LEARN HOW TO MANAGE TREES AND SHRUBS FOR CONSERVATION AND PROFIT

Want to grow and manage trees for multiple outcomes such as shelter, profit, conservation, or carbon but don’t know where to begin? Would you like to know how vegetation can be used to increase productivity and diversify income with products like sawlogs, native cut flowers, firewood or even shiitake mushrooms and truffles?

The award-winning Master TreeGrower (MTG) course held in the Lismore Land Protection Group region of Corangamite will answer these questions and more. The course focuses on equipping participants with the skills, know how, support networks and confidence to incorporate trees on their property and across the landscape for a range of outcomes, underpinned by the best available scientific, market and practical knowledge.

“The Master TreeGrower course is about empowering the local community and land managers to make informed decisions by exploring the possibilities and markets that exist around trees, and applying the information gained from experts, peers and other participants to meet their own aspirations,” course co-coordinator and Camperdown local Becky McCann said.

“Information sharing is key, and the course encourages questions, discussion and learning by experiencing. The course is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced growers who may, for example, have a plantation on their property but don’t know what to do with it.”

Hosted by the Lismore Land Protection Group (LLPG) in partnership with the Otway Agroforestry Network (OAN), the eight-day course kicks off with a free information day and farm walk on Friday 23 May in Lismore.

“The introductory session introduces the concept of agroforestry and highlights the endless possibilities and benefits trees and tree products can offer.

“If people like what they see on 23 May, they can register to undertake the eight-day course to become a Master Tree Grower in their own right. You do not have to own land to participate and to gain some great skills,” Ms McCann said.

The Master TreeGrower course was developed by Forest Scientist and Otway local Rowan Reid in 1996. More than 125 courses have since been delivered around Australia and overseas involving more than 2500 participants.

The Lismore-based course will run throughout winter, shifting throughout the Lismore region and driven by participant needs and interests. Topics include growing trees to produce products and services; thinning and pruning; maximising productivity through shade and shelter; carbon and biodiversity; measuring trees and products; choosing species; accessing markets and property planning and revegetation design.

“The Lismore region has many properties where well-designed plantations can improve agricultural production and provide many other benefits, such as improving property values and creating a nicer workplace,” Ms McCann said.

“The region has an incredible history of tree growing, including the property ‘Titanga’ which we will visit on the introductory day. Research into tree growing has been undertaken there since the 1880s, and thanks to the very knowledgeable Andrew Lang it’s still very active in showcasing agroforestry in action today.”

“We thank the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) for their ongoing support and funding. Without their help it would be very difficult to run the Master TreeGrower course,” said Louisa-Jane Cunningham, OAN Board Member.

The MTG course is made possible thanks to Corangamite CMA’s Diverse Farms, Resilient Catchments project, which is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

The OAN is a grassroots Landcare group operating for over 25 years across the Corangamite catchment area from the Heytesbury to the Bellarine and north to Ballarat that encourages rural property owners to establish and manage trees for the reasons that matter to them, while empowering those without land to gain skills and experience in tree growing and natural resource management as well.

The LLPG has been working with and supporting landholders, Landcare and other community groups from Beeac to Weerite to the Mount Emu Creek and everywhere in between for decades, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, conservation and revegetation projects.

Lismore Land Protection Group Master TreeGrower Course FREE Introductory Session:
Friday 23 May, 9:30am - 4pm (includes lunch and snacks).
Lismore (address to be provided upon RSVP).
An opportunity to ‘try before you buy’ - see what it’s all about before committing to the 8-day course. Afternoon farm walk at ‘Titanga’ with landholder and tree growing expert Andrew Lang

All welcome! You do not have to have land to do this course and gain some great skills.
RSVP for the Free Introductory Day with any dietary requirements by Monday 19 May.

For more information and to RSVP, contact: mtg2025@myyahoo.com
Sarah McMaster, Lismore Land Protection Group: 0439 059 202
Louisa-Jane Cunningham, Otway Agroforestry Network: 0408 800 108

Full course cost: $440 plus OAN membership ($88).