Changing practices
Fiona Grigg, from Rous NSW, has committed to implementing two key practice changes on her farm: making biofertilisers and producing compost. These practices reflect her focus on enhancing soil health through organic methods. By integrating biofertilisers and compost into her agricultural routine, Fiona aims to improve soil fertility and sustainability, which are crucial for optimising crop growth and overall farm productivity.
Guest presentations
Among the wealth of webinar presentations offered, Fiona found the session on “Soil Health” by Nicole Masters to be the most enjoyable and beneficial. This webinar presentation provided her with essential insights into soil management, which are directly applicable to her farming practices. The knowledge gained from this session has been particularly valuable in helping her address soil health issues and implement effective soil management strategies. You can access this webinar and all the other resources freely from the RAMP website.
Fiona appreciated the general principles of group mentoring, valuing the opportunities it provided for networking and learning from both peers and mentors. She found the online sessions to be particularly engaging and informative, contributing to her understanding of various regenerative practices. However, Fiona faced some challenges as the only horticulturalist in the group. This unique position sometimes made it difficult for her to relate directly to certain discussions and practical examples, exposing a gap in content that was specifically tailored to her horticultural interests and needs.
Fiona valued the mentor’s visit to her farm at the end of the program, which provided her with personalised feedback and support that was highly beneficial. Despite this positive aspect, Fiona experienced some disappointment due to the absence of other macadamia farmers in the program. She felt that having peers in the same niche would have offered additional relevant insights and shared experiences, which could have further enriched her learning and application of regenerative agriculture practices.