BECOME A PART OF THE LOCAL SMALL FARM NETWORK
If you are new to the area and would like to register your interest in this emerging network please email Colin Matthews at the Bellinger Landcare office on belland@westnet.com.au.
We are seeking ideas and input from small area and new landholders to help guide the development of the Small Farm Network and if you want to you can sign up, FREE of charge, to receive Landcare News – Bellinger Landcare’s quarterly newsletter; and/or regular email updates with events, news, resources, etc.
SMALL FARM EVENTS and WORKSHOPS
IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
PROFARM SHORT COURSES
NSW I & I Run courses on a range of farming topics from 4wd training to bee keeping.
For more information on all ProFarm courses
CONTACT
Cassie Gardener ph 02 6763 1276 or
Julie Chapman ph 02 6763 1285
REGULAR EVENTS
DORRIGO GREEN LIFESTYLE GROUP
2nd Monday of every month
6:30pm at the Dorrigo CWA Hall
CONTACT Jade Woodhouse
02 6657 3368
DORRIGO SEED SAVERS
4th Monday of every month
times and venues vary
CONTACT Jade Woodhouse
02 6657 3368
Soils WorkshopSMALL FARM NETWORK SURVEY
As part of the Small Farm Network establishment process Bellinger Landcare is conducting a survey of small area and new landholders. If you would like to participate in this research exercise you can:
~ download a pdf version of the survey, print a copy to complete and return to Bellinger Landcare Inc – Small Farm Network SURVEY 2009;
~ or you contact the Landcare office on
ph 02 6655 0588
email belland@westnet.com.au.
and we will post you a copy of the survey (with a reply paid envelop) to fill out and return to -
Bellinger Landcare Inc
1A Oak Street
Bellingen NSW 2454
BELLINGER LANDCARE RESOURCE CENTRE
Our office, located at 1A Oak Street, in the old Bellingen Council chambers, is an absolute mine of land and natural resource management information. We have a vast stock of resources for landholders – textbooks that you can take copies from; fact sheets, brochures and booklets to take home; maps and a whole range of literature on topics as diverse as the landscape itself.
We have readily available information on subjects such as, but not limited too:
~ Soil health
~ Pasture and grazing management
~ Weed identification and control
~ Riparian management
~ Bush regeneration
~ Biodiversity – identification and monitoring
~ Water quality monitoring
~ NSW Native Vegetation Act 2003
~ Environmental law
~ Field guides for local flora and fauna
~ Coastal and estuary management
All members of the community and the wider public are welcome to come in and take advantage of these resources any time during office hours!
OFFICE HOURS: Bellinger Landcare is generally open from
9:00am to 4:00pm
Tuesday to Friday
NEW RESOURCES IN THE OFFICE
~ A Resource kit for Rural Landholders in the Northern Rivers Region
~ Fencing and Electric Fencing – a guide book from NSW DPI
~ Dung Beetle Resource Package
~ Northern Rivers Invasive Plants Action Strategy 2009-2013
~ Small Horse Properties – A Management Guide
~ Living and Working in Rural Areas – A handbook for managing land use conflict issues on the NSW North Coast
~ Weed Detection on Farms – A Guide for Landholders
SMALL FARM LINKS
Small Landholder Information Service (WA Dept of Agriculture and Food) http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/PC_91997.html?s=257861144,Topic=PC_91997
Small Farms and Rural Living Network (South Coast) http://www.smallfarms.net.au/index.html
Small Farms Magazine http://www.smallfarms.net/sfm.htm
Life Style Block New Zealand http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/
Town and Country Farmer Magazine http://www.tacfarmer.com.au//?file=home
NSW Department of Primary Industries http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry http://www.daff.gov.au/
Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority http://www.northern.cma.nsw.gov.au/index.php
Livestock Health and Pest Authority http://www.lhpa.org.au/home-page
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation http://www.rirdc.gov.au/
NSW Rural Assistance Authority http://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/home
NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/
Meat and Livestock Australia http://www.mla.com.au/default.htm
Biological Farmers of Australia http://www.bfa.com.au/index.asp?Sec_ID=8
Biodynamic Agriculture Australia http://www.biodynamics.net.au/index.htm
Permaculture Research Institute of Australia http://permaculture.org.au/
Equiculture http://www.equiculture.com.au/
North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee http://www.northcoastweeds.org.au/
Soil Health http://www.soilhealth.com/index.htm
Local Food Futures Alliance http://www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/www/html/4069-overview.asp
Environmental Defenders Office NSW http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/default.php#
MEDIA RELEASE April/May 2009
New local rural network for small farms and new landholders.
Do you have a small farm? Or are you a new landholder? If you answered yes to either of these questions then Bellinger Landcare would like to hear what you have to say about a Small Farm Network.
Bellinger Landcare is planning to set up a support network so landholders can access information and services that will help them manage their properties profitably and sustainably. The network will be designed to assist people with small properties or who are new to the area. It would provide a central information and communication “hub” for landowners and feature a small farm web page with easy links to this information.
Regular workshops and training days would be an important feature of the network. Kate Goode from Bellinger Landcare hopes to have the first two field days in June and July, but she wants to know what topics people would like to see covered, whether it is produce marketing, fencing, animal health or riparian management. Small-farm specific rotational grazing has been one suggestion.
“To guide us in developing a Small Farm Network we would like to know what services small area and new landholders in the Bellingen, Dorrigo and Coffs Harbour areas would like to have access to,” said Colin Matthews.
“So, whether you are new to the land or are an experienced landholder, whether you have a bush block or are engaged in horticulture, grazing or any other rural enterprise, we are keen to hear how you think this network could help you meet your land management needs.”
Contact Kate Goode or Colin Matthews at Bellinger Landcare on 6655 0588 or email belland@westnet.com.au
Bellingen Landcare Inc, 1a Oak Street, Bellingen NSW 2454