Australian Organic Connect | Issue 5 | Autumn 2021

Celebrating Home-Grown Organic Farming Heroes

BY OWEN GWILLIAM

Australia has produced some of the world’s most renowned sustainable farming personalities, innovative farming methods, and is known worldwide as a leader in natural and sustainable agriculture. Despite this, many Australians are unaware of our home-grown heroes and their huge impact on farming methods not just here, but around the world.

Globally, organic farmers use a variety of methods and techniques to create truly sustainable, resilient, and regenerative farming systems. Many of these methods were developed, or defined and popularised, by Australians.

Through my years of experience in the Australian organic industry, I’ve been fortunate to learn a great deal from these pioneers – many of them personally. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank them, and the many others not in this article, on behalf of our industry, our country, and indeed the planet!

Bill Mollison Permaculture has become a global phenomenon, with Permaculture Design courses now available across the globe. Renowned environmental activist and author, David Suzuki, famously stated, “What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet.”

Permaculture was founded by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, in Tasmania. While permaculture may not always be compliant with organic standards – in practice it very often is, and the methods and systems put forth in the Permaculture Designers’ Manual (1988) are often used by organic farmers around the world.

The three key Permaculture ethics – Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share, and the 12 Design principles, if understood and applied well – greatly increase your chances of establishing a successful organic farm.

Percival A. Yeomans A lesser-known but highly impactful method of farm design and establishment is that of P.A. Yeomans – the founder of the Keyline Plan. Most have not heard of the Keyline Plan, however, many have seen or heard of the Keyline Plow (the official spelling!), with many such implements being found in the machinery sheds of organic farms around the country and indeed the world. Water for Every Farm was first published in 1964 and is a great place to start for those interested in a unique approach to maximising water storage within the soil profile. Water storage is very relevant to Australian farms, organic or otherwise.

Alex Podolinsky Biodynamic farming was not developed in Australia, however, we produced one of the world’s leading researchers and educators on the topic - Alex Podolinsky, who was widely regarded as the father of Biodynamics within Australia. The strong influence of Biodynamics in the Australian organic industry is evident by its inclusion in the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce, as well as the Australian Certified Organic Standard.

Bruce Ward Whilst studying Science in Agriculture at The University of Sydney, I was fortunate enough to have a colleague whose father was a prominent teacher of Holistic Management in Australia. Bruce Ward did not come up with Holistic Management, this acclaim belongs to Allan Savory, however, Bruce was one of the pioneers of applying this decision-making framework to Australian agriculture – especially grazing management.

Again, holistically managed farms are not always certified organic, however many certified organic beef operations in Australia (in my experience, the really successful ones!) do tend to follow these management methods.

Peter Andrews Natural Sequence Farming is another farm design approach that has become popular amongst organic farmers here in Australia, and abroad. The method has received significant coverage in Australia due to support from the likes of Gerry Harvey (of Harvey Norman), and Tony Coote (of Angus & Coote).

Peter Andrews, the creator of Natural Sequence Farming, is becoming more well-known thanks to coverage of his life and story on the ABC’s Australian Story program, in which he has featured more than once. Natural Sequence Farming has in common with The Keyline Plan and Permaculture earthworks methods, the aim to rehydrate the landscape, with whatever resources are available on the farm. Many organic farmers here and abroad have learnt from and employed these methods on their farms.

Christine Jones Modern-day soil health and carbon cycle expert, Christine Jones, has been an influential educator, especially in the last decade, promoting Amazing Carbon online and in face-to-face training events all around the country. Christine is currently very active in teaching the importance of soil carbon, soil microbiology, carbon farming, nitrogen cycles, and disease suppressive soils to local and global audiences thanks to her busy webinar schedule.

Members of Australian Organic Limited can access a webinar that honours each of the above pioneers and includes a case study of a certified organic farm that has implemented all the above methods in one place, in the member portal.

For further details on each of the above methods, see the below resource list:

Permaculture Research Institute www.permaculturenews.org

Bruce Ward Legacy Trust www.holisticresults.com.au

Bio-Dynamic Research Institute demeter.org.au

The Keyline Plan www.keyline.com.au

Amazing Carbon www.amazingcarbon.com

In biodynamic farming, cow horns are filled with cow manure, buried in winter and dug up in the spring. The dark organic matter inside, known as ‘preparation 500’, is used as a potent, natural fertiliser for soil and crops.