Stephen Burns, The Land 30 Nov 2019
Earth Canvas Farmers: Jill Coghlan, Eurimbla, Gerogery, Bill, Joy and Polly Wearn Yammacoona, Little Billabong and Gill Sanbrook, Bibbaringa, Bowna with Ian Coghlan at the recent art and regenerative farming open day on Eurimbla. Photo: supplied
Practical examples of artists connecting with the landscape has been the focus of a series of farm visits sponsored by Earth Canvas across the eastern Riverina.
Group spokesperson Gill Sanbrook, a landholder from Bowna and keenly embracing regenerative agriculture noted the chance to visit a farm is a rare opportunity for many Australians.
“We think it important more people understand the process of agriculture and that is why we have created these moments,” Ms Sanbrook said.
“This innovative project is designed to link farmers and artists to create a better understanding of the farming landscape.
“It is a collaboration with the artist, agriculture scientists and educators.”
Regenerative farming is about building ecosystems while producing healthy food from healthy soil and managing profitable farming business.
At Mt Narra Narra, Holbrook artist John Wolseley from Bendigo and Gail and Ian Davis from Mountain Creek near Holbrook enjoyed lunch during the Earth Canvas Open Day where artists and Regenerative farmers discussed with a crowd of people how regenerative farmers are building soil health to build more profitable business.
At Mt Narra Narra, Holbrook artist John Wolseley from Bendigo and Gail and Ian Davis from Mountain Creek near Holbrook enjoyed lunch during the Earth Canvas Open Day where artists and Regenerative farmers discussed with a crowd of people how regenerative farmers are building soil health to build more profitable business.
Richard Vines is a Knowledge Management Specialist within the Agriculture Research Branch of Agriculture Victoria but he attended one of the Earth Canvas Field Days at Yammacoona, Holbrook in a private capacity and was taken by the widespread passion of the participants.
“I mentioned the enthusiasm to my supervisor because I was impressed with and interested in the nature of the day,” he reflected.
“The generosity of conversation that unfolded, particularly under the red box tree was important to someone with more than a passing interest in the notion of “knowledge”, “knowledge exchange” indeed “authoritative knowledge” in all their forms.”
Two enthusiastic visitors at the Earth Canvas open day at Mt Narra Narra Open day at Holbrook. Paris Capel from Orange and Kate Rice from Parkes both students at ANU Canberra. Paris said she found the concept of Earth Canvas and the connection between art and agriculture insightful. She said Mt Narra Narra and what Michael and Anna Coughlan are doing is a shining beacon of hope in a time where there is so much doom about the future of Agriculture. It was an excellent day with excellent people.
Mr Vines was encouraged to put his thoughts into words but acknowledged his reflections are also based on a point of view that any form of knowledge, including knowledge-based advocacy is something he feels is best both shared and critiqued.
“Generative conversations are life changing,” he said.
“Words and ascribes meanings swirl to bring light upon what has been, what is, what might become … indeed what will become through ours and others agency.”
Rod Chisholm CEO of Soils for Life, Canberra talking with Caleb and Jennifer Smith. Jennifer is medical doctor from Temora and said she came to the Earth Canvas open day because she is concerned about the health of the soil and how it affects the food chain.
Mr Vines said the conversation which occurred under the shade of a red-box tree at Yammacoona was indeed regenerative.
Natural world artist Rosalind Atkins and landholders Bill and Joy Wearn were exploring philosophy and regenerative agriculture practice and how it benefits society.
“It was a practical example of an artist creating the conditions for a meandering conversation involving farmers and local and broader communities,” Mr Vines said.
“And in this conversation, as they and other work-based strangers talked about their respective knowledge worlds it became clear all struggled to find the words for a shared language to encompass everyone’s separate but interconnected worlds.
Guest speaker at Earth Canvas Open Day David Hardwick from Soil and Food, Albury talking with Bruce Simpson from Peppin Planning, Deniliquin discuss the importance of soil health.
The possibilities of the shared language are immeasurable according to Mr Vines who said the regenerative stories are creating the conditions for real-world agency in sustainable ways.
“Regional Australia,” he exclaimed.
“You’re doing it again … punching above your weight … both intellectually and practically.
“This time contributing to possibilities for the incremental healing of our land and our environment.”