Grassroots and Gumboots

What makes one carrot different from another and what does the soil beneath have to do with it?

In this episode of Grassroots and Gumboots, regenerative farmer Mike McCosker and Kylie Woodham explore nutrient density, soil biology and why the way we grow food deserves a closer look.From backyard tomatoes and pasture-raised eggs to grass-finished beef, we discuss the connections between farming practices, food quality and the choices we make as consumers.

In this conversation:

Soil biology, fungi and their relationship with plant nutrition

Nutrient density and why food labels may not tell the whole story

Pasture diversity, livestock nutrition and grass-finished beef

Getting to know your growers and asking questions about your food

Composting, reducing waste and returning nutrients to the soil

Plus, Mike shares an update on rain, harvest challenges and the landscape coming back to life, while Kylie reports on her thriving veggie garden and latest compost experiment.

Whether you’re farming, growing a few veggies or simply curious about where your food comes from, join us for a grounded conversation about the journey from soil to plate.

What questions do you ask about how your food was grown?

Share them in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations from Grassroots and Gumboots.

#GrassrootsAndGumboots #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #NutrientDensity #KnowYourFarmer

You might know Rachel Ward from the screen, but these days she’s managing a farm, caring for cattle and asking a question that affects us all. Do we really know where our food comes from?In this episode of Grassroots and Gumboots, Kylie Woodham joins Rachel for a frank conversation about her journey into farming, rebuilding soil health and connecting people with the farmers who feed them.Rachel shares what’s changed since her documentary Rachel’s Farm, why she’s taken on managing the property herself and the challenges of making a living while caring for land and livestock.We also explore Farm Thru and her vision for connecting consumers directly with farmers, supporting small family farms and strengthening rural communities.In this conversation:- The realities of learning to farm and starting again in your sixties- Regenerative farming, soil health and the patience change requires- Why small farms struggle to make the numbers work- Knowing your farmer and understanding how your food is produced- Eating locally and seasonally, and reducing food waste- Inspiring the next generation to get involved in farmingAn honest conversation about the future of farming and the difference our food choices can make.Subscribe to Grassroots and Gumboots for weekly conversations with Kylie Woodham and Mike McCosker.#RachelWard #GrassrootsAndGumboots #RegenerativeFarming #KnowYourFarmer #RachelsFarm

What if some of your farm’s greatest wealth is right beneath your boots?In this episode of Grassroots and Gumboots, Kylie Woodham chats with Mike McCosker about carbon balance, soil health and the connection between what’s happening underground and the farm’s bottom line.Mike shares his experience with soil carbon projects, explains Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in everyday language, and discusses why he sees carbon credits as the icing on the cake—with healthier, more resilient farmland the real prize.We explore:- Soil carbon and your farm’s natural capital- Holistic grazing, pasture recovery and plant diversity- Carbon credits and Mike’s experience of the registration process- Fertiliser inputs, soil biology and working with nature- Lessons from Kylie’s no-dig garden that translate to the paddockA practical conversation for farmers, gardeners and anyone curious about regenerative agriculture and the future of our food.Subscribe to Grassroots and Gumboots for more conversations connecting healthy soils, healthy food and thriving communities.#GrassrootsAndGumboots #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #SoilCarbon #AustralianFarming

When farming is who you are, what happens when you lose the farm?

Warren Davies, The Unbreakable Farmer, joins Kylie Woodham and Mike McCosker for an honest conversation about farming, family, mental health and rebuilding your sense of identity when life takes an unexpected turn.

Drawing on his experience of flood, family business breakdown and seven years of drought, Warren shares the weight of feeling responsible for the farm and his family, and why asking for help can feel so difficult.

Together, we explore why getting through tough times takes more than being told to “be resilient”, and how to build the tools and support networks we need before things become overwhelming.

Warren shares his TING approach - Talk, Inquire, Notice and Guide - and explains how listening with our ears, eyes and heart can help someone feel seen and heard, without needing to have all the answers.

We also talk about family expectations, shared wisdom, connection to the land and why looking after yourself belongs in the farm plan just as much as looking after your soil, livestock and business.

And Warren leaves us with a practical question: Who are your five people, the people you can turn to when things get tough?

Support in Australia:
If this conversation brings up anything for you, Lifeline provides support 24 hours a day on 13 11 14. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Can we grow great food and reduce our reliance on agricultural chemicals?In this episode, Kylie Woodham and Mike McCosker explore chemical use, soil health and the connections between farming and the food on our plates.Mike shares the personal experience that prompted him to rethink his farming practices and how that change shaped conversations with his family. We discuss observing insects and weeds, encouraging biodiversity and finding practical ways to reduce chemical inputs while keeping a farm productive and financially viable.From Kylie’s veggie garden to Mike’s 3,000-acre farm, this is a conversation about curiosity, change and understanding where our food comes from and how important the soil it grows in.Subscribe or follow Grassroots and Gumboots, share this episode and join the conversation: Do you know how your food is grown?(Mike and Kylie share their own experiences and perspectives. These are not a substitute for independent agronomic or medical advice).

Episode 7: Grassroots and Gumboots: Where’s your water going?

When the rain finally falls, how much stays on your farm and how much takes your valuable topsoil with it?

This week on Grassroots and Gumboots, Mike McCosker and Kylie Woodham explore water. How does it affect soil health and the tough decisions farmers face when the rain doesn’t come.

With dry conditions continuing, Mike shares what’s happening on his own farm, lessons from the 2018/19 drought and how a grazing plan helps him decide when to feed, when to reduce stock numbers and how to protect the land.

We talk about ground cover, soil carbon, multi-species cover crops and a simple water infiltration test you can try in your paddock or garden. There’s also an unexpected challenge: as more water soaks into the soil, less may run into dams, making reliable stock water infrastructure essential.

From keeping soil on the farm to caring for the rivers downstream, this conversation explores how connected our landscapes are. Through it all, we return to the importance of staying connected to other people when farming gets tough.

Subscribe to Grassroots and Gumboots for practical conversations about farming, food and the natural world.

#GrassrootsAndGumboots #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #HeartYourFarmer

Can we produce food, make a living and protect biodiversity on the same land? That’s the question taking Upper Hunter beef producer Ellenor Nixon from her family farm to the world through her 2027 Nuffield Drought Resilience Scholarship.

This week on Grassroots and Gumboots, Kylie Woodham and Mike McCosker chat with Ellenor about bringing conservation and production together, and the changes she’s seeing on her farm through grazing management, ground cover and close observation.

From native lilies and dung beetles to the sound of frogs around a creek, Ellenor shares the joy of noticing what’s happening in the landscape—and how that connection helps her through the tougher seasons.

We also explore her unexpected journey from archaeology and film classification back to farming, the practical realities of preparing for drought, and the supportive network of rural women who encouraged her to apply for Nuffield.

A conversation about curiosity, community and caring for the land while building a viable farm business.

Subscribe to Grassroots and Gumboots for more conversations with the people growing a healthier future for farming.

#GrassrootsAndGumboots #RegenerativeAgriculture #NuffieldScholar

How much life is hiding beneath your boots?

In Episode 5 of Grassroots and Gumboots, Kylie Woodham and Mike McCosker explore biodiversity. From the tiny organisms beneath the soil to the plants, insects and animals that call our farms and gardens home.

With stories from Mike’s paddocks and Kylie’s “chaos garden”, we unpack the connections between soil, plants and animals and discuss how encouraging diversity can support a more resilient landscape in both dry and wet times.

In this episode, we chat about:

• What biodiversity actually means on a farm or in a backyard.
• Beneficial organisms and their role in keeping pests in check.
• Multi-species pastures, diverse gardens and working with natural systems.
• Simple ways to observe life in your soil and across your landscape.
• The joy of slowing down, looking closely and reconnecting with the land.
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Plus, there’s a spring farm update, the challenges of dry weather and a little friendly competition over who’s getting a head start on their corn crop!

Grab a cuppa, pull off your gumboots and join us for a closer look at biodiversity.

carbon8.org.au

In this episode of Grassroots and Gumboots, Kylie Woodham and Mike McCosker welcome their first guest, Christina Giuduci from The New Black Biochar in Tasmania, to explore what biochar is and how it can fit into practical farming systems.

From turning woody waste into a useful resource to giving soil microbes a home, Christina explains the science in everyday language and shares ideas for farmers wanting to get started.

We look at:

Why your soil type matters when considering biochar
Using biochar in compost and the importance of charging it before use
Making your own biochar
Turning waste into a resource, storing carbon and making use of the heat produced

A practical conversation about what biochar is, where biochar fits into your own system, what to consider and how it can complement the work you’re already doing on your farm.

Find out more about Christina’s work and explore resources at The New Black Biochar:
thenewblackbiochar.com.au

Subscribe to Grassroots and Gumboots for more conversations about healthy soils, resilient farms and practical approaches to regenerative agriculture.

#GrassrootsAndGumboots #Biochar #SoilHealth #RegenerativeAgriculture #AustralianFarming

Episode 3

Carbon is often discussed as a problem but it is also the foundation of life, healthy soil and productive farming.

In this episode of Gumboots & Grassroots, Mike McCosker and Kylie Woodham, explore why carbon matters, where it comes from and how it moves through our soils, plants and atmosphere. We look beyond the language of emissions to understand carbon’s role in soil structure, water retention, nutrient cycling, plant growth and farm resilience.

What happens when carbon is lost from the soil?

Can farmers put it back?

How can better soil management benefit both agricultural productivity and the wider environment?

This is a practical, down-to-earth conversation about one of agriculture’s most important and frequently misunderstood building blocks.

#carbon #carbononfarms #regenerativeagriculture #heartyourfarmer #NRAD