Regenerative Agriculture

[Kiwi Pete]

Go for it - It's worth it

@Kiwi Pete and @Farmer Roy : I'm seriously thinking of doing the Open University Environmental Science degree before heading down to NZ:

http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/qualifications/q52#course-details

I think it could fit in well with us starting to adopt regenerative principles here as well as possibly helping me to get some consultancy work with my EA background once in NZ to keep me busy in quieter months

Does that sound sensible?

@Sheila Cooke will be the lady to contact.

 

[Sheila Cooke]

Thanks Kiwi Pete. If you're looking for a way to earn income in NZ, another way would be to become a Savory Institute Accredited Professional (see attachment for information on becoming an accredited professional.) We offer courses in the UK: https://3lm.network/events/

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Thanks Kiwi Pete. If you're looking for a way to earn income in NZ, another way would be to become a Savory Institute Accredited Professional (see attachment for information on becoming an accredited professional.) We offer courses in the UK: https://3lm.network/events/

It has been suggested to us before..
My only reservations were a lack of population base- but we do have internet....
I really can't see many other downsides

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

One thing I think would be invaluable, one of the Holistic Management courses a la Alan Savory.

There are a few different organisations running them here ( eg RCS, Inside Outside Management )
I don't even know if they have a foothold in the UK or not, but they gaining in popularity here, the US & southfn Africa.
Talking to people who have been involved, it seems a major benefit to these courses is they teach you HOW to think & give you the tools to make the best of your system, rather than WHAT to think like the Ag colleges do

Thanks Kiwi Pete. If you're looking for a way to earn income in NZ, another way would be to become a Savory Institute Accredited Professional (see attachment for information on becoming an accredited professional.) We offer courses in the UK: https://3lm.network/events/

Thanks @Sheila Cooke , @Farmer Roy

It looks like there is a course being run quite near here next June, I'll look into it. There's so much to think about in making the change here (how much can we achieve in 5 years? Would the traveler neighbours restrict our use of mob grazing? Water supply layout. Historic soil damage etc).

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Thanks @Sheila Cooke , @Farmer Roy

It looks like there is a course being run quite near here next June, I'll look into it. There's so much to think about in making the change here (how much can we achieve in 5 years? Would the traveler neighbors restrict our use of mob grazing? Water supply layout. Historic soil damage etc).

To be brutally honest with regards electric fencers going walkies etc.. I seldom need to use electricity on fences anymore.
Even though they can tell if it's on or off (as you saw with the lamb out but the other 405 still in) once you get them trained and used to grazing on command.. it becomes less of an issue than with regular rotational grazing.
I'd say give it a go
I haven't yet, just purely a sponge for alternatives to "conventional, progressive"(reductionist, command and control) style, institutionalised farming.

All the information is out there, but a formal course with a proper tutor would be advisable.
You'll quickly see why I'm writing this novel @holwellcourtfarm

 

[Farmer Roy]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=830966640416632

 

[Sheila Cooke]

You can find accredited Savory Institute courses offered around-the-world on this calendar. Click the link and slide to the bottom where you'll find the training calendar. http://www.savory.global/network/#global-network

You can also do online courses with Savory Institute and this link will take you to a 10% discount code. https://3lm.network/savory-institute-online-courses/

 

[Sheila Cooke]

Yes, there's a

Thanks @Sheila Cooke , @Farmer Roy

It looks like there is a course being run quite near here next June, I'll look into it. There's so much to think about in making the change here (how much can we achieve in 5 years? Would the traveler neighbours restrict our use of mob grazing? Water supply layout. Historic soil damage etc).

You can achieve a lot in 5 years. You can regenerate your land, increase your biodiversity, increase your stocking rate. Whilst there is a lot to think about and do as you say, you can take it onboard a step at a time, and involve your neighbors too.

 

[Farmer Roy]

http://www.rural21.com/english/curr...ate-change-lost-cause-or-triple-win-00002610/

 

[Farmer Roy]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=834180916761871

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Completely amazed how much the compaction is disappearing in this ex-fodder beet paddock this summer.
Clovers especially the red is really coming away fast through the residue, this was 4 days ago and by now the same spot in the paddock looks green.

 

[Farmer Roy]

compaction is caused by tillage

remove the tillage, you remove the compaction

simple

 

[Kiwi Pete]

compaction is caused by tillage

remove the tillage, you remove the compaction

simple

It is simple.
I was just pondering the rate of change this afternoon as I took down the back fence, the fence standards easily push in, easier to put them in now than they went in in June in the wet.
Will aim to get a bit more sheep fencing gear and get more active this winter - more subdivision instead of being lazy like last winter and paddock grazing much of the time.
Will aim to trample a lot more and stick on a longer round, last winter I didn't have the confidence to do it but this year I will....

 

[pear]

Just worked out Charlie Arnott lives 30 mins from my wife’s family. Which is basically next door in that part of the world!

I might have to take a trip on my next visit.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Just worked out Charlie Arnott lives 30 mins from my wife’s family. Which is basically next door in that part of the world!

I might have to take a trip on my next visit.

Charlie is my new hero

if you are on facebook check out his page https://www.facebook.com/CharlieArnottBoorowa/ he puts up lots of interesting stuff, or his website http://www.charliearnott.com.au/

Very into direct selling to the customer, developing relationships & the whole " paddock to plate " thing, so yeah, Id definitely go visit him

 

[Farmer Roy]

 

[Farmer Roy]

This was written in the 1940's

A life changing book

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

An interesting read folks

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11966810

 

[Dan Powell]

View attachment 615880
Completely amazed how much the compaction is disappearing in this ex-fodder beet paddock this summer.
Clovers especially the red is really coming away fast through the residue, this was 4 days ago and by now the same spot in the paddock looks green.

Interesting. Did you outwintering on beet and if so , how wet did it get and how did you go about establishing the ley afterwards? It's something I've thought about doing on some really gravelly land we have, but a bit worried it would end up poached to death.

 

[Dan Powell]

@Kiwi Pete

Cattle on fodder beet near us. Not what you'd call regenerative agriculture but the numbers look good.