Agroforestry.net.au Trees on farms for shelter, conservation & profit Website by Rowan Reid

Sheep graze under Poplar, Black Walnut and Eucalypts at Rowan’s Bambra Agroforestry Farm

What is Agroforestry?

For me, agroforestry is the integration of trees and shrubs into farming landscapes for conservation and profit. It's all about farmers using trees to improve the environmental, social and economic values of their land. I've been working with Australian farmers for more than 30 years. From the wheatbelt of Western Australia to the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland I don't think I've ever seen a farm that would not benefit from more tree cover or better forest management.

Welcome to my agroforestry website. After more than 20 years working as a lecturer in agroforestry and farm forestry at The University of Melbourne I'm now freelancing. I maintian my role as coordinator of the Australian Master TreeGrower Program and as volunteer editor of the Australian Agroforestry magazine. I will even be still teaching my Agroforestry subject at Melbourne University (see link below). 

This web site presents information, ideas, opinion and research that I think might be of interest to Australian farmers and those who work with them. You can download my own publications, read practical information on tree species and management, take a virtual tour of our own Bambra Agroforestry Farm and watch videos on harvesting, integrating trees into farming systems and shiitake production.

I'm happy to try and answer your email questions at no charge (go to Ask Rowan). I am also available for speaking engagements, field days, consultancies and can organise tours of my property and other leading agroforestry farms around Australia. For those in the many agencies working with farmers I can also organise and run workshops and courses that reflect your needs.

I hope you find the site useful.    

Thanks for your interest,  Rowan                                             More about Rowan Reid

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Do you want to grow trees for conservation and profit?

For shelter, sawlogs, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, soil conservation, beautification, firewood, seed, fodder, bush foods, salinity control or any other value

If so, then become a Master TreeGrower

TWO NEW COURSES START IN OCTOBER - WA and NE Vic

 The Australian Master TreeGrower is an 8-day, field based, course for landholders interested in planting and managing trees for conservation and profit. The course was designed up by Rowan Reid in 1996 when he was an academic at The University of Melbourne. Since then there have been 85 courses involving more than 1800 landholders across Australia.

Participants receive Master TreeGrower hat, gate sign, MTG Diameter Tape, books, certificate, MTG Lapel Pin & more.

North East Victoria NTG Course

This course will be run in North-East Victoria for local farmers. The course is jointly supported by FFORNE AFG Branch and MTG Inc. Both are not-for-profit groups aimed at helping landholders establish and manage trees on their land for both conservation and profit.

Proposed Program (subject to change)

COURSE FEE: (all funds held by the group for use by participants to cover local costs) 

-          FFORNE AFG Members - $55          Others $110

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW:

Landholders are invited to attend the first day for free before making a commitment to the course but we do ask that you register your interest and reserve your place as numbers are limited.

Simply contact:    Rowan Reid           Mob: 0409609939;  rowan.reid@agroforestry.net.au

More information: Bruce Sonogan - DPI Benalla, Ph (03) 5761 1666 Mobile 0437 566 232; bruce.sonogan@dpi.vic.gov.au

                                Philippa Noble – DPI, Wodonga Ph; 03 57 238 686  Mob; 0409 964 283; philippa.noble@dpi.vic.gov.au

Western Australia MTG course 

The course is a joint project between the national not-for-profit Australian Master TreeGrower Program and the South West Branch of Australian Forest Growers with support from South West Catchments Council, Blackwood Valley Landcare Zone and the Department of Water

 COURSE FEE: (all funds held by the group for use by participants to cover local costs) -  $250 (inc GST)

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW: Download a registration form for the WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MTG COURSE

Simply contact:    Rowan Reid           Mob: 0409609939;  rowan.reid@agroforestry.net.au

 OR                           Richard Moore     0429 926 731       richard.w.moore2@gmail.com

                                David Jenkins     9761 1128

 CLICK FOR MORE ON THE MTG

          
A group from the 2003 MTG course in WA during a tour of David Jenkins farm at Bridgetown

Related Programs

	We ran the first Australian Master TreeGrower course in 1996. Since then, more than 1750 landholder have completed one of the 85 courses run across the country.  Yet, the MTG is more than just a short course  for farmers. After being hosted by the University of Melbourne for 13 years the MTG program is now run by a not-for-profit community groups. See the side banner for course dates for 2010. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
	Australian Agroforestry Magazine Current edition: Small scale farm logging: Is it practical? Can it be done safely? Australian Agroforestry is a not-for-profit magazine for Australian tree growers currently edited by Rowan. Check out past editions and subscribe online. NEXT EDITION: Using farm-grown timber: Furniture, Building, Surfboards, Instruments, ......whatever. Nothing gives tree growers confidence like seeing farm-grown timber being used in high value products. We want your photos and stories about anything that you or others have made from farm-grown trees. If you’ve used farm-grown timber we’d like to hear your views about its strengths and weaknesses: is it as good as old-growth? If not, why not? ALSO: We’re interested in more stories and letters about SAFETY. Our last edition generated a lot of reaction – this is an issue that we need to keep talking about. SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS, ARTICLES, PICTURES, LETTERS NOW Send in your stories, photos and letters to Rowan Reid  ________________________________________________________________________________________
STUDY AGROFORESTRY AT MELB. UNI. 220510 Farm Trees and Agroforestry	Rowan has been teaching Agroforestry at Melb. Uni. Since 1991. His subject is now a 2-week elective available to students of the new forestry masters and to the public  through the university’s community access program. This subject covers the principles and practices of integrating trees into the rural agricultural landscape for both conservation and profit. The farming community requires trees and shrubs for shade and shelter, soil conservation, salinity control and aesthetics. Farmers can also produce commercial tree products such as timber, fuel, fodder, essential oils and food. Because farmers manage the majority of the Australian landscape governments, community groups and industry are increasingly working in partnership with them to grow trees for environmental services including carbon sequestration, biodiversity and downstream water quality. YOU MISSED IT for 2010 but the dates for the 2011 course will be advertised here soon. Think about joining us next year. Sometime in April/May 2011 _________________________________________________________________________________________
Rowan's Email News Group	I send out an occasional newsletter to more than 1000 people on a confidential email list. There is no commercial advertising, just information from not-for-profit groups. If you'd like to join the list simply drop me an email - see Contact Rowan below.

Farm grown eucalypt timber furniture harvested from Rowan's creek planting after 16 years MORE