Matthew Evans dishes the dirt on his latest new book

Matthew Evans, aka the Gourmet Farmer, was a special guest presenter at the Small Blocks Big Dreams- Small Producers Launch Event last week to dish out the latest dirt on his new book: Soil which has taken the agriculture industry by storm.

Matthew Evans new book Soil is a passionate plea for all of us to consider the very earth we stand on. It is the story of how dirt makes us and can break us. It describes how we are all responsible for our share in protecting this important resource.

The Small Blocks Big Dreams Small Producers Launch Event also featured an expert small producer’s panel made up of; Al Dennis from Moorpark Farm, Jo Delorenzo from Jo’s Pantry, Jo Hughson from Otway Sown and Grown, and Xavier Meade from Barongarook Pork and The Meat Crew.

The expert panel engaged with a lively and passionate audience where a discussion took place on how these farmers and active members of the local food and fibre scene took the plunge into the industry.

The Small Blocks Big Dreams project aims to empower small landholders to think strategically, make informed management decisions, increase active stewardship, improve land, water and vegetation management and increase community landscape resilience.

The Corangamite CMA has partnered with Central Otway Landcare Network to deliver a series of workshops designed for small producers as part of the project starting late July.

Any interested landholders (specifically small producers and agribusinesses) can contact Andy Gray at andy.gray@coln.org.au to enquire about a place in the project with expressions of interest still open for the workshop series.

Corangamite CMA’s Chelsey Agg said, “It is a real pleasure to support the Central Otway Landcare Network to deliver this workshop series that will provide local small producers with the skills and confidence to grow high quality food and fibre whilst protecting our soil health and biodiversity”.

Ms Agg continued, “This introductory event was a fantastic way to engage with the community on how this project aims to support small landholders to learn about environmental best management practices and become ‘stewards of their land’. 

The Small Blocks Big Dreams project is one of 11 Our Catchments, Our Communities regional on ground projects, funded by the Victorian Government to support catchment stewardship, health, and resilience.