Living Soils project Introductory Workshop

Where: Landcare Office, 45 Martin Street, Tenterfield

When: Friday 2^nd October, 9am – 2pm

This workshop will introduce the Living Soils project – how the Field Days and trials will work, as well as different levels of participation that you can have.

Basic Information

Participants are invited to:

• Learn about the Soil Food Web, natural rehydration process and restoring soil biology for Living Soils.
• Understand Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMOs)
• Learn about different compost techniques
• See the impact of IMO and compost extracts on actual soil test sites of mixed pastures
• Find out how you can use MicroBiometers to test the life in your soil and dig a little deeper.
• Find out how to get involved and stay engaged

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Living soils project offers education and demonstrations to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills to repair and transform their soils, crops and pastures biologically. This project will present a tool kit of biological options, so that you can find a match for your operation.

Learning will include an overview of whole systems thinking and approaches using permaculture design, natural farming methods, regenerative soils, landscape re-hydration, syntropic agriculture, agro forestry and the soil food web. Practical steps will be given for how to transition from conventional farming practices to biological practices, which naturally repair tired dirt, compromised and compacted mono culture pastures and return soil function to a diversity of living soils.

Living Soils is a unique project - ongoing until May 2027. Unlike our usual stand alone workshops, this is a soil improvement process that we invite you on for a nine-month journey. The project involves learning about soil life and composting techniques, while also seeing it applied in the field. Granite Borders have two field sites, one in Ballandean, Qld; and one at Woodside, Tenterfield. While you are welcome to follow the journey of both sites, it may be more practical for you to follow one, buy joining the field days for one or the other. You will be able to indicate which one when you register for the events.

In addition to the compost work on site, there will be two film nights, one in Stanthorpe and one in Tenterfield, relevant to the project themes. These evenings will include panels of local participants in creating living soils, Guy McKenzie and Lachlan Searle, as well as our learning guides, Lana Tyacke, Ron Hannah and Graeme Sait.

As part of your journey, you will learn how to use Microbiometers. You can bring your own sample in to test, and Ron can interpret further with a more powerful microscope.

Learn about Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMOs), two composting techniques, creating compost extracts and how they contribute to soil repair and landscape rehydration.

In addition, you will be encouraged to contribute to our composting piles (on site) - either by dropping your 'offerings' off at the Landcare office, or bringing them to pre-organised field day events.

In summary:

Learn about Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMOs), two composting techniques (anearobic and worm farm), creating compost extracts and how they contribute to soil repair and landscape rehydration. 

Topics for the field days will include: 

1. Soil Repair: Indigenous Micro-Organisms (IMO), information session, collection and nurturing techniques and options. Participants will learn about testing using micro-biometers, and will be able to bring in samples for testing and further analysis by two of our local soil experts, Lana Tyacke and Ron Hannah.

2. Compost and Worm farming: demonstration of 2 types of compost techniques in the field . Contribute to our composts, watch them develop, be part of the process.

3. One film events on IMO, composting and rehydration. This will be run as a Fireside Chat event, with snippets of film from the project, and a panel of participants who have been involved in the Living Soils project to generate a discussion of reflections and learnings.

4. Contribute to joint learning, through compost 'donations' and testing your own soil life with our Microbiometers.

Follow one field site, or follow both, depending on your level of interest and availability.

Each event will be ticketed separately, so watch this space to register for each event!

Sticky Tickets is set up, so you can indicate which Field Site preference you have.

The first workshop and final Fireside Chat (+films) will be held at a single event/ venue. The final event will be open to public.