Biological Farming RoundTable - Albury
Description
Soil Biology Blitz
Join David Hardwick and Taryn Armstrong from Soil Land Food, Luke Harrington from Re-Gen Farming and Nakala Maddock from NutriSoil as we take a closer look at the biology found in the soil and the biological products used in modern-day agriculture.
9.45am – Registration and morning tea
10.00am – Welcome and Introduction
10.15am – Know Your Bugs! (David Hardwick)
11.15am – Under the microscope (Taryn Armstrong)
12.30pm - Lunch
1.15pm – Demystifying DNA - testing, measuring and monitoring soil biology (David Hardwick)
2.05pm – Microbial Product Information (Luke Harrington and Nakala Maddock)
2.50pm - Conclusion and Questions
Lineup
David Hardwick
David is an agroecologist and has over 20 years experience in rural landscapes, farming and food systems. He develops and delivers many of the extension projects for Soil Land Food across Australia. He worked in community development and then horticulture before completing a dairy traineeship on an organic dairy in NSW. Since then he has had a wide ranging career working in both management and technical roles. These include Landcare extension, agronomy, soils, agribusiness, biofertiliser R&D and manufacturing, organics, training, and consulting positions. For many years he also helped run a regional farmers market business with his wife. He has also worked on rural cooperative and social enterprise projects. David also teaches soils, regenerative agriculture, farm planning and agroecology at TAFE NSW on a casual basis. David’s passion is agroecology and empowering farmers with knowledge and skills that make a difference! Bachelor of Ecological Agriculture (University of Sydney) Diploma in Agribusiness (TAFE NSW) CIV in Training & Assessment Grazing Land Management (Queensland DPI) Natural Sequence Farming - Tarwyn Park Training
Luke Harrington
Re-gen Farming director and owner Luke Harrington has always been interested in biology and soil health, along with healthy food production. This passion has led Luke to invest in his own education to develop a diverse knowledge of the tools needed to increase the biological health of soil. Having completed many different online, on-farm and face to face events, field days, webinars and courses Luke has developed a far reaching network of like-minded experts in soil function and health. His passion for long term sustainable agriculture has seen Luke branch away from the traditional agricultural service industry to providing a consulting service for those looking to farm differently, or more in tune with nature. From sourcing seeds, along with biological fertilisers and stimulants, Luke can support farmers with long term planning and grazing management options. Luke can help unlock the tools in the toolbox to reinvigorate the biology in your soil to improve soil health, plant health, farm health and profit health. Based in Deniliquin in Southern NSW, Luke spends time on the road and via Zoom supporting farms to transition to long term sustainable farming practices.
Nakala Maddock
NutriSoil Managing Director Nakala Maddock joined the family-owned and operated business based out of Wodonga in 2013. Nakala has a Bachelor of Business Management, a Graduate Diploma in Vocational Education and Training, a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture, and is currently completing her Master's in Sustainable Agriculture. As a mother of two and active horsewoman, Nakala is passionate about how food is produced and supporting farmers to produce nutrient dense food. She envisages a future where farmers are rewarded for producing nutrient rich foods and consumers have them easily available to them. Nakala firmly believes the role of the soil microbiome and vermiculture in growing healthy plants and food needs to be built into the education system, to ensure a better understanding of beneficial microbes is broadly obtained.
Taryn Armstrong
Taryn is a certified Soil Food Web lab technician (UK) and has spent the past five years working hands-on in horticulture and alongside landholders, helping growers refine composting systems to boost biological activity and plant resilience in the UK. Her passion lies in soil microbiology. She is continually fascinated by how microscopic life beneath our feet profoundly shapes our environment. Taryn believes healthy soil is key to solving many environmental challenges, and she enjoys sharing the wonders of the soil ecosystem with others. For the past few months she has been helping Soil Land Food with various soil health projects.
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