Come along to one of our events, or one of our partners events. Any events that we hear of that are an interest to our members are posted here. If you would like to post an event send an email to Andrew Britton.

Home Tomato Sauce Workshop Nowra - Booked Out
When: Saturday 6th

Soil Carbon Myth Busters
David Waters, Soil Scientist with NSW Department of Primary Industries, will present ‘Carbon Myth Busters’, a seminar developed by leading soil scientists to help farmers manage their response to the soil carbon debate

Issues covered relate to soil carbon in agriculture, including:

• Influence of farm management practices on soil carbon
• Carbon cycles, soil carbon fractions
• Effects of climate and soil type on soil carbon
• Organic carbon amendments
• Whole-farm carbon dynamics
• The Emissions Trading Scheme – how is it shaping

Date: Thursday, 11th March 2010
Time: 8:45am to 3:30pm
Where: Southern Highlands.  Please RSVP to receive an information pack,                  including directions
Catering: Morning tea and lunch will be provided
Cost: FREE
RSVP: Ring Industry & Investment NSW on 48286600 or email us at                                         goulburn.office@industry.nsw.gov.au    RSVP by 3 March 2010

Invitation to enrol in a LANDSCAN Course
When: Friday, 19th March 2010
Location: Southern Highlands

LANDSCAN – designed to help you to:

•         Understand soil test results
•         Assess paddock potential
•         Understand your landscape limitations
•         Choose the right pastures for different landscapes
•         Understand and manage soil health, fertility, acidity, salinity and sodicity
•         Match livestock requirements with landscape variability
•         Prioritise inputs and management for production and sustainability

How long is the course?  LANDSCAN is presented as a series of 6 workshop sessions over 6 months (six 1-day sessions every 4-5 weeks).  Each session runs from about 9:45am to 3:30-4pm.

Who should attend?  The course is designed to suit the needs of those who are new to the management of rural land as well as experienced farmers.

Where?  A course will be commencing on the 19th March 2010 in the Southern Highlands.  Details of the venue and directions will be provided when you enrol in the course.  The course uses a hands-on approach, with workshop sessions being conducted on group member’s farms.

How much does the course cost?  $100* (normally $475).  *The cost of the course is subsidised for landowners in the Sydney drinking water catchments. The course includes two free soil tests valued at $200.

To enrol: Contact James Cornwell to express interest or for further information. Complete the attached enrolment form in order to secure a place in the course. Places are limited so please enrol by the 15 March, 2010.

Confirmation of your participation and other details will be provided before the course begins.

James Cornwell
Project Coordinator - Sustainable Grazing Program
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Telephone: 02 4828 6646
Email: goulburn.office@industry.nsw.gov.au
 

Keeping Chooks
The Kiama Garden to Kitchen Network has a workshop on how to look after your backyard chooks.
When:    22nd March
Venue:    North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre
Contact:   Ph: 42378422 or Kiama Council Ph: 42320416

Paddock Plants - Recognising and Managing Common Plants
PADDOCK PLANTS – helps you to:

• Identify and name the important plants in your paddock. 
• Identify which plants are useful and which are weeds
• Tell the difference between native and introduced grasses and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each
• Understand what plants tell you about your paddock or landscape eg. why do some plants grow where they do and others do not?  What is this telling you about the soils? i.e. what do these plants indicate about fertility or other characteristics of the landscape?
• Manage the different plants in your paddock

Information will be presented by local agronomist’s from Industry & Investment, Berry (formerly NSW DPI).

Date:   Friday 12th March (Berry) & Friday 26th March (Nowra Hill)
Time:   9.45am – 12.30pm
Venue:  TBA
Cost:   $5 (payment on day)
Bring:  Hat, sunscreen, water, notepad
RSVP:  By 10th March to Andrew Britton on Ph: 4232 3200 or email:  
             abritton@southerncouncils.nsw.gov.au 

ChemCert Courses (AQFIII) - February / March and April 2010
To enrol in your local ChemCert Course – simply call the ChemCert enrolment centre in Condobolin on Freecall 1800 444 228, or email / fax your details and preferred course location / date to fax 02 9387 4746 or enrol@chemcert.com.au

Albion Park, Wednesday 24 March 2010
Braidwood, Monday 15 March 2010
Braidwood, Friday 30 April 2010
Goulburn, Thursday 11 March 2010

Chook Dressing Workshop
Learn how to kill and dress your own chooks for personal consumption at this workshop to be held at the Bega Small Game Abattoir.

More information to be made available in late March. Contact Andrew for more details on Ph: 4232 3200 or email: abritton@southerncouncils.nsw.gov.au

Olive and Oils
The Kiama Garden to Kitchen Network has a workshop on olives and oils.
When: 19th April
Venue: North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre
Contact: Ph: 42378422 or Kiama Council Ph: 42320416

Sheep Discussion Group
Come along for great day out and learn about managing sheep on small acerages from Col Langford, Sheep Livestock Officer (NSW DI&I)

Date:  Friday 23rd April
Time:  9.45am - 2.30pm
Venue: TBA
Cost:  $5 (includes bbq lunch & morning tea)
RSVP:   Andrew Britton Ph: 42323200 or Email:
              abritton@southerncouncils.nsw.gov.au

Making Money Out Of Worm Farming
Local worm farmer Brick Colley will run through the basic's of growing worms for backyard composting and for comercial profit. Brick is looking for other landholders keen to grow worms and help him supply to the commerical market.

Date:  Friday 30th April
Time:  9.45am - 3.00pm
Venue: 29 Palana st, Surfside (2km north of Batemans Bay)
Cost:  $5 (includes bbq lunch & morning tea)
RSVP:   Andrew Britton Ph: 42323200 or Email:
              abritton@southerncouncils.nsw.gov.au

PERFORM your own BASIC FAECAL EGG COUNTS for WORMS
in your Sheep, Goats, Cattle, Alpacas & Horses

Saturday 1st May - Berry
Saturday 22nd May - Camden
This one day course includes theory and practical sessions on basic parasite life cycles, control options, how to perform basic faecal egg counts for worms on your livestock and what the results mean.  Bench aids to identify worm eggs will be provided.

Cost from $260-$310 depending on location
Includes:  Handouts, Lunch, morning and afternoon tea

For further information and bookings
Contact:  Maryke Archbold-Hession or Lex Myhill
4640 6333 or 0408 492 039
maryke.hession@industry.nsw.gov.au

Sauces & Complements
The Kiama Garden to Kitchen Network will host this workshop.
When: 24th May
Venue: North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre
Contact: Ph: 42378422 or Kiama Council Ph: 42320416

Slow Food Cooking
The Kiama Garden to Kitchen Network will host this workshop.
When: 28th June
Venue: North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre
Contact: Ph: 42378422 or Kiama Council Ph: 42320416

Backyard Bee Keeping
Bruce White is a retired NSW DPI / Agriculture Bee expert .Bruce will guide us through everything you need to know about starting and managing your own hives. More information and outline to follow upon registration.

Date:  Friday 30th & Saturday 31st July
Time:  9am - 5pm
Venue:  NSW DI&I, Berry
Cost:  TBA (includes bbq lunch & morning tea)
RSVP:  Andrew Britton Ph: 42323200 or Email:
             abritton@southerncouncils.nsw.gov.au

Goat Management & Care
Our local Boer Goat Network will host a practical workshop for new and existing goat owners covering topics such as:
- Goat history including temperament and breed characteristics;
- Husbandry including the use of the various equipment and yards/pens;
- Types of property suitable for goats including carrying capacity; and
- Marketing goats.

Date:  TBA
Time:  10am - 4pm
Venue:  Berry
Cost:  TBA (includes bbq lunch & morning tea)
RSVP:  Andrew Britton Ph: 42323200 or Email:
             abritton@southerncouncils.nsw.gov.au

        Workshops in Planning

• Giant Parramatta Grass / Wick Wiping Demonstration (Shoalhaven Council)
• Lantana Control (Shoalhaven Council)
• Pasture Rejuvenation Workshop (DI&I)
• Pasture Gross Margins (Shoalhaven Highlands Beef Producers Association)
• Preserving Your Garden Produce (SFN)
• Electric Fencing (Bishops / Gallagher)