Small Property Landcare Network
About
Drought and fire highlighted the lack of support small property owners have in East Gippsland. These properties are becoming havens for weeds and feral animals, constituting a significant biosecurity risk. This could occur for several reasons, including a lack of money, time and awareness/knowledge. A small property network will increase skills, knowledge, and confidence in sustainable farming practices among small property owners.
R.I.R.D.C. Publication No 08/186 found small lifestyle landholders are distinctly different to mainstream commercial farmers. Many are new entrants to farming without practical skills or technical knowledge in agriculture. They are poorly connected to mainstream agricultural networks as they don't rely upon agriculture as their primary source of income and rarely see themselves as farmers. However, the research shows they are enthusiastic about learning and are seen to be doing the right thing.
Resources
For Assessing Your Soil
Visual Soil Assessment - a quick, simple and effective method to assess soil quality and plant performance
The ‘Brown Book’ - How to optimise your soils to enhance productivity (Corangamite Catchment Management Authority)
Northern Rivers Soil Health Card - A soil management tool developed by farmers for farmers (DPI NSW Government) - 10 simple soil tests you can undertake yourself
Understanding Soil Health and Watershed Function - A teacher’s manual
Why test your soil? - Soil Health Knowledge-base
Tools and systems for assessing soil health - Victorian Resources Online - Department of Environment and Primary Industries
Soil Test Interpretation Guide - Apal Agricultural Laboratory
For Assessing Your Pasture
The ‘Brown Book’ - tissue testing
Pasture Health Kit - Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)
East Gippsland Pastures - a glovebox guide to identifying pasture plants of East Gippsland [* hard copy available]
What is my paddock telling me? - a guide to identifying paddock problems in East Gippsland [* hard copy available]
For Grazing Management
RCS (Resource Consulting Service) Grazing Principles
For Horses
Action Planner and Horse Property Management Guideline
For Livestock and Animals
Small Landholders - livestock and animals (AgVic)
Property Identification Codes (PIC) (AgVic) - Property identification is for tracing and controlling disease and residue problems, locating properties, and contacting owners and industry representatives.
For Biosecurity
Backyard Biosecurity - biosecurity measures for small landholders (AgVic)
For Fire Preparedness
Website for extra resources
Every Bit Counts - supporting small farms and lifestyle blocks (LLS NSW)
*Please be aware this is a NSW website and may have different rules and regulations than Victoria. However, they do have some great resources.
Small Properties - Dream Big!!
Course is FULL but can join the waiting list
A series of workshops for small property owners will be held in 2024. An expression of interest process will occur in the next three months to find 20 individuals interested in increasing their knowledge of farming practices. The cost of the workshops is $110 per property.
These workshops will cover:
healthy soils
animal nutrition
property planning
pasture and grazing management
If you are interested in being part of this program, please fill in an expression of interest form by clicking the green button.
H.E.L.P. - Healthy Equine Land Practices Project
Thirty Participants (two groups of 15) were involved in the HELP Project in 2022/2023. It ran for eight months and consisted of a series of 5 workshops and a graduation dinner.
“Loved the course; great to connect with horse-minded people. It was on point and always relevant. Cannot speak more highly about it. Nat and Emma pulled out all the stops to create an amazing event.”
— Healthy Equine Land Practices (HELP) 2022/23
Healthy Equine Land Practices Course - soil day
H.E.L.P soil day
HELP - animal nutrition day
HELP - soil day
HELP - animal nutrition
Healthy Equine Land Practices
HELP - pasture day
HELP - pasture day
HELP - soil day
Whole farm planning for small properties
Whole farm planning for small properties
HELP - pasture day
Jane Myers Horse Property Planning day
Stuart Myers 2023 - Horse Property Planning
Acknowledgements
This project is supported by East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
