In this course you will be part of a collaborative online learning community of other regenerative farmers - also aiming to implement the ecological farming framework to enhance their properties.

In each module of the course, you will explore the philosophy and application of ecological farming - through online learning resources, completing a series of worksheets, and interacting within online forums and ZOOM discussions.

Once you have completed these modules, you will then work one on one with the course instructor, who will create your farm design (in 2D and 3D) along with a production and environmental management plans.

Find out more about the final design and management plans HERE

1. The Creative Agent

In this topic you will be guided through a framework to identify your values, experience, interests, and personality type to clarify where your unique area of strength lies and how to leverage those strengths to create valuable, rare and quality output.

The three key topics are outlined below:

• Mapping the Mental Landscape: What mental constructs have you adopted from your family, community and upbringing and how do they shape your beliefs and actions.
• Clarity of purpose: What are your values and goals and how can you clarify them into a vision and mission.
• Identifying your strengths: What strengths and resources can you leverage to achieve a successful outcome.

Regenerative Design Philosophy

• Patterns: Understanding the patterns of natural systems and how they can be applied to developing healthy-functioning agricultural ecosystems.
• Principles: Developing a set of action principles aligned to your vision and creating healthy and resilient outcomes on the farm.

• Ecosystem Function & Health: Creating a biodiverse agricultural ecosystem of compatible and inter-connected production systems and how to measure farm biological health.

 
Value Proposition

• Market analysis: Guides you through a PESTEL analysis of market dynamics, a  5-forces model to identify competition, a SWAT analysis to identify market opportunities and a blue ocean strategy to developing innovative products and services.
• Target Customer: Identifying the needs of the ideal target customer and how you provide value to them through a value proposition canvas.
• Lean Development: Looking at how to prototype, experiment and analyse new ideas and test them in the market to drive innovation and change.

 

Restoring Natural Habitat Function

• Wetland and stream restoration: Strategies to revert wet areas back to productive wetlands that enhance farm function and biodiversity.
• Planting natives: Exploring the diverse yields that can be acquired from native plants, their importance in providing habitat to enhance native biodiversity and methods of propagation.
• Managing invasive species: Identifying the range of pest invasive species, their impact on native biodiversity and strategies to control their population on the farm.
  

 
Farming Systems:

• Holistic Grazing: Management of pastures to promote soil and livestock health
• Silver pasture: Identifying opportunities to adapt production systems to increase the diversity of productive trees in the landscape and methods of propagation.
• Diversity & Connection: Looking at ways to diversify production in each habitat type identified and create beneficial links between different production systems.

 
Livestock health

• Natural functions: Investigating the natural habitat and function of animals and how a farm environment can be adapted to better provide for their needs and how their function can be used to achieve beneficial outcomes.

• Feeding requirements: Looking at livestock condition scoring and planning feed strategies to keep livestock in good health.
• Calf health: Improving the outcome of calves through feeding, shelter and care.

 
 
Mapping & Design

• Mapping: You will be provided with a series of 3-dimmensional topography and production maps for your property and we will work with you to adapt these to create your final farm production plan. The final map will photo-realistically rendered to view your design in 3D.
• Reporting Outcomes: Working with you to complete a series of templates to capture your vision and production strategy, goals for future development, project costs, financial record keeping, and measuring changes in farm health.
• Implementation strategy: Creating a strategy for breaking the development of your farm site into a series of timed and costed steps.

​Outcomes: 

• A 3D photo-realistic model of the whole farm that you could view in 3D with 3D googles (you can share this with others to collaborate around projects, seek investment etc)

 

• A description of the production areas – including species, installation costs, expected production (and time frame to be productive)

 

• Developing a vision, identifying values, principles of action, and STRETCH and SMART goals to progress your farm towards fulfilling that vision.

 

• Market analysis using PESTEL, SWOT and value proposition canvas frameworks

 

• Developing a project budget and identifying resources to cover costs

 

• Creating a 5-year implementation strategy to achieve the farm plan goal.

 
 
The process: 

1. Map farm – done 😊
2. Send a survey with questions around vision, values, goals – in next month
3. ZOOM call to discuss survey responses and refine goals – after survey has been reviewed
4. ZOOM call to discuss design options on farm – once I have finished VectorWorks training and have a model of your farm ready
5. ZOOM call to refine farm plan
6. ZOOM call to work on project costings and implementation strategy
7. Send draft project document
8. ZOOM call to refine document
9. Final document sent – goal to get that done before end of year