The Rural Life Weekend offers a series of workshops presented by experts from the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia and other industry specialists at the Muresk Institute on 20 and 21 September.
This weekend is targeting small landholders, rural lifestylers and hobby farmers to learn skills to better manage their land, mingle with other like-minded individuals and enjoy all that Muresk Institute has to offer.
Workshops available include:
Introduction to property planning | Presented by Chris Ferreira, Forever Project
Working in harmony with the land to achieve your desired lifestyle, develop a plan that
changes with the seasons.
- Identify issues relating to your property and develop practical solutions whilst maintaining and enhancing the natural features of your property.
- Design for fire protection and weed minimisation.
- Learn how to manage erosion, salinity, dams, drains, trees and pastures.
- Strategically plan for fencing, water and stock management, appropriate windbreaks, including fodder crops.
Working sheep dogs | Presented by Duncan Anderson
- Understand how your dog interacts with the sheep and you.
- Become aware of low stress sheep handling.
- Learn tricks and tips to look after, and get the best from, your dog.
The bitter bush – Native herbs and spices | Presented by Suzanne Poli and Sorsha Roberts
Learn how Indigenous flora can enhance food flavours and the rules and regulations regarding bush food collection.
Love your menagerie | Presented by Roy Butler, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
Handle various livestock and learn:
- how much food, water and pasture your livestock needs
- about the National Livestock Identification System
- about husbandry matters and animal welfare
- what livestock facilities required
- how to incorporate different livestock on your land.
Fencing skills | Presented by Michael Salatenna, Waratah Fencing
Learn:
- how to design a fence for your rural properly
- the basic use of tools, equipment and safety gear required.
More property planning | Presented by Chris Ferreira, Forever Project
A continuation from the introduction to property planning.
Paddock to table | Presented by Peter Burgess, Kalyx
- Gain an understanding of the processes involved in converting grain into end products.
- Gain an awareness of the properties of wheat and barley that create the variety of textures and flavours.
- Do some taste testing.
Tree planting | Presented by Jo Wheeler, Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management
This workshop covers the:
- economic opportunities of different tree crops
- biodiversity, carbon and aesthetic values that tree crops provide
- farm planning considerations for integrating tree crops into small landholdings.
Garden glut cooking | Kate Cole, Succulent Foods Kellerberrin
Discover how to avoid waste when your vegie garden provides a glut of produce.
Getting the most from soils and pastures | Presented by Brad Nutt, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia
Learn:
- the pros and cons of various pasture types
- the importance of soil health and correcting soil limitations
- how to manage erosion
- how to manage soils and pasture during hot dry summers and how to give pastures the best opportunity of survival.
Making the most of water | Presented by Damian Priest, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia and Terry Brooks, Brooks Creeks and Rivers
This session includes some classroom discussion and an Avon River field visit.
Learn:
- the options for capturing water and how to calculate
- about storing water
- how to make your winter streams work for you
- low cost earth works to avoid water erosion
- about water quality
- about water requirements for stock and households.
Find your passion | Presented by Bev Johnson, Refocus
Baby boomers don’t retire. Make your third quarter your life’s best work.
Officers from the Department of Agriculture and Food's Small Landholder Information Service will also be present with relevant information on effectively managing your land and livestock.
For more details on costs and registration see the web link below.