Learning to live off the forest
The group is really trying to get more people involved in their Wednesday WorkParty sessions at the Bendigo Nature Reserve in Southport between 09:00 and 15:00 (weather permitting).
Supporters who attended the Bendigo Conservancy Group’s (BCG) get-together has given this month’s meeting rave reviews.
The group thoroughly enjoyed listening to Jeanne-Louise Kinsey-Broide and Chris Dickens talk at Leka’s in Southport, on the edge of the Bendigo Nature Reserve last Sunday.
Jeanne-Louise shared her experience of the benefits, challenges and joys of Food Forest Farming and explained the seven layers and seven lessons.
Joan Gallagher, chairperson of the BCG, said it was an educational and interactive afternoon with prizes of seeds and plants, thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Jeanne-Louise is also the founder of the Farming Organic Food Festival, held annually in the wonderful indigenous and food gardens of gorgeous Secret Sithela.
She has been passionate about growing healthy food in an earth-friendly and regenerative way for more than 25 years. Over the past five years, with the support of her husband Rod, she has been able to implement her dream of creating a food forest at their eco-estate in Munster.
The food forest consists of at least 80 different types of edible and medicinal plants, with a focus on climate resilient varieties. Jeanne-Louise has also been implementing her knowledge and sharing plants and seeds within the local community of KwaNzimakwe.
Gallagher said this was followed by a talk by Chris Dickens, who is visiting family on the coast and who works for the International Water Management Institute, a global research organisation working to improve sustainable life, especially through agriculture.
He is currently working on a project in the Limpopo River Basin to introduce the most modern digital innovations into water resources management. They are building a Digital Twin, which is a replica of the Limpopo basin in the digital world powered by AI. This allows managers to test what is happening and to run scenarios in the digital world before applying in reality. They also include several biological tools to monitor the basin, from tracking fish behaviour and invertebrate sensitivities to pollution.
“This interesting talk ranged widely over these innovative ideas… introducing the new digital world and bringing hope for the management of our rivers,” she said.
The group is trying to get more people involved in their Wednesday WorkParty sessions at the Bendigo Nature Reserve in Southport between 09:00 and 15:00 (weather permitting).
The idea is that people who live in the area can send their garden staff for free training with Mbekezele Ngcobo from The Green Net on a Wednesday – this would be of value to them, their staff, the area and the country.
Contact Joan on 083 2667953.
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