The Central Victorian Regenerative Farmer’s INC. was formed in 2019. Today, the group has 40 active farmers and members across central Victoria, including both small and large farms, smaller landholders, and those passionate about regenerative agriculture.
The group’s diverse farms produce a wide array of goods, such as beef, lamb, pork, goat, eggs, milk, wool, olive oil, broad acre crops, and timber.
In late 2018, Ross Davey invited five farm owners interested in regenerative agriculture to a BBQ to discuss Charles Massy’s book, Call of the Reed Warbler. All were eager to explore what regenerative agriculture might mean for their region and how they could better care for their soils and environment through collaborative learning.
Around the same time, the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) received funding from Landcare Australia to support farmer groups exploring new ways to support each other. From this, the fledgling group was born, receiving some funding and significant support to begin exploring regenerative farming together.
Since then, the group has held many workshops, field trips, and farm walks, engaging in reading, learning, and undertaking practical trials across the broad scope of regenerative practices. They have also conducted formal trials with Landcare Australia, NCCMA, and Southern Cross University.
Encouraged by the NCCMA, the group formally incorporated in February 2020, growing to include about 25 farmers with varying landholdings, experience, and resources. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, they maintained their activities through fortnightly Zoom updates, sharing discoveries from on-farm trials and discussing regenerative practices.
Today, the group has 40 active farmers and members across central Victoria, including both small and large farms, smaller landholders, and those passionate about regenerative agriculture. The group’s diverse farms produce a wide array of goods, such as beef, lamb, pork, goat, eggs, milk, wool, olive oil, broad acre crops, and timber.
Jasmine, along with her husband and young daughter, farm Sunnybank Farm in Burrumbeet. She first came across the notion of regenerative farming in 2019 and joined the CVRF in the summer of 2019-2020. Quickly implementing a shift towards regenerative and holistic farming methods, Sunnybank Farm now produces pasture-raised eggs and grass-fed lamb and beef, following a paddock-to-plate approach.
Jasmine is passionate about changing the food production chain in Australia and creating accessibility for everyone to buy local and direct from farmers. For her, regenerative farming is all about the generations to come. Being able to produce food while improving soil is the foundation for a healthier planet and allows family farms like theirs to remain operational long into the future.
Jasmine joined the CVRF committee in 2021, before a gradual transition into the role of president towards the back half of 2022.
Barbara grew up on a wheat and sheep farm in Mallee, south of Loxton, SA. She attended Melbourne University to study Veterinary Science, but rowing took precedence, leading to a 40-year involvement in the sport (you can look up Barbara Griffiths the rower and Barbara Gillett the coach).
For the last 30 years until her retirement, she was deeply involved with schools in SA, VIC, NSW, QLD, and NZ. At the age of 60, she returned to farming.
Barbara now manages a 5th generation property at Mt Beckworth, north of Ballarat, with Australian White Sheep and Lowline cattle. After reading an article about regenerative farming in 2019, she embraced this approach wholeheartedly. Life has never been better!
Stephen Parish and his family own a small farm near Clunes, where they raise Speckleline cattle (a cross between Speckle Park and Lowline) and some sheep. Their goal is to improve their land, leaving it healthier and in better condition than when they took on the farm in 2012, while also raising healthy livestock. Stephen became excited about regenerative agriculture when he was first introduced to it in 2019.
Stephen has been part of CVRF since its inception and served as the inaugural President. Through this group, they have made wonderful connections, learning a great deal from each other and from visiting one another’s operations.
Andrew studied Marine Biology with hopes of saving the planet through conservation. However, feeling helpless in the face of climate change, he turned to making pastries and cakes for a living. Now, after five years as a full-time farmer, Andrew is passionate about the potential of small, human-scale farms to transform our local food systems, landscapes, and rural communities. He breeds and grazes cattle using holistic planned grazing at Woodhouse Hill in Smeaton, providing his community with bimonthly beef boxes. Planting biodiverse shelter belts and rehydrating the landscape also keep him busy on the farm
Nats and her 4th generation farming husband Jono have been regenerative farming since 2012 at Brooklands Free Range Farms in Blampied, a successful paddock to plate farm, selling at Farmers Markets & local Restaurants, rare breed Grass Fed British White Beef & Pastured Whey Fed Berkshire Pork & smallgoods all born & raised on farm.
Nats has a background in the Veterinary Industry, Vet pharmaceuticals, Animal Nutrition & Equine Herbal Medicine as well as the founder in 2005 of RubADub a 100% natural food-based ingredients skincare range.
In 2018 they were invited to Ross Davies BBQ which was the pivoting moment of “finding our farming tribe”
With funding from the NCCMA and in conjunction with CVRF they started a 5-year Multispecies Cover Crop Trial using biologicals over 4 strips, together with a visit from Dr Christine Jones, Colin Seis, Graham Hand, Nicole Masters, Dick Richardson & many others through CVRF, taking a bit of what they have learnt to what their farming model is today.
Nats is extremely passionate with sharing knowledge, and not only wants to help those that want to start the journey, but also the big broad acre conventional farmers believing that one tiny change towards a regenerative farming system can build on so many changes for the life and future of our soils.
Currently involved in the Implementation Group for the Central Highlands Drought Resilience Plan, and previously participated in the Central Highland Drought Plan with local government and officially published on the DAFF website.
Nats has been a part of the CVRF committee since the beginning with a small break returning in 2024.
Regenerative farming can be interpreted in various ways, often sparking diverse opinions. As a group, we believe it encompasses a wide range of views and practices, with no single approach being superior. For us, regenerative farming is about improving soils and livestock in an environmentally, financially, and emotionally responsible manner. It recognizes that methods can vary from farmer to farmer, rather than adhering to one fixed way.
The term “regenerative agriculture” or “regenerative farming” has evolved over the past 30 years. It goes beyond conservation or “sustainable” agriculture. It is not just organic farming, biodynamic farming, biological farming, or natural farming. Instead, it is a holistic, science-based approach.
“Regenerative organic agriculture improves the resources it uses, rather than destroying or depleting them. It is a holistic systems approach to agriculture that encourages continual on-farm innovation for environmental, social, economic, and spiritual well-being.” – Rodale Institute (coined the term in the 1980s)
“Regenerative agriculture is an approach that enhances natural cycles, repairs disturbance events, minimizes harmful inputs, and focuses on building resilience, microbial life, and organic matter in the soil.” – Nicole Masters, For the Love of Soil
In our understanding, regenerative agriculture works with natural systems to harness their capacity to heal, sustain, and develop, rather than employing tactics that damage parts of these systems for short-term gain. Put simply, it is farming with a long-term view, working in harmony with nature rather than trying to reshape or fight it.
Our friend, Glen Chapman (southernblue.com.au), suggests regenerative agriculture…
Incorporates all-encompassing management and planning principles in its approach and operation.
Developing the biology and fertility of soils as the basis of the system. Many farmers change how they describe themselves and call themselves “soil or grass farmers”.
By developing systems that mimic natural biodiverse ecosystems and natural processes, as forces impact on the system, such as climate, is better able to survive and thrive in the face of these forces.
This means many enterprises, animal types and plant species. Diversity.
Ranging from production to consumption and back again. The perfect outcome is those that loop from food, to consumption and “waste”, returned to the system for the next round.
By focusing on the whole food system there is a development of connecting people with their food again and as a result, many regenerative farmers have a local supply model.
Our passionate farmers have curated a collection of our favorite books, podcasts, videos, and more that have inspired and educated us on regenerative agriculture. Dive into these resources and join us in transforming the future of farming
