ENVIRONMENTAL PANELS
Practical sessions for farmers and householders

In recognition of the importance of farming to the Southern Tablelands area in which Braidwood is situated, Two Fires Festival sees it as part of its role to provide sessions within the Environmental stream of the Festival designed for local farmers. The 'Water, Biodynamics and Sustainability for Farmers' session will be an informal one where a number of farmers who have instigated various environmentally friendly farm practices will give a five minute talk on their particular methods, leading to open discussion between the panel and participants on the issues raised.

SESSION 1 - SUSTAINABILITY - GLOBAL & LOCAL
Panel: Ted Trainer & Judith Turley
Date: Saturday 31 March
Time: 1.30pm - 3.00pm
Venue: Braidwood Central School Library

Ted will talk about the global argument, its implications for radical change and localisation. Judith will talk about practical steps people can take to conserve energy and resources around the home or farm.

Ted Trainer
Ted Trainer is a deeply concerned thinker and activist on sustainable practices. He is the author of 'The Conserver Society', 'Abandon Affluence' and 'A Simpler Way'.

Judith Turley
Judith and her husband David Watson and their three sons live at 'Millpost' Bungendore. As well as producing fine merino wool, they grow farm trees and organic vegetables. Judith and David first encountered Permaculture in the late 1970's and since then have been implementing Permaculture design principles on their farm. Judith has taught Permaculture Design at Tyalgum, Bungendore and Canberra.

SESSION 2 - WATER, BIODYNAMICS & SUSTAINABILITY FOR FARMERS
Panel: Martin Royds & Tony Coote
Date: Saturday 31 March
Time: 3.00pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Braidwood Central School Library

The Water, Biodynamics & Sustainability for Farmers forum would like to celebrate progress that has been made in the district through Landcare and conservation farming practices, and to set an agenda for the future.

Martin Royds
Martin is a fifth generation local farmer who has studied Applied Science and is passionate about developing sustainable agricultural systems. He, like many other Australian farmers, has gone through a process of applying chemicals and artificial fertilisers and mechanical processes to improve farm productivity and has come to the conclusion that holistic methods of working with nature both in the short and long term are environmentally, economically and socially more sustainable.

Tony Coote
Tony is the founding Chair of The Natural Sequence Association. He has owned Mulloon Creek Natural Farms for over 30 years. He has been practising biodynamics for a number of years and has a biodynamic beef, lamb and egg operation. He has been involved in a major project utilising Peter Andrews' techniques for slowing water down in the landscape. Tony will be talking about biodynamics and Peter Andrews' techniques.

Mulloon Creek before work

Mulloon Creek after work

John Sweet

John Sweet has an intense interest and passion to help regenerate the health and fertility of our soil. He has spent all his life on the land and was privileged to learn the "Keyline System" of sustainable land management from P. A. Yeomans during the last 5 years of his life. They implemented this system on John's 72,000 acre property "Rugby Run" at Clermont, in north-west Queensland. He continues to share this knowledge to improve the health and wealth of rural communities

Contact us: Martin Royds, Convenor
Mobile: 0428 422 058