Food Connect founder Robert Pekin shares his journey from dairy farmer to food systems innovator, including the loss of his family farm and the experiences that reshaped how he thought about farming, food and community.

Robert explores the power of collaboration, shorter supply chains and community-owned infrastructure to create a fairer and more resilient food system. Drawing on the story of Food Connect and the Food Connect Shed, he argues that farmers and communities can build alternatives by focusing on what they can influence locally and working collectively.

Watch on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prvkb4YLJFU&list=PLHRKM-_fhj6g

Visit Food Connect Foundation - fcf.org.au

The Farming on the Fringe Forum was delivered by Local Land Services in partnership with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement Program (PIPAP).

This podcast was produced by Grow Love Project and supported by Greater Sydney Local Land Services’ Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator through funding from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

The folks here at Greater Sydney Local Land Services recently hosted a forum called Farming on the Fringe it covers a range of topics, including:

• what is natural capital on your farm
• carbon farming and environmental market opportunities
• what a healthy soil ecosystem looks like

The event had over 130 participants and was hosted by journalist and radio host Chris Bath. The episodes are recordings of the speaker presentations.

What if farmers could better understand what's happening beneath their feet? And could that information help them make better decisions when seasons don't go to plan? 

In this episode, we explore Farming Forecaster, a free online tool that combines soil moisture, pasture growth and seasonal information to help farmers make more informed management decisions. 

We visit Mattana Farm near Milton on the NSW South Coast, where Bec and Adam share how a local soil moisture probe has helped them navigate drought, fire, flooding rains and difficult livestock decisions. 

Whether you're a data enthusiast or simply looking for another tool to support decision-making, this episode offers practical insights into using information alongside experience and intuition on farm. 

Featured Guests 

• Bec and Adam – Mattana Farm, Milton NSW 

• Matt Lieschke – Agricultural Extension Officer, Local Land Services 

• Phil Graham – Agricultural Consultant 

Episode Guide 

• (00:00) Farming through drought, fires and changing seasons 

• (06:00) Why soil moisture and temperature matter 

• (07:30) Using data to make tough stocking decisions 

• (08:30) How Farming Forecaster helps manage climate variability 

• (11:30) Exploring the website, probes and pasture forecasts 

• (16:00) Setting trigger points before conditions deteriorate 

• (24:30) Back on the farm: confidence, confirmation and practical advice 

Useful Links 

• Farming Forecaster 

• NSW Local Land Services 

This episode is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by South East Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Local Land Services or the Australian Government. 

Can technology really help farmers build resilience in an increasingly unpredictable climate — or are we getting distracted by shiny new tools?

In this episode, we head to Twynam Farm in NSW to hear directly from farmers trialling agtech including virtual fencing, livestock monitoring and regenerative grazing systems.

Featuring conversations with Sarah Nolet and Susan Orgill, we explore how agtech can support climate resilience, soil health and better farm decision-making — while also asking where the risks and limitations lie.

We also hear from Camilla Beck and producers attending the Twynam field day, grounding the conversation in practical, on-farm experience rather than industry hype.

From virtual fencing and livestock monitoring to broader questions around profitability, labour and resilience, this episode asks: what technology is actually worth adopting on farm — and what problems should agtech really be solving?

Featured Talent & Links

• Sarah Nolet - Managing Partner, Tenacious Ventures
  Tenacious Ventures

• Susan Orgill - Chief Scientist, Impact Ag Australia
  Impact Ag Australia

• Camilla Beck - Executive Officer, Tablelands Farming Systems
  Tablelands Farming Systems

• Johnny Kahlbetzer - CEO, Twynam Group

Climate Smart Farming Series - AgTech to manage climate risks and maximise return on infrastructure investment 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0e9xssrvNDOxqNjnkTnokc?si=iJLKN7cPSvKBi5RGXmQxbQ 

Episode Guide

• (00:00) Why agtech promises deserve closer scrutiny
• (02:45) Productivity versus resilience in modern farming systems
• (05:20) Farmers explain pressures driving technology adoption
• (09:15) Optiweigh trials and livestock monitoring in practice
• (11:45) Virtual fencing and rotational grazing with Halter collars
• (19:05) Susan Orgill on evidence, soil health and farmer intuition
• (24:00) Sarah Nolet on solving real problems, not symptoms

This episode is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by South East Local Land Services, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Local Land Services or the Australian Government. 

What if your chickens could do more than just lay eggs? In this episode, we explore how mobile chook sheds can improve soil health, boost pasture growth, and reduce fertiliser costs through better nutrient cycling. Featuring insights from farmers and soil experts, this episode unpacks the nitrogen cycle, pasture recovery, dung beetles, and practical tips for building healthier, more profitable farming systems.

Key episode moments

[00:02:00] Rising fertiliser costs forced a new approach.

[00:04:00] The business started with 50 chooks in a caravan.

[00:09:00] Chicken manure improves nitrogen and soil health.

[00:10:00] Nitrogen efficiency is low without good management.

[00:18:00] Moving sheds regularly helps control manure load.

[00:22:00] Dung beetles help spread nutrients naturally.

[00:28:00] Changing rainfall affects pasture recovery times.

[00:30:00] Start small and build the system slowly.

Extra Show Notes Links

Clean Coastal Catchments Program nitrogen and dairy pasture video:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq--upG4xXs⁠

NSW DPI fact sheet on chicken manure use in pastures  in the associated links with the podcast:

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/140359/Best-practice-guidelines-for-using-poultry-litter-on-pastures.pdf

Sam and Pru Pincott’s pasture-raised egg enterprise holbrookpaddockeggs.com.au

Watch a film we made about them

youtube.com/watch?v=YqQjQ_IL6mI

Virginia Mall’s regenerative mixed farming operation gracespringsfarm.com.au⁠

Dung Beetles Podcast Episode – The Big Shift for Small Farmsopen.spotify.com/episode/2Yi2M7FK0JZtmNulR6vKkr?si=bmWzC9iaSqCOe7FDhbLZtA

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a fellow horse owner, and leave a review — it helps us continue bringing these important conversations to life.

Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Greater Sydney Local Land Services or the Australian Government.

What if you could add value to your farm without scaling production? In this episode, we explore pick-your-own as a diversification strategy—covering the realities, the opportunities, and what farmers need to know before opening the gate.

Key episode moments

(00:00) Is pick-your-own actually more profitable than wholesale?

(01:30) From city life to farming: buying a rundown blueberry farm with no experience

(04:30) COVID pivot: opening the gates and inviting the public in

(08:30) Why customers—not strategy—often drive the shift to PYO

(14:00) Burnout from farmers markets → “people are paying me to pick my fruit”

(15:30) Location matters—but people will travel for the experience

(17:30) The reality of customers: education, behaviour & managing expectations

(20:00) Does it stack up? Labour savings vs crop loss and margins

(29:30) Marketing that works: social media timing + a strong website

(41:30) Final advice: start small, ask for help, and know if it suits your personality

Read the full transcript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vvs2_PqBmqMlhXEjoZjc3Ul332DDtBl2/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

Explore more from our guests below:

meliorafarm.com.au

cedarcreekorchards.com.au

higginscreekfarm.com.au

Want more info about our pick your own guide. Click the link below:

https://forms.gle/M4uShQbCU954w2JEA

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a fellow horse owner, and leave a review — it helps us continue bringing these important conversations to life.

Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Greater Sydney Local Land Services or the Australian Government.

The episode urges horse owners to shift from viewing land as turnout to thinking like “grass farmers,” linking soil biology, plant diversity and grazing decisions to horse health.

We hear from horse behaviour expert Jane Myers who explains how separating horses and giving constant paddock access drives fence-walking, overgrazing and worn-out land, and she shares a simple yet transformative pasture paddock setup with her Equicentral system.

Hoof care professional Faith Robinson redesigned her NSW property with a track and laneways to boost movement, choice, and pasture recovery. 

Agroecologist Nicole Masters links soil biology and plant diversity to nutrition, hoof and behavioural issues and urges owners to get curious by digging and reading “weeds” as indicators, and promotes diverse browse and nutrition supplements to reduce reliance on routine chemical worming.

Key episode moments

(00:00) Grass Farmer Mindset

(00:40) Meet the Guests

(01:48) Faiths Property Transformation

(03:24) From Bored Horses to Choice

(06:43) Jane on Behavior and Overgrazing

(09:27) Nicole on Pasture Diversity

(11:32) Soil Biology Basics

(13:13) Weeds as Soil Clues

(15:55) Rest and Second Bite Rule

(17:13) Stubby Test and Laminitis

(18:54) Equicentral System Explained

(21:52) Faiths Track and Laneways

(21:30) Design for Movement and Browse

(28:05) Rethinking Worming

(32:57) Manure Management and Dung Beetles

(38:38) Resilience in Drought and Flood

(43:19) Wrap Up and Resources

If this episode sparked new ideas about horse care, grazing, and land stewardship, you can explore more from our guests below:

Founder of Equiculture and educator in regenerative horse and land management.Learn more about the Equicentral system and Jane’s courses:Free Equiculture mini-course: equiculture.net/equiculture-free-mini-course

Agroecologist and soil educator helping landholders understand what’s happening beneath the surface.Explore Nicole’s Soil Horse Course and other training programs:integritysoils.com/products/soil-horse-course

Hoof care professional and horse owner sharing her real-world journey into regenerative horse management.tranquilisland.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with a fellow horse owner, and leave a review — it helps us continue bringing these important conversations to life.

Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Greater Sydney Local Land Services or the Australian Government.

Depending on the time of day you're reading this, chances are you have a cup of tea, coffee or glass of wine in hand.  And so you are already relying on pollination, and that's what this episode's all about because without healthy pollinators, so many of the foods and beverages we love simply wouldn't exist.

In the latest episode of The Big Shift for Small Farms Podcast,  we explore how pollination underpins our food system and why its future matters to us all. We visit Bill Shields’ apple orchard in Bilpin to hear about a mysterious event that has left him with virtually no apples on his trees this season.

We'll sit down with Native Bee expert Dr. Tim Heard, who spent his career uncovering the hidden world of Australia's native bee pollinators.

And in the wake of the varroa mite, we also hear from someone who's been on the ground with farmers and beekeepers, learning from their experiences supporting their recovery, and helping chart a path forward for resilient pollination into the future.

Featured in this episodes:

Bill Shields - Apple farmer, Shields Orchard Bilpin (shieldsorchard.com)

Dr. Tim Heard - Australian native stingless bee expert (sugarbag.net)

Emily Noordyke - Project officer, National Varroa Mite Management Program (varroa.org.au)

Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Greater Sydney Local Land Services or the Australian Government.

Episode Title: Ecological Weed Management

Host: Edgars Greste
Guest: Kim Deans, Agro-ecologist (with special contributions from Alexia Martinez & Kym Green)
In this episode of The Big Shift for Small Farms, Edgars Greste takes a deep dive into the often-overlooked subject of weeds — and how thinking differently about them can transform your small farm. Joining him is agro-ecologist Kim Deans, who challenges traditional chemical-based weed control, and instead advocates for a holistic weed-management strategy grounded in soil health, biodiversity and sustainable farm practices.

You’ll also hear from farmers Alexia Martinez and Kym Green as they share firsthand experiences of integrating compost, cover-crops and natural remedies into their weed-control practices — showing how a small-farm operator can manage weeds and build a healthier ecosystem at the same time.

• Why weeds aren’t just pests — they are indicators of underlying soil, pasture or ecosystem health issues.

• How to shift from a reactive “spray-and-pray” mindset to a proactive system-based approach focusing on soil biology, cover crops, grazing and pasture competition.

• Practical strategies for small farms in Australia: implementing cover crops, compost, rotational grazing and non-chemical weed suppression methods.

• Real-world farm stories: how Alexia Martinez and Kym Green are balancing weed control with regenerative practices on their properties.

• 00:00 – 05:00 → Introduction: why weed management needs a rethink in small-scale agriculture

• 05:01 – 15:00 → Guest segment: Kim Deans’ journey from traditional farming to agro-ecology

• 15:01 – 30:00 → Core principles: ecosystem thinking, soil health and weeds as signals

• 30:01 – 45:00 → Practical tactics for small farms: cover crops, compost, grazing, and timing

• 45:01 – 55:00 → Farmer voices: Alexia Martinez & Kym Green share their stories

• Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd: https://biodynamics.net.au/

• Kym Green: https://www.facebook.com/Kymgreenlenswood/

• Free Guide: Weeds as Indicators of Soil Health (via Reinventing Agriculture) Reinventing Agriculture

Where to from here?

1. Walk a paddock, and document which weeds are present, how dense they are — and ask: What might they be signalling about soil health or pasture competition?

2. Choose a paddock to trial a cover-crop (or increased ground cover) this season. Compare weed pressure at the end of the season with a part of the paddock left under current management.

3. Talk to a neighbour/mentor/agribusiness about integrating grazing or compost strategies to suppress a particular persistent weed species you face.

Then, set a reminder: revisit the same paddock in 3 months, note changes and score weed pressure on a scale of 1-10. Reflect: What changed? What still needs adjusting?

On smaller farms, conventional large-scale weed-control methods (heavy chemical sprays, large machinery) may be less economical or sustainable. By adopting an ecological approach, you gain:

• Improved soil health that supports your desired plants & crops, not just suppression of weeds.

• Reduced reliance on chemical inputs and lowered costs — especially relevant in tight-margin scenarios.

• More resilient systems: healthier soils and beneficial plant cover help your farm bounce back from droughts, floods or other extreme conditions.

As Kim Deans reminds us: “Weeds are not just your enemy — they’re nature’s message.” When you begin to listen, to interpret what those weeds are telling you about your soil, pasture and farm system, you shift from reacting to guiding your system. This isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress, one paddock and one season at a time.

—

Thank you for tuning in. If this episode resonated, please subscribe, leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share it with a fellow small-farm operator or land manager who might benefit. Until next time — keep observing, adapting and growing.

In this episode of the Big Shift for Small Farms Podcast, host Edgars Greste chats with dairy farmer Andy Hanna, whose farm is located in the heart of greater Sydney, amidst the growing impact of suburban sprawl. With farming pressures like unpredictable climate conditions and tight financial margins, Andy’s story is a powerful example of adapting and thriving against the odds.

Edgars recently had the chance to visit Andy’s farm and was impressed by the work and evolution of his farming practices. Andy’s approach to low-input, ecological farming focusing on rotational grazing, boosting pasture biodiversity, and working with natural nutrient cycles, offers valuable, practical examples of how to make a big shift toward sustainability. This conversation is full of insights on building resilience into farming systems while supporting the environment and the community.

Thank you to our guest, Andy Hanna, featured in this episode.

For more information: 

• AG360 Rotational Grazing Planner - https://ag360.com.au/#!/out 

• Multispecies pastures podcast episode - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-big-shift/episodes/Multispecies-Pastures-e2i8dgt

• Soil Amendments podcast episode (featuring Dairy farmer Gavin Chittick) - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-big-shift/episodes/Understanding-Soil-Amendments-to-Boost-Soil-Fertility-e2go7l2 

Produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by NSW Local Land Services. Supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Greater Sydney Local Land Services or the Australian Government.