GROW Plant Hub
We’re GROWing an amazing program of talks and discussions for a full day of learning at the Plant Hub
🌱 introductory level: no assumed knowledge
🌱🌱 advanced level: a deep dive straight into the nitty gritty
9.30am: Gates open & morning tea
10.30am: (IN THE GROW Lounge) Carbon Cowboys’ Peter Byck and Allen Williams in conversation with GROW live from the US 🌱
Join US documentary filmmaker Professor Peter Byck (director of the Carbon Cowboys and Roots So Deep films) and Carbon Cowboys’ lead scientist Dr Allen Williams for an inspiring start to the GROW day.
Peter travelled to Kyneton to be the keynote speaker for the inaugural GROW in February 2025 and we’re still working together in 2026. Peter and Allen will update us on the latest results they’re seeing in their peer-reviewed research on adaptive multi-paddock grazing, check in on the GROW Paddock and open the session up to questions from us all at GROW.
11.30am: Weed workshop (back by popular demand!) 🌱
Join roadside conservation expert Josh for a closer look at weeds and learn how to identify weed species, their impacts and how to manage them and the species we want to conserve.
With Josh Gomez, conservation educator, Macedon Ranges Shire Council
12 noon: Nature on Farms: Demonstrating Climate-Adaptive Agriculture 🌱
With Sasha Dobson, Biolinks Alliance
12.30pm: Uses and benefits of foliar fertiliser 🌱🌱
With Grant Sims, multi-species innovator, broadacre cropper and Coles Weekly Times Farmer of the Year, Lockington
1.00pm: Cheers to regen beer: a refreshed future for heritage grains and regenerative cropping (on in the GROW Lounge) 🌱
With Evan Hunter, head brewer, Bendigo Brewing
1.30pm: Hydrating the landscape: what can we do to restore the natural water cycle? 🌱
With Adrian Drew, Natural Sequence Farming consultant
2.00: Djandak Wi: how cultural burning promotes healthy Country 🌱
With Martin Robert, Djandak Wi project manager, Djaara
& Levi Jessen-Fennell, program manager, Djandak Wi, Djaara
“Our vision for Djandak is to see multiple plumes of boort (smoke) widely distributed across Djandak. We are empowered to conduct Djandak Wi at the right time, in the right way, and in the right place according to what Djandak needs. Right way Djandak Wi evokes feelings of calm, happiness, positivity, and Cultural safety. It has soothing smells, calming crackling sounds, white smoke, and slow-moving knee-high flames. People can walk behind the wi. It also means that those who share Djandak Wi with us are walking beside us on Country yarning and sharing knowledge. Djaara know when Djandak is healing by reduced weeds, abundant medicine, ceremony, food, and fibre plants, vibrant colours, plentiful wildlife, orchestras of birds, frogs, and rustling animals, and high biodiversity.After many years of absence, Djandak Wi is making a resurgence on Djandak and with it an opportunity for Djandak, Djaara, and the communities who share Djandak with us, to heal.”
3.00pm: Regenerative broadacre cropping 🌱🌱
With Grant Sims, multi-species innovator, broadacre cropper and Coles Weekly Times Farmer of the Year, Lockington
PLUS
3.00pm: Tree planting & guarding masterclass (on in the GROW Paddock) 🌱
Tips and tricks on giving young trees the best chance at survival.
With Tully Sumner, revegetation innovator & nurseryman, Grow Locals
3.30pm: Carbon project case study 🌱🌱
The process of setting up a carbon project can be complex, but by following a set of simple methods and focusing on some key elements it is possible. Mette shares her experience with environmental plantings as the simplest and least onerous in terms of monitoring and requiring third party support. Her advice? Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good!
With Mette Schepers, local landholder & ACCU project founder
4.00pm: How to establish multi-species pastures for grazing 🌱🌱
With Jade Killoran, multi-species pasture researcher and advisor, Healthy Farming Systems
4.30pm: Biological seed treatments: do they work & how to use them 🌱
Sharing Soils for Life’s practice guide on biological seed treatments, including a demonstration with seedling trays.
With Courtney Young, farmer and soil health educator, Woodstock Flour & Soils for Life
& Jack Newman-Morris, soil health educator, Highground Soils
PLUS
4.30pm: Forest, fire, future: the regenerative journey of Merth Vineyard (on in the GROW Lounge) 🌱🌱
Charting the seven-year transformation of a former pine plantation above the Coliban River to a healthy, regenerative vineyard with a herd of heritage cattle grazing among the vines.
With Erin O’Brien, Merth Vineyard, Spring Hill