A forum for tree growers and tree lovers
If you have an interest in growing trees for conservation and for profit you are invited to attend an agroforestry forum and tour 10–11 November, 2023. The forum will take place Friday 10 November at Waurn Ponds on the outskirts of Geelong. The farm tour takes place the following day, 11 November in Deans Marsh District in the foothills of the Otway Ranges.
The event celebrates 30 years since the formation of the Otway Agroforestry Network (OAN) and 25 years of the Australian Master TreeGrower Program (MTG) and explores how to create diverse, resilient, regenerative, ecological and profitable farming landscapes, with trees.
Key points about the forum include:
• Costa Georgiadis from Gardening Australia, a keen supporter, is MC for the day
• Keynote speaker is Michael Taylor, New England Tablelands Master TreeGrower, 2022 Australian Farmer of the Year and 2024 Nuffield Scholar
• Jack Pascoe (Melbourne Uni) and Nick Cater (Deakin Uni) will present on Indigenous land management and birds in our trees
• Panels on how farmers can deliver timber, carbon and Landcare from their farm plantings – involving by those actually doing it
• The Otway Agroforestry Network engagement model and how it came to be the largest Landcare group in the country (despite not giving grants to farmers)
• The Australian Master TreeGrower program around Australia and internationally – 135 courses in Australia and more than 50 overseas
• The next generation of Agroforesters – how young farmers and craftsmen are taking our work to the next level
• A candid look at what governments can do to support multipurpose tree growing on farms (is there better ways than just handing out grants!)
• And a chance to have your say throughout the day…
For the tour participants will travel on medium sized buses on a guided tour showing the extraordinary level of adoption of agroforestry by farmers in the Deans Marsh, Pennyroyal and Bambra regions.
“Nowhere in the world has a farming community embraced agroforestry in this way, leading to a diversity of forests on farms that reflect the diversity inherent in our community. It has to be seen to be believed”. Rowan Reid, Bambra Agroforestry Farm
Registration is $120 (includes food and drinks) for two days or $75 for one day.
More information from https://agroforestryforum23.my.canva.site/