Sustainable and Biodiverse Farm Field Day makes a splash
Posted on 25 August, 2016 by Connecting Country
Friday the 19th August 2016 was forecast to be wet in Sutton Grange, and it really was! However, around sixty local people braved the weather to attend the morning session at our recent Field Day at the Holy Goat Cheese farm.
Participants see sustainable dairying in action at the Holy Goat Cheese farm.
Participants listening to Ian Higgins explaining biodiversity values at the Holy Goat Cheese farm in Sutton Grange
Whilst on the farm, these hardy souls learnt about sustainable property management, goat farming and cheese production with Carla Meurs and Ann-Marie Monda. They also explored the values of biodiversity, birds and cultural heritage with Ian Higgins from Campbells Creek Landcare group, Tanya Loos from Connecting Country, and Gerry Gill from La Trobe University.
People were revived at lunch time in the warm and dry Sutton Grange Hall with hot drinks and delicious food from Growing Abundance.
The morning group were joined by an extra crowd of around thirty people who enjoyed the afternoon session listening to six local producers – Katie Finlay (Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens), Mandy Jean (Guildford Winery), John Cable (JCBee Honey), Ben Boxshall (Farm Forest Growers of Victoria), Sam White (Sidonia Road Organics), and Clare de Kok (Pig in a Box) – talk about viability, sustainability and biodiversity on their farms.
To quote one participant: “Thanks for putting together such a great and inspiring day. It was really beyond expectation and I got a lot out of it.”
A huge thanks to all the presenters and participants for their good will and endurance in attending this event. It is amazing how much can be gained from other farmers and producers sharing their experiences and knowledge.
Thanks also to Mandy Coulson and the North Central Catchment Management Authority for their support in planning and running the day. This event was part our Connecting Landscapes Education Program with funding from the Australian Government.
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