Gday, 

 

Despite the disruptions of lockdowns and the stay at home mayhem of the past few months we have managed to avoid most of it thankfully. Life at Hanaminno is relatively normal and travel plans have only impacted our ability to visit parents and family members. I can’t imagine the stress and anxiety of families and businesses that have been hit much more directly and in some cases, irreparably by the lockdowns put in place. Without getting me on my soap box, I just don’t see how the true human cost of the measures that have been put in place have been calculated nor forecast, I don’t think that has been considered. If the fundamental reason for the lockdowns and strict travel restrictions is to save lives, have we actually saved more lives?

What’s the tally of deaths by suicide, domestic violence, drug overdose etc. that can be attributed to the closing of business, restriction of travel and contact with loved ones, not to mention the  erosion of social norms, let alone the longer-term impact on children’s schooling and view of the world? Possibly more on this later......!

 

On a cheerier note, we ran two sell out Introduction to Biodynamics workshops in Queensland in late July. One with first time hosts Adele, Philip and Anna Hughes at their Dulacca Downs property and the second, with long time hosts and practitioners of Biodynamics Mitch and Nina Bray on the Sunshine Coast.

Going forward we will be supporting the Hughes families Lachlan Hughes Foundation by donating a workshop ticket to the annual recipient of the Lachlan Hughes scholarship. To read more about the foundation and wonderful work the Hughes family are doing in memory of Lachlan click here.

Talking of workshops, hot off the press for newsletter readers are our  'tentative' Spring workshop dates… scroll down for the big reveal!

 

I'll finish on another high note....  Harris Farm continue to roll out new regeneratively grown products across their stores as I verify more producers on their behalf. It's an absolute honour to be the Harris Farm Regenerative farming Ambassador. If you want to know more about the fantastic work they are doing in supporting farmers who are growing superior food and enhancing their environment as well, jump on their website here.

 

Coming up for you this month...

• PODCAST NEWS –  Series 4 launch date announcement 🚀🚀
• AUGUST FOCUS – Pumping up Carbon to benefit ALL  🌍🌱

• HANAMINNO UPDATE - Spring is just around the corner 🌻🌼

• A MINUTE W/ CHARLIE ⏰ - Regenerative agriculture it's about the journey not the destination 🤔

• WHAT'S COMING UP – Spring workshops date announcement 👨🏻‍🌾🌱🌄

• AND FINALLY….a giggle 🤣

PODCAST 🎧🎧

The countdown is now on for Series 4 of the Regenerative Journey Podcast 💪🏻😎.

We are excited to announce that we’ll be going LIVE again on 7th SEPTEMBER, and haven’t we got a cracker of a season in store for you! Guests include Maggie Beer, Stuart Austin and Tammi Jonas to name but a few ...

Series 3 came and went so fast and I can’t believe we’re soon to launch Series 4 ! Don't they say time always goes fast when you’re enjoying yourself !?

 

Our Patreon community is going from strength to strength – we now have 130 odd members, which deserves a round of applause👏🏻👏🏻! Thank you to each and everyone of our members for their continual support. 

Our members only ‘Grab A Cuppa’ webinars are certainly gaining momentum. We’ve been playing around with the time a bit and canvassed the community as to when’s the best time to hold our chats…8 PM AEST is the preferred time, and so it's not so much ‘Grab A Cuppa' as  more a 'Grab A Beer' now 🤣

Recent guests have included Stuart Andrews, Cyndi O’Meara and most recently Darren Doherty.

With Series 4 firmly within our sights… we have a special treat 🎁 for all our Patreon members. Over the coming weeks we will be sharing an interview that I did with Terry McCosker earlier this year.

 

If you haven't already signed up to Patreon, don’t delay! Sign up NOW to hear firsthand from the great Terry McCosker and to be perfectly placed to receive more exclusive goodies going forward... 

AUGUST FOCUS 🌾🌱🥜

Carbon, its trading, contribution to soil health and significance has been a hot topic for some time now... and it only seems to have ramped up over the last few months with several carbon trading deals instigated by Wilmot Cattle Company peaking the curiosity of farmers, investors and carbon trading agents alike.

Where I'm firmly keeping on eye on and advocating, is the adaption of farming practices that build carbon for ecological, production and hydrological gains.....that is, practices that produce better food.

 

One such example of a group supporting the uptake of these practices is the Brunswick Valley Landcare group who in June organized a series of on farm workshops 'Soil-Our National Capital' which I had the pleasure of facilitating. The workshops focused on soil health being the keystone to productive farming and how regenerative agriculture can best meet the rapidly emerging demands of consumers and markets.

It was fabulous to see macadamia farmers and beef producers amongst others, brushing shoulders in their quest to learn more.

The field days were in part sponsored by the Casino Food Co-Op  who, amongst other initiatives, are pushing for the Northern Rivers of NSW to be the regenerative farming centre of Australia, bring it on I say...!

HANAMINNO UPDATE 🐖🐄🤠 

Winter has blessed us with rain and more rain......and subsequently the Spring is shaping up to being another cracker! With close on 18 months of advantageous seasons under our belts now we have plentiful grass and fat livestock which is a far cry from the challenging Spring and Summer of 2019🙏🏻.

 

We're close to finishing lambing 🐑🐑, with several mobs having been lambing for a number of months now. Its always a great time when lambs are marked, back with their mums and waiting for the warmer weather to crank up the pasture growth and weight gains. We have been pretty much calving trade heifers since January 1st, and Brock and Jim have done a sterling job of managing them- the trucking in and out and moving of them onto fresh pasture when required. 

 

Tree planning and planting  🌱🌳 will be one of our focuses in the coming months as we put into practice some of the 'fertility sink' concepts we learnt at the Tarwyn Park 'Natural Sequence Farming' course we hosted back in March. I can’t speak more highly of the course and recommend it to anyone looking to read, understand and restore the hydrological function of their landscape .🌄

A MINUTE WITH CHARLIE..tick tock ⏰ 

A couple of weeks ago we posted an article from Canadian site RealAgriculture about defining the principles of regenerative agriculture as discussed by Antonious Petro of Regeneration Canada (NFP).

 

As promised here's my few bob 💰 on the subject and to read the article in full then click here. We're always keen to hear your thoughts.. any comments to make on the topic of regenerative agriculture and definitions then join the  conversation here.

WHAT'S ON 📅

Whilst lockdowns left, right and centre attempt to thwart our plans, Hamish and I are committed to continuing our workshops around the country as we endeavor to meet the growing demand for Biodynamics.

We strongly suggest that if you would like to join us at a workshop that you secure your tickets ASAP. That way, if we do have to restrict numbers at workshops you'll get in before any cut off numbers are announced..... 

AND FINALLY....

A little humor to finish off this edition..  Right now, many of you will be able to empathize with our young Lordie as he attempts to go against the grain ..🤣 ( be sure to crank up that volume!) 

 

Until the next time, 

Charlie