AGROECOLOGY IMMERSION
WHAT IS IT?
Immerse yourself in 4 days of garden and cultural connections within the Agroecology Framework. A community gathering and knowledge sharing by leaders of the agroforestry movement in the Northern Rivers region. The desire for community building, food resilience and regenerative living will provide a backdrop to plan and design an existing site according to regenerative principles.
This is a unique opportunity to learn landscape management based around the needs of an ecologically sustainable, off-grid community, where land restoration and perennial food production has been a focus in the building of social equity. Having the guidance of a Bundjalung elder of these lands to inform the design aspirations will truly make this an enriching experience.
WHO IS IT FOR?
This workshop would suit all who wish to grow their own food, small communities wishing for independent and sustainable food production and landowners and stewards intending to manage their landscape according to principles of permaculture, successional agroforestry and biodynamics.
TOPICS COVERED
Understanding and Interpreting the 4 Evolutionary Forest Communities of Australia
Whole Catchment Approach to Planning
Orders of Permanence in Landscape Management and Project Planning
Indigenous Cultural Perspectives of the Forest
Continual Inspiration from Learning and Evolving with Ecological Succession
How to Select a Forest Edge Planting Site
THE FACILITATORS
Bunya Halasz
Bunya is inspired by cultures that evolve creative practices of sustaining their material needs in a manner of deep reverence for their natural environment and all of its life forms. Through the lenses of Permaculture, Regenerative Agroecology and Successional Agroforestry, Bunya works as a farmer, designer, educator and regenerative farming mentor. His work supports individuals and communities to grow food, fuel and fibre within ecologically regenerative systems as well as facilitating pathways of knowledge and skill sharing through courses and traineeships.
Dr. Kevin Glencross
Kevin is a research fellow who has been working in Asia/Pacific and subtropical and tropical Australia on applied research in agroforestry- integrating trees in agricultural systems. He has a particular focus on traditional agroecological systems and publications that address biodiversity conservation, soils and catchment protection, climate change resilience, food security, carbon sequestration, agroecology and ecotourism.
Uncle Andrew Johnson
Uncle Andrew is a Gulli-Bul and Bundjalung elder, Indigenous mentor and former Gugin Guddaba LALC ranger with decades of experience in forest regeneration. Uncle Andrew is a Custodian of this country and the local indigenous knowledge.
EVENT DETAILS
When: TBA
Arrival: Friday 2pm
Finish: Monday 5pm
Accommodation: There is limited dorm room accommodation available and we have a campground with hot showers and compost toilet amenities. Please note the venue is 4WD and AWD access only - if you plan to camp you will not be able to camp with your vehicle unless it is a 4WD or AWD. There will be shuttles running between the 2WD car park and the venue on arrival to get you and your gear up the mountain. For those traveling from afar, those without camping gear or those who don’t want the hassle of setting up your own camp we have limited canvas cabin tent accommodation available, fully set up with comfortable beds (queen or twin single) and all bedding and linen provided.
Catering and Food: Communal cooking is a feature in our workshops and there is a commercial kitchen available to express our culinary designs. Delicious vegetarian meals provided from dinner Thursday night through to lunch on Sunday.
What to bring: Warm & cool layers, gardening/walking shoes, gardening gloves, torch, sun hat, raincoat, water bottle, notepad, gloves, gardening tools (secateurs, folding saw, machete, hori hori etc.) Please be prepared for colder nights.
Cost:
$600 + booking fee with campground access
$700 + booking fee with single bed dorm room accomodation (limited availability)
$1500 + booking fee for 2 people with queen private dorm room (only 2 available)
$1500 + booking fee for 2 people with queen or twin single canvas cabin tent accomodation (limited availability)
As with all Arcoora programs we don’t want funds to be a limiting factor that prevents participation - please get in touch if things are tight and we’ll see if we can arrange something