For more info:
Contact SoilCare Inc

---

Latest News and
Newsletters

International Biochar Initiative News
June 2009

DAFF Newsletter
22 May

Soil Erosion Solutions Dec 08

Northern Rivers CMA
July 2009
E-news
(including funding opportunities)

Organic Federation of Australia News
May 2009

all the dirt...soil newsletter (Feb 2009) from NSW DPI funded by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

North Coast Weeds

drumMuster
how and where to dispose of chemical containers

AIMS
Agriculture Information and Monitoring Services

---

Videos

ABC Catalyst program on Agrichar (biochar)
click on this video

Rodale Institute CEO, Tim LaSalle,  explains how organic farming (& regenerative/biological farming) will combat climate change
click here

Biochar news - 'Char Grilled' on ABC Landline 24/5/2009 watch the video featuring SoilCare members Lukas Van Zwieten, Robert Quirk and Debra Lewis Dirt! The Movie coming to theatres late 2009! About the movie featuring Bob Shaffer, guest presenter at SoilCare Expo Tuesday, 10 November 2009, Wollongbar, NSW. Carbon in the soil is essential to the planet and one way to replenish it is by composting food. 'watch this video' also featuring Bob Shaffer. SoilCare Inc and Richmond Landcare Inc were sponsors of the Asia Pacific Biochar conference on the Gold Coast in May 2009. The conference was fully booked with delegates attending from Asia-Pacific countries. SoilCare Inc Workshop with Professor Lyn Abbott, 'Soils Are Alive', was held on 13 March 2009. Workshop participants examined their farm soils under the microscope. Other websites to visit to learn about Lyn Abbott's work: www.soilhealth.com .... www.soilquality.org.au ...www.soil.org.au 'Put the fun back in farming', Gary Zimmer says. You would not find a group of farmers having more fun than those pictured below in the SoilCare/Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority sponsored TAFE Wollongbar 'Biological Farming' class with teacher Dave Forrest. Northern River's Soil Health Cards and Soil Best Management Practice Guides Northern Rivers Soil Health Cards and Soil Best Management Practice Guides for Perennial Horticulture and Vegetables have been released. The documents were produced by farmers for farmers in a project funded by the NR Catchment Management Authority. Dave Forrest demonstrated the Soil Health Cards to (above) pecan growers at their recent AGM and (right) to vegetable growers at a recent field day at Cudgen. Dave demonstrates the soil aggregate stability test.   National Landcare Programme Project Best Practice Soil Health and Conservation in Macadamia Plantations  Participants enjoyed the SoilCare Farmer to Farmer field day on 6 February. Learn how four innovative farmers have taken steps to manage soil erosion and improve soil health.
Debra Lewis and Mark Atkinson  (McLeans Ridges) are planting a new macadamia orchard.  To reduce the volume of water entering the orchard from an adjoining property they have constructed a drain to redirect run-on to a stable gully catchment thus minimising erosion. Details of this project.	John Webster (Agnutta at Clunes) has removed 25% of the trees (every 2nd tree in every 2nd row) in a crowded block to improve light penetration.  The trees have been chipped and chips spread on the orchard floor.  Smother grass has been planted in squares throughout the block. Details of this project.
Meg and Peter Fleming (McLeans Ridges) have removed 25% of the trees in a block with little or no light penetration to the orchard floor and minimal ground cover. Trees were chipped and a mixture of millet, carpet grass, broadleaf paspalum and haifa clover was broadcast planted and sprigs of smother grass manually planted. Details of this project.	Anne and Shaun Stead (Jiggi) are using limb removal in 18 year old macadamia trees to enhance light penetration through the canopy and down to the ground covers. Prunings are chipped and the chips are put directly back under the trees to enhance erosion control and increase biological activity. Details of this project.