The Healthy Landscapes: Practical Regenerative Agricultural Communities program is a partnership program between Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, the City of Greater Bendigo, A Healthy Coliban Catchment project (North Central Catchment Management Authority and Coliban Water), Melbourne Water and the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network.
This program extends the farm advisory service and other sustainable land management and regenerative agricultural programs previously delivered under Macedon Ranges Shire Council's Healthy Landscape for Healthy Livestock program.
Under new partnership, the following programs about regenerative agricultural practices to help land owners improve their land, soil, water and livestock are available:
- Individual, on-farm advice
- Webinars, workshops and field days
- Holistic Grazing Management short course
- Farmer discussion groups
These programs are open to landholders in the Macedon Ranges Shire, Hepburn Shire and the City of Greater Bendigo.
In the first series of webinars, we will hear from local farmers about their journeys in holistic farming. Following the webinars, participants are invited to meet the farmers on their properties to discuss techniques and results on September 3, 10 and 17, subject to COVID-19 restrictions. To register for a webinar or find out more visit our Healthy Landscapes webpage.
Healthy Landscapes local farmers webinars:
- 24 August, 7-8pm - Join Darren Cater from Monegeetta, a local beef farmer
- 31 August, 7-8pm - Hear from Paul Righetti from Yandoit who farms sheep, cattle and pasture raised hens
- 7 September, 7-8pm – Join Aaron Demeo from Raywood who manages meat and wool sheep, crops as well as dairy heifers
Macedon Ranges Shire Council Mayor, Cr Jennifer Anderson, said Council was pleased to extend this program and support sustainable farming practices by working with other key regional leaders.
"This partnership will expand the Macedon Ranges Shire Council's existing successful Healthy Landscapes farm advisory service to more farmers and landowners who want to increase biodiversity, enrich soils, and improve the quality of water on their properties," said Mayor Anderson.
"Healthy Landscapes aims to increase on-farm resilience to climate and market variabilities for local land-owners and agriculture businesses by helping farmers increase the carbon capture in soil, trees and vegetation while enhancing the health of livestock."
Local farmer and webinar speaker, Mr Paul Righetti, said, "We moved our farming system to regenerative because we believe it to be better for our soil, our pasture, our animals and customers who buy our produce."
