The Next Step for Farmers and Growers - Maximizing Productivity by Mimicking Nature for pastures, orchards and gardens with Siobhan Griffin.

Siobhan explains some of the science around how the symbiosis of pasture plants, fruit trees and shrubs, and animals can mimic highly productive and abundant pristine ecosystems. These concepts apply to pastural systems, orchards and gardens.

She covers how she sequestered 100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per hectare in her soils, reduced drought risk, and created a more resilient farm and spray-free orchard with fewer pests.

9:30 AM: Coffee and Introduction

10:00 to 11:30 Presentation: The Next Step for Farmers and Growers - Maximizing Productivity by Mimicking Nature

11:30 – 12:30 Sharing Lessons and Q&A Bring your success stories for discussion fodder for the group to ruminate about.

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch, Bring your own

1:30 – 2:30 The attendees are challenged to experiment with tools designed to empower them to move towards the future they really want for their farm and community.

2:30 – 4:00 Pasture Walk at Chaos Springs

Tying the topics together 4:00 – 4:30 Discussion over a cuppa

Event at Chaos Springs 131 Deam Road Waihi

Next Level Grazing

Cost $160.00

This day will be available for up to 4 farms for an intensive grazing management day, with the outcome of a specific grazing plan for your farm.

Grazing planning for dairy or sheep and beef farmers.

Open to four farms only.

9:30 to 10:30 Getting Started with Next Level Grazing

Five hacks for farmers to lift your grazing wedge and grow more grass PLUS how to promote dairy or finishing quality pasture.

11:00 to 12:30 Setting up a grazing plan for your farm

12:30 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 to 4:00 Incorporating the NLG hacks into your grazing plan with the goal of maximizing pasture production.

How to use the NLG data sheet on the computer to run scenarios for your next growing season.

How the plan helps you know how much supplement to harvest (or feed out) and when.

Learn to recognize the signals to make rapid proactive adjustments to your grazing in real time depending on the weather.

Also covered is how the grazing plan helps you track your success (or not) of your regenerative programme by tracking pasture productivity and animal performance.

About the Instuctor

Siobhan Griffin learned how to lift soil carbon and keep it higher and produce better tasting meat and milk on the US dairy farm business she started with her husband in 1989. She converted the family farm to organic in 1997 and started regenerative farming in 2007. Since 2017 she has lived on her partners sheep farm in Milton, New Zealand where they raise 4,200 ewes. Other relevant experiences includes dairy plant processing supervisor, cheesemaking, green microdairy processing facility design, and wholesale and direct marketing. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Animal Science.

Event held at Chaos Springs 131 Deam Road Waihi - 07863-7975

Next Level Grazing

Cost $800 per farm

The price is per farm and preferably the whole team involved in farm management can attend. The more the better. The price includes the proprietary data sheets designed specifically for New Zealand conditions and gives the farmers all the tools they need going forward. The grazing planning is designed to lift productivity but unlike fertilizers or amendments they don't need to keep buying every year. I provide free support via WhatsApp for one year after the grazing planning session. 

This one-day workshop will cover the basics of on farm composting including:

THIS WORKSHOP IS TENTATIVE AND WILL BE CONFIRMED AT A LATER DAY. LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. email here

• Review of soil biology and their functions

• Understanding the carbon cycle

• Principles of thermal composting and vermi composting

• Compost pile types and construction

• Utilizing farm resources

• Recipes for optimum composting –diversity is the Key

• Monitoring and maintaining compost piles

• Assessing compost quality

• Equipment Options

• Site Selection and Layout

• Technical Tools

• Methods of application

Course Tutor Steve Erickson | Chaos Springs

Morning & Afternoon tea provided, bring your lunch

Cost: $250.

Register here: info@chaossprings.co.nz

There are many different theories on soil and farm management. This workshop will explore the systems we have implemented over the past 18 years here at Chaos Springs which include;

Precise Composting Methods

Farm Specific Plant Extracts

Appropriate Crop Rotations

Accurate Grazing Management

Energetic Systems

This introductions to these methods will include an indoor explanation of each technique and a farm tour looking at the results.

Cost : $80.00

Tutor: Steve Erickson

Morning tea provided bring your lunch

To register click here info@chaossprings.co.nz