•36 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by Dave Rogers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Dave comes from a farming background and has a real passion for helping develop agricultural systems that are as productive as possible while minimising offsite impacts. Dave believes that “getting soils right” is one of the few areas where you can have massive positive impacts on the productivity and profitability of the farm while improving environmental outcomes. In this ...
May 26, 2021•40 min•Ep. 11
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by world leading sustainable agriculture educator Graeme Sait, the CEO and co-founder of Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS). He is also an author, responsible for over 300 published articles and a popular book, “Nutrition Rules!”. He also created the internationally acclaimed, ‘NTS Certificate in Nutrition Farming®. This course has now extended the understanding of over 40,000 farmers, on four continents. Graeme is passionate in sharing his knowledge and experienc...
Apr 30, 2021•48 min•Ep. 10
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by Mark Tupman from Productive Ecology. For over two decades Mark has been active in the fields of organic/biodynamic production, permaculture, sustainability, agro-ecology and holistic management and in between times managed an orchard, animals and food gardens on his own property. In this conversation, Mark shares some of his extensive knowledge on the interplay between the soil environment, soil biology and nutrient availability.
Feb 24, 2021•43 min•Ep. 9
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by Michelle McManus from Southampton Homestead in Balingup. Michelle, together with her husband Jeff Pow, run WA’s first pasture-raised poultry farm. Michelle and Jeff manage their poultry as part of a planned grazing program, following a small herd of cows and moved every day onto fresh, biodiverse and mostly perennial pasture. The birds are harvested by hand in their on-farm poultry micro-abattoir. In this conversation, Jo and Kate take a closer look at ...
Dec 17, 2020•28 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by agroecologist & partner in the rural change management company Soil Land Food, David Hardwick. With over 20 years’ experience in rural landscapes, farming and food systems, David & his company have developed and delivered many extension projects that focus on providing farmers with the knowledge & skills they need to move towards a more regenerative, ecological future. In this conversation, Jo and Kate take a closer look into the topic of la...
Nov 23, 2020•32 min•Ep. 7
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by local South West viticulturalist & regenerative agriculture management specialist Matt Dermody. Matt began working in the vineyards from the age of 17 & over the last 20 years Matt has amassed a wealth of knowledge and skills through work & travel in the viticulture business, also completing a Bachelor in Agribusiness along the way. More recently Matt has developed a strong passion to focus on studying and implementing regenerative agricultu...
Sep 23, 2020•45 min•Ep. 6
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by internationally renowned agro-ecologist, educator & systems thinker Nicole Masters. Nicole has spent over 20 years working throughout Australasia & North America, coaching, consulting & advising producers on the approaches, tools & thinking required to build soil & ecosystem health, food quality & profitability. Nicole has recently added ‘author’ to her list of accomplishments, publishing her first book “For the Love of Soil” las...
Aug 26, 2020•40 min•Ep. 5
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by internationally renowned and highly respected groundcover and soils ecologist Dr Christine Jones. Christine has a wealth of experience working with innovative landholders to implement regenerative land management practices that enhance biodiversity, increase biological activity, sequester carbon, activate soil nutrient cycles, restore water balance, improve productivity and create new topsoil. In her long career Christine has published more than 50 scie...
Jun 24, 2020•53 min•Ep. 4
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by the founder and owner of Soil Dynamics, Anthony Quinlan to share his view on the issues, challenges & rewards of developing a closed loop farm system and discuss the keys steps for getting started. Through his business Soil Dynamics, Anthony performs land capability assessments and consults to many organic growers, from vineyards to vegetables. He has also been making compost for over 20 years and was a pioneer in the development of compost extracts...
May 28, 2020•34 min•Ep. 3
In this episode, Jo and Kate are joined by Agronomist and Western Dairy Dairycare project officer Dan Parnell to explore what the key factors are in establishing a perennial pasture in our climate, & what is required for ongoing successful perennial pasture management. Dan operates his own South West agronomy business Agsure where he works with farmers on their pasture and soil management and his role with Western Dairy sees him delivering the Feeding Pastures for profit workshops, supportin...
Apr 30, 2020•35 min•Ep. 2
In this episode, Jo and Kate talk to consultant Graeme Hand and focus on a key element of Regen Ag which is Regenerative Grazing Management, a structured way of using animals to regenerate pasture, improve soil health and soil carbon storage of soils. The LCDC were able to bring Graeme over from beautiful Tasmania to run a workshop for their farmers and undertake some individual farm consults to assist them in developing their own regenerative grazing program. www.lowerblackwood.com.au Don't for...
Apr 06, 2020•35 min•Ep. 1
