Small Farm Living

The Small Farm Living Program benefits smallholders by facilitating knowledge sharing and skill development through smaller events and workshops, promoting the availability of funding for on-ground environmental work, facilitating smallholder property management planning and providing a web-based resource centre. The program also hosts the biennial Small Farm Living Field Day, held in partnership with Lilydale Landcare.

In 2012, NRM North recognised a growing need and opportunity to provide land management advice and support to smallholders in the region. An increase in ‘rural living’ properties was accompanied by an emerging sector of landowners with limited background in land management, often lacking in local support networks to approach for advice. Weed management and animal biosecurity are part of a broad spectrum of potential risks and issues addressed in the Small Farm Living Program, enabling the community to identify and care for the valuable natural resources in their area, creating a positive impact on wider conservation and biodiversity projects.

The Small Farm Living Program began in July 2012 through funding provided by the Australian Government’s Biodiversity Fund and has been self-funded by NRM North. Now funded by the National Landcare Program: Smart Farms Small Grants (Round 4), the project will deliver:

• a biennial Small Farm Living Field Day, in partnership with Lilydale Landcare;
• workshops and field days on a range of topics, such as soil and pasture health, native seed collecting and plant propagation, weed management and more;
• the online Small Farm Living Resource Centre, with relevant information and resources from industry, government and conservation groups;
• Property Management Planning (PMP) support, workbooks and workshops, tailored to smallholders;
• support for eligible environmental works on properties, including native habitat protection and revegetation; and
• regular e-newsletter with relevant information and events.