Grassroots Festival
Event description
Grassroots Festival is an immersive, boots on the ground, hands in the soil, two day event. The main event will be hosted on the 12th and 13th of February in Montumana, at Gunningham Family Farms, with an additional learning day after the Festival on the 14th (ticketed separately). Grassroots Festival 2025 will be covering a range of topics including soil health, alternative and diverse pasture species, livestock health, farm forestry, farmers stories, carbon and renewable energy. There will be various demonstration sites on the day, hosted by experts to provide interpretation.
We will also be hosting Jim Elizondo on the 15th & 16th of February for his 4 Pillars of Real Wealth Ranching, 2 Day Course (ticketed separately).
PROGRAM:
12th February: Bus Tour
Lunch & BBQ dinner supplied for all attendees on this day.
The bus tour will include two stops to local farms demonstrating progressive methods in sustainable farming. These farms have been selected based on their ability to showcase how they harness ecologically beneficial practices to make their business more robust and resilient.
7.30am: Meeting at the Rocky Cape Tavern
8.15am: Bus Departs
9am: Stop 1 - Table Cape Tulip Farm
Hosted by David Roberts-Thompson a founding member of Soils First Tasmania & 2024 Nuffield Scholar, looking at their diverse family business. Their business works in cropping, horticulture, tourism and retail.
12pm: Bus Departs
12.30pm: Stop 2 -Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Elliott Dairy Research Facility
Hosted by TIA, this is the site of leading research into ways to boost the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of pasture-based dairy systems.
2.30pm: Bus Departs
4pm: Bus arrives at Rocky Cape Tavern for attendees to collect cars etc.
4.15pm: Bus Departs for those needing a lift to Rustic Haven.
4.30pm: Rocky Cape Rustic Haven
Roots so Deep documentary screening, followed by a Q&A with the director, Peter Byck, and a BBQ.
13th February: Conference Day
Beef Spit Roast Dinner supplied for all attendees on this day.
Location: 818 Montumana Road, Montumana TAS 7321
Calf Shed | Marquee | |
09:00 | Nicole Masters | |
10:00 | Natalie E. West | Sam Bye |
11:00 | Peter Byck | Routes to Farming Panel Session Iain & Kate Field of Leap Farm, John Kelly of Staunton Farm Organics and Thomas Snare. |
12:00 | Tom Snare | Robin Tait |
13:00 | Lunch Break CHAT & BOOK SIGNING WITH RACHAEL TREASURE & MATTHEW EVANS | Lunch Break CHAT & BOOK SIGNING WITH RACHAEL TREASURE & MATTHEW EVANS |
14:00 | Jim Elizondo | |
15:00 | Demo Site Hour | Demo Site Hour |
16:00 | All Speakers Panel Discussion | |
17:00 | Break | Break |
18:00 | Farmers Feast and Fellowship Supper + MATTHEW EVANS MEALTIME MUSINGS | Farmers Feast and Fellowship Supper + MATTHEW EVANS MEALTIME MUSINGS |
DEMONSTRATION SITES:
Soil Pit: Hosted By Nicole Masters
Rainfall Simulator: Supplied by Vic No Till
Dung Beetles and Earthworms: Hosted by Cradle Coast NRM
Trees on Farms: Hosted By Private Forests Tas
Mixed Species Pastures: Hosted by Ardent Seeds & Robin Tait
Renewable Power: Hosted by Gener8
Safe to Fail Grazing Site: Hosted by RANT
Ecological Outcome Verification: Australian Holistic Management Cooperative
Bio Char: Hosted by Terra Preta Developments
14th February: Nicole Masters Workshop "Getting to the Root."
Lunch and afternoon tea supplied for all attendees on this day.
Location: Rocky Cape Community Hall 19074 Bass Hwy, Rocky Cape TAS 7321.
Do you want to create truly regenerative outcomes for the landscapes that steward you?
What is holding you back from success on your own property?
In this deep dive, Nicole Masters will work through the 5Ms of diagnostics (Mindset, Management, Microbes, Minerals, and OM). Through a decision-making process, you can triage where are the critical points for you to powerfully leverage "how little does it take" to foster health, abundance, profit, and success. If you have soil and plant tests, bring them along. You will go deep and wide in this journey to uncover what may be hampering progress above and below-ground.
Registration: 9.30am
Start: 10am
Lunch: 12pm
Afternoon Tea: 2pm
Finish: 4pm
15th & 16th February: Jim Elizondo's 4 Pillars of Real Wealth Ranching, 2 Day Course.
Lunch and morning tea supplied for all attendees on this course.
Location: Rocky Cape Community Hall 19074 Bass Hwy, Rocky Cape TAS 7321.
Profitable Grazing to Improve Your Land.
MASTER REGENERATIVE PRINCIPLES FOR A THRIVING FARMING OPERATION
- Increase pasture utilization
- Increasing stocking rates
- Reduce supplemental feeding in winter
- Reduce the need to destock in droughts
AND AN IN DEPTH DISCUSSION OF THE 4 PILLARS OF REAL WELATH RANCHING
- Total Grazing Program
- Adapted Genetics and Selection Guidelines
- Nutrition
- Optimal Calving Season
TICKET BREAK DOWN
15TH FEBRUARY BEGINNERS COURSE / 1 DAY TICKET
Introductory day for anyone wanting to dip their toe into the concepts of the total grazing program.
16TH FEBRUARY ADVANCED COURSE / 1 DAY TICKET
The advanced day will build on the principles introduced on day one, if you are already familiar with Jim and his work this may be for you.
15TH & 16TH FEBRUARY 4 PILLARS OF REAL WEALTH RANCHING 2 DAY COURSE / 2 DAY TICKET
The two day course is for those ready to jump head first into Real Wealth Ranching! Available at a discounted rate.
Registration: 7.30am
Start: 8am
Morning Tea: 10am
Lunch: 12pm
Afternoon Tea: 3pm
Finish: 5pm
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity