Cropping Convos An online, interactive webinar series with regenerative specialists We are thrilled to announce our Cropping Convos – “Ask Me Anything” series with regenerative specialists! This is an excellent opportunity to connect with a range of agronomists, agroecologists, and consultants over a casual Zoom call with other grain growers. You can ask your burning questions and discuss your challenges over a range of topics including multispecies, plant nutrition, nitrogen management and photosynthesis. These free online sessions run from the 29th February – 8th March at 12pm AEDT ..read more

Frank Ashwood looks at soil life, up close Soil biologist and macro photographer shares him images | Published November 2023 British macro-photographer and soil biologist Frank Ashwood toured six regeneratively managed farms around Australia. He brought along his macro lens to see what he could find in the soil, and we were all delightfully surprised. Mites, springtails, slugs, spiders millipedes and flatworms all brought into magnificent large scale. Frank’s photos capture the beauty and complexity of life below the ground. Check out his previous work at www.frankashwood.com We l ..read more

Soil resources for school teachers Healthy Living Soils lesson plans | Published November 2023 Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA), in collaboration with Soil Science Australia and Soils for Life, are excited to announce the release of a new suite of Healthy Living Soils educational resources. The collection explores different aspects to soil health and its importance to land productivity and environmental sustainability. There are seven #HealthyLivingSoils classroom lessons which are targeted to students in Years 7-10, addressing various subject areas, inclu ..read more

My father and other animals: A chat with Sam Vincent Soils for Life CEO Eli Court chats to Sam Vincent | Published November 2023 When Charles Massy was first exploring regenerative approaches to agriculture, he visited a small farm in the Southern Highlands just north of the ACT border where, in a patch of regenerated land, he heard the call of the reed warbler that became the inspiration for his now famous book. That farm was managed by David and Jane Vincent. Their son Sam has since taken over, continuing the cattle enterprise and introducing a direct-to-market fresh fig enterprise s ..read more

Exploring soil health and human health A preliminary nutrition study with four Australian croppers | Published November 2023 What is the link between healthy soils, and healthy food? Unfortunately, the nutrient levels in most foods have declined in recent decades. But there is growing evidence that farming systems that build soil health can also improve human and animal health.  Our recent cropping case study farmers Josh and Peri McIntosh (SA), Russell Young (QLD), Bruce Maynard (NSW) and Rob Hetherington (WA) are all implementing practices that aim to improve landscape health ..read more

Healthy soils healthy foods A preliminary nutrition study with four Australian croppers | Published November 2023 Many farmers are keen to explore the nutritional content of their produce, knowing that the food they produce is not only a commodity but the foundation of human health. And there is growing evidence that farming systems that build soil health also support human and animal health. Our recent cropping case study farmers Josh and Peri McIntosh (SA), Russell Young (QLD), Bruce Maynard (NSW) and Rob Hetherington (WA) are all implementing practices that aim to improve landsca ..read more

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation An Op-Ed by Soils for Life CEO Eli Court, published on 30 September 2023 on Farmonline.com.au. It’s official. El Nino is back – and with it, the forecast for a summer of extreme heat, catastrophic fire conditions, and a return to drought. For many farmers, the Bureau’s declaration is just a formality. Many have been living El Nino for months – anxiously watching as their paddocks dry out. The media is harkening back to the Black Summer – a devastating culmination of three years of severe drought, when it seemed half the count ..read more

Menu Overview Thank You Day One Day Two Macro Photography The Soil Stewardship Summit Inspiration, connection and renewed commitment for the years ahead What an amazing two days! More than 120 farmers – including 40 of our case study farmers – and organisations who support farmers came together last week for our Soil Stewardship Summit at Cavan Station. We acknowledged the work of so many farmer innovators over decades to raise awareness of the critical importance of soils and shift regenerative agriculture from the fringes to the mainstream. We got inspired and re-inspired ..read more

‘The land of milk and honey’ Inspiration from the Chihuahuan Desert and the Mitchell Grass Downs Soils for Life CEO Eli Court attended the Regenerative Rangelands Conference on 30-31 August 2023 at Latrobe Station, in Longreach Qld. The conference was organised by Jody Brown and attended by graziers from around Australia’s semi-arid rangelands, including Graham, Cathy and Harriet Finlayson and Glenn Humbert and Julie Conder who have been involved in our Rangelands Living Skin project. The event had a strong focus on grazing management and rehydration in semi-arid environments. Aleja ..read more

Observing resilience at Jillamatong Rehydrating landscapes for drought resilience During the 1982 drought, Martin saw topsoil blowing off the hillsides of his farm. Gully erosion was rampant, and when the rains eventually did come, most of the remaining topsoil and organic matter was washed away. This sent him on a  journey to ‘turn things around’. “I had always set out with the goal to question the ways we farm and had been trialling different ideas from the early 1980s.” A major catalyst for change on Jillamatong came when Martin attended a talk by Dr Stan Parsons and Terry ..read more