Discover the World Beneath Our Feet: Native Grasses Workshop with Seeding Natives Inc.

Join us for this incredible opportunity to step into the hidden world of native grasses with Andrew Fairney, CEO and founder of Seeding Natives Inc. — a not-for-profit organisation pioneering ecological restoration from the ground up.

Native grasslands are some of Australia’s most overlooked yet vital ecosystems. They hold the key to healthy soils, thriving wildlife, and resilient landscapes — but many of these species are under threat. In this hands-on session, Andrew will guide us through the art and science of recognising, restoring, and valuing these remarkable plants.

Together, we’ll explore questions such as:
🌾 How can we tell a native grass from an introduced (weed) species?
🌾 How many different native grass species are there — and what clues help us identify them?
🌾 Why do native grasses matter for biodiversity, soil health, and climate resilience?

This workshop combines practical learning and field observation, giving you the chance to get up close with the diversity of grasses that shape our local ecosystems. Whether you’re a landholder, gardener, bush regenerator, or simply curious about nature, this is a chance to deepen your understanding of the living systems that sustain us.

What to bring:
Please come prepared to spend time outdoors. Bring a hat, water bottle, and wear long pants and enclosed shoes — there may be a few slithery critters sharing the space with us!

Come ready to get your hands dirty, share stories, and see the world from the ground up.

To allow for plenty of one-on-one work with the instructors.

This workshop will be one of a five part series.

This class is only offered as a face-to-face workshop.

Special thanks:

We would like to acknowledge Landscape Board Hills and Fleurieu Grassroot Grant of this project

Location

The workshop will be held at Riverdale Farm, Hartley (two minutes off the freeway).

Approximate timing

9:20am – Arrival
9:30am Workshop commences
11:00am – Morning tea
12:30pm - Workshop ends

Catering

We will be providing morning tea, along with tea, coffee and water.

Acknowledgment of Country

We acknowledge that this event will take place on the traditional lands of the Peramangk people and respect their elders past, present and emerging. We appreciate the Peramangk people’s innate and deep spiritual connection with the land and waters of this region and aspire to work alongside them in taking care of land and community.