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    XmasSquareSouthern New England Landcare Ltd will hold it's Annual General Meeting from 5.30 - 6.00 pm on Thursday 30th November 2017 at the Uralla Community Centre, Hill St Uralla. All members are invited to attend, and stay on afterwards for the annual Christmas function, where members and friends can enjoy...

    • Discussion on the Australian Government’s new National Landcare Program and Smart Farms Grants.
    • 2017 John Winter Irving Bequest recipient announced.
    • 2017 Coordinator’s Choice Award, and
    • Festive fnger food and drinks until 8.30 pm.

    Real Australian energy policy leadership this week has been shown by the independent Federal member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, says Starfish Initiatives.

    BushForBirdsImageSmallAre we ‘closing the gaps’ in habitat? So we, our kids and grandkids can continue to experience the wonder of our native fauna?

    Join us on 25th November 2017 at a field event to find out:

    AlburyConferenceLogo

    SNELandcare has made available three subsidies to the value of $550 (the cost of conference registration) to the first three members who would like toattend the State Landcare and LLS Conference and Awards in Albury from 25-27 October 2017.

    DerekSmithFDNew England North West Landcare is offering organisations, groups and individuals the opportunity to apply for grants to support events, training or capacity building activities that increase community resilience. CLOSING MONDAY 19th OCTOBER!

    SerratedTussockNew England Weeds Authority in conjunction with the Weeds Society of NSW and the NSW Department of Primary Industries will host the 19th NSW Weeds Conference at the University of New England, Armidale from 16 -19 October 2017.

    Image - Serrated Tussock is a 'Weed of National Significance'.

    The Chairman of New England Weeds Authority, Councillor Mark Dusting said “we are delighted to be hosting such a prestigious conference that will bring together delegates from not only across the State but from interstate as well. With the recent introduction of the new Biosecurity Act 2015, and the fact that the financial impact of weeds on agriculture alone costs approximately $2.5 billion a year in lost production and an estimated further $1.8 billion annually in control activities, there has never been a more important time to come together to meet the many and varied challenges faced by weed professionals and the industry in general.

    Photo by Scott Webb on UnsplashSmallJoin everyone at 10:00am on Sunday 17th September at the Creeklands Cycleway off Elm Avenue, near UNE for a friendly, social ride. This is suitable for riders of all ages and abilities. Then, join us for an Armidale Urban Rivercare Group planting PLUS morning tea and BBQ lunch provided by Armidale Dumaresq Lions (gold coin donation).

    The ride is approximately 6km long, all on the Creeklands Cycleway (no road riding). If that’s too far for you, join us at any point along the Cycleway! We will be riding past the Farmers Markets at around 10:15-10:20am.

    All riders that make it to the end can go in the prize draw, with the grand prize being a voucher from the Armidale Bicycle Centre worth for over $400! Download a flier here!

    South Armidale KoalaAs part of the joint 2015-17 CWC/SNEL Quollity Koala Corridors and Questions Project, funded by the NSW Environmental Trust, eleven properties in the corridor between Dangars Falls and Tilbuster were surveyed for koalas during summer 2015-16. As a result, nine of these properties revealed evidence of recent koala activity, or the actual presence of at least one koala.

    JeffAndMichelleFor many of us, where we find ourselves on any given day may not resemble where we thought we would be when we started out on our journey.
    When Jeff Pow purchased Southampton Homestead in 2006, he started with a Bed and Breakfast and a weekend getaway. Today he and his wife Michelle run Western Australia’s only vertically integrated pastured poultry business.

    “The business has grown through boldness, resilience and hope,” says Jeff.

    After starting full- time farming in 2011, using regenerative farming principles and practices, the Southampton Farm is an amazing multi enterprise farming business based on perennial pastures. All this was recovered from a pine plantation which had been cleared before Jeff bought the property.

    DSC 0165SmallSouthern New England Landcare will hold the first field day of its kind in the Southern New England region for farmers and students in late August.

    A Guyra property is currently producing sprouted barley as an alternative green feed, and will be hosting a field day from 09:30 am on Friday the 25th of August 2017.

    Participants will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss the potential of green fodder technologies to improve livestock productivity in all conditions and its use as supplementary feed.

    Derek Smith, a current owner and operator of the technology said, “This event is the perfect opportunity for people to see first-hand how this option may be able to fit into their business.”

    “We’ll be demonstrating how we here at Working with Nature, are adopting this technology into our system, suiting it to all types of livestock in all types of conditions,” he said.

    BrookeLarkOnUnsplashSMembers and friends of SNELandcare are cordially invited to the launch of the new Landcare office located at Suite 10 Hanna's Arcade, 128 Beardy Street Armidale. The celebratory launch will take place from 4pm to 6pm on Thursday 31st August.

    Executive Officer, Mrs Karen Zirkler, said, "The move has already made us much more accessible to the community, and we are seeing more people drop in to check it out."

    Anyone wishing to come along to the launch are asked to please RSVP using the sticky tickets registration process so we can cater appropriately.

    The team are very excited about the new premises and wish to thank the management of Hanna's for negotiating such a lovely new location and supporting our not-for-profit organisation in doing so.

    JeffPowSmallSquare2Join us in Guyra for lunch with Jeff Pow - co-founder of Southampton Homestead in Western Australia and winner of the 2016 Australian Government Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Award & 2016 National Landcare Awards ‘People’s Choice’.

    Download a copy of the flier here.

    Jeff Pow is co-founder of Southampton Homestead in Western Australia and winner of the 2016 Australian Government Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Award & 2016 National Landcare Awards ‘People’s Choice’.

    Hear how Jeff Pow and Michelle McManus set up Western Australia’s only vertically integrated, beyond organic, pasture-raised chicken and duck operation.

    On 120 acres near Balingup, Southampton Homestead produces chickens and Muscovy ducks that are hand-reared on perennial pastures, insects and sunshine.

    The birds are harvested and prepared by hand in the custom-built poultry processor – a modern, fully equipped and approved micro-abattoir and butchery room.

    Southampton Homestead is part of a leading trend in farming that is reclaiming the terms of trade – taking back responsibility for the growing and processing of all the food on the farm, and bring it directly to the community.

    Jeff believes in farming in an ethical, regenerative and profitable way. He actively shares the story in the hope that he can inspire our customers, and support others in reconnecting to ecological farms, farmers and good food.

    Also screening - Polyfaces: a world of many choices.

    Set amidst the stunning Shenandoah Valley in northern Virginia, ‘Polyface Farm’ is led by the “the world’s most innovative farmer” (Time). It uses no chemicals and feeds over 6,000 families and many restaurants and food outlets within a 3 hour ‘foodshed’ of their farm.

    Tickets / RegisterA Day with Jeff Pow

    TreesSmallFarmsFBNative vegetation provides significant benefits for domestic livestock, native wildlife and ecosystem health... even on small farms.

    Southern New England Landcare now has funding for smaller landholders in the Armidale, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha areas to plan and undertake revegetation projects that suit their individual needs, thanks to a new partnership project with the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services.

    Small properties <200 hectares are eligible and up to a total of 50% of the total project costs is available. In kind contributions from successful applicants is expected. Applications close 5pm Friday 22nd September 2017. Please call 02 6772 9123 or email us here.

    FarmBasedTourismMemberMusterSquare

    Ever wondered how you might profit from sharing the beauty or biology of your farm? Or how you might go about using your farm cottage for paying visitors? What’s this YouCamp thing? What are the options? And does it pay?

    From 5.30 - 7.30 pm on Wednesday 23rd August, our quarterly Member Muster will focus on farm-based tourism. Join us for an evening on the opportunities and challenges, with guest speakers:

    James Gresham from Glen Elgin adventuring in YouCamp.

    Lucy Frizell - Wollomombi grazier who have set up their FarmStay Waterfall Way Accommodation - with extras.

    David ThompsonRegional Development Australia.

    A Q&A session will follow.

    In addition, SNELandcare member groups will have a chance to update everyone on upcoming activities and your Local Landcare Coordinators will provide information on the latest landcare funding and project opportunities.

    All welcome - members are invited to fill up their vehicle with friends or neighbours and make the trip worthwhile!

    A light supper will be served and seating is limited so be sure to RSVP and reserve your seat soon. This is a free event. More information and bookings here.

    This event is part of the $25 million of National Landcare Programme investment to boost farm gate productivity and improve environmental health across NSW. Image courtesy of Lukas-H on Unsplash.

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    On Wednesday 26 July 2017, Southern New England Landcare will host an event at the Mike O'Keefe Woodland Centre in Armidale that will draw audiences from around the New England to explore how locally manufactured scientific instruments can be used to optimise plant water use and species selection.

    Shane Andrews from Southern New England Landcare said, “Like in many other industries, agriculture is moving fast when it comes to new technologies that are changing the way we work with plants and animals.”

    “Keeping abreast of these changes is essential if we are to continue being effective,” he said.

    DigitalMasteryImageWebSmallGreg Alder, master of digital marketing and social media, was in Uralla on 29th June to run a workshop on mastering the digital platforms that are so much a part of our modern lifestyles and businesses.

    "The workshop was attended by an enthusiastic group of forward-thinking community group members and local business owners, including staff from Angus Australia, and a few local farm based tourism operators,” said Karen Zirkler, Executive Officer with Southern New England Landcare.

    digitalmarketingiconLandcare will soon host Greg Alder, master of digital marketing and social media to run a workshop in Uralla.

    The workshop will provide community groups, board members, business owners and the community in general with an opportunity skill-up in new ways to innovate, communicate, learn and share. The workshop will also help participants better-connect with their members and customers.

    On 4-5th May, Southern New England Landcare hosted the biggest event on the landcare calendar for 2017.

    The two-day event was themed ‘Farming Smarter Communities’ and showcased a number of initiatives that Southern New England Landcare sees as key to facilitating thriving, sustainable communities.

    Karen Zirkler, Executive Officer at Southern New England Landcare, was excited by the way the program came together.

    "Regenerative farming was the first topic on the program presented by Colin Seis, a farmer from the Gulgong area who has been experimenting on his own place for 30 years," Karen said.

    ImageLandArtFarm2How can art in our rural landscapes engage, inform, educate, or enable us to build identity, skills and knowledge and thrive as a community?

    This question will be the focus of Southern New England Landcare’s Member Muster in Walcha on Wednesday evening 7th June.

    Guest presenters will include Sandra Welsman, founder of ‘LandArtFarm’ near Armidale, Stephen King, artist and landcarer, and Mayor of Walcha Shire Eric Noakes who is also a long-time landcare member.

    Image courtesy of Sandra Welsman from LandArtFarm who will be presenting on the evening.

    ImageHarnhamSoilsHarnham Landcare Group hosted and subsidised a successful "Five Principles for Soil Health' day at Kentucky Hall on 9th February 2017.

    Nearly 40 people attended the day, to hear Dr Christine Jones outline how photosynthesis, microbes and diversity are all important mechanisms supporting soil health.

    Attendees came from the immediate locality as well as from the Lismore and Wallangra areas. Lively discussion put forward other ideas, helped clarify Christine's messages and made the content of the day relevant to livestock and human health, pasture management and grazing options.

    Thoughts and suggestions were forthcoming for possible follow-up events and sharing with other Landcarers in adjacent regions.

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