Farmers across the Geographe Catchment in WA have jumped on board the suite of Mulloon Institute learning programs being delivered in partnership with GeoCatch. The recent two-day bootcamp followed an introductory field day earlier in the year. Farmers from hillslopes to flatlands came together to learn, share and grow in their management of water processes to improve water cycling, landscape hydration and resilience across their farms. While participants were working across markedly different landscapes, the questions and learnings were transferable , with farmers willingly sharing experiences.
We dove into the landscape puzzle through paddock walks, field soil testing, hose demonstrations, desktop investigations and property mapping to build curiosity and greater understanding of the elements and systems in a functioning landscape. We zoomed in and out, looked above and below, as well as up and down the catchment, before bringing it all together.
The culmination of learning happened in the shed at the Oakes property at the end of the final day. After assessing the landscape, participants listened to the needs and challenges experienced by the land manager before brainstorming new and impactful ways to manage water across the farm.
Participants expressed their improved understanding and confidence of landscape processes, and the joy in building a Community of Practice around landscape rehydration over the 2-day bootcamp.
“Would highly recommend this course to anyone working with the land. It really helps to understand where things are going wrong on a broader scale, and what can be done to address it from a smaller scale”. Toby Anderson
“Participating in this workshop is confidence building, and great for networking with like-minded community members. It connects people and builds a community of knowledge!” Brooke Small.
Mulloon Institute was contracted by Geographe Catchment Council, Busselton WA to deliver our learning programs including field-day, Bootcamp, Mentoring and Boots-on-ground. Landscape planners Lance Mudgway and Brooke Cunningham will continue to work with these farmers through the mentoring program over the course of the next 6-months, with a boots-on-ground project wrap-up day later in the year.
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.
