Reading the Signs: What Weeds Can Tell Us About Our Farms
What if the weeds growing on your farm could tell you something about the condition of your soil?
Rather than simply seeing weeds as unwanted plants to be eradicated, international author and agricultural consultant Gwyn Jones encourages landholders to look at them differently — as clues about what is happening within the landscape. Up2Us is hosting an informative and practical field day where Gwyn will offer participants a new perspective and understanding to be able to manage their weeds more effectively and sustainably.
Gwyn is the author of Turning Weeds into Solutions: Read the Weed, which explores ecological approaches to weed management, soil repair and regenerative agriculture. His approach encourages landholders to ask not only, “How do I get rid of this weed?” but also, “Why is this weed growing here in the first place?” As Gwyn explains, “The key is to understand what triggers the problem weed[s] in the first place and create an environment that limits its opportunities.”
The day will include a farm walk where participants can observe weeds in their growing environment and discuss what they may indicate about soil condition, disturbance and land management. It offers an opportunity to consider weed management from a broader perspective, looking at the underlying conditions that allow particular plants to establish and thrive.
Whether you are dealing with persistent weeds, interested in improving your soil, or simply curious about what the plants growing on your property might be telling you, the day offers a chance to look at the landscape a little differently.
Reading the Signs: What Weeds Can Tell You About Your Farm will be held on;
Time and date: Monday 16 November, from 10am–3pm.
Location: TBC in the Mansfield area, Victoria.
Tickets are $10 per person, with lunch provided, and bookings are essential.
Bookings:
This project has received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, with support from Future Drought Fund and Up2Us.