A successful farmer education program has recently concluded in the Upper Hunter, supporting local producers to strengthen resilience, deepen knowledge, and build lasting connections around regenerative agriculture.
Delivered by Carbon8 with the support of local councils, the Verified RegenGrown Program worked alongside 45 farmers from 24 farms, spanning more than 10,000 hectares across the region. The program focused on helping farmers benchmark, understand, and track regenerative outcomes on their own land, using practical tools and shared learning rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
Designed to respond to real on-farm challenges such as drought and flooding, the program supported participants to better read the indicators in their soils, pastures, and landscapes. Farmers were encouraged to observe changes over time, understand cause and effect, and make informed decisions suited to their local conditions.
Each participant received a comprehensive Regenerative Toolkit, including soil and plant health monitoring tools, digital farm mapping, and practical education resources they could continue using beyond the program. Six fortnightly online sessions covered key focus areas across soil health, biodiversity, water cycle efficiency, nutrient density, farmer knowledge and wellbeing, and Indigenous engagement.
Understanding soil organic carbon, building soil health, and tracking regenerative outcomes through practical on-farm monitoring tools.
Exploring biodiversity indicators, water cycle efficiency, and the interconnected systems that support resilient, productive landscapes.
Building farmer knowledge, supporting wellbeing, fostering Indigenous engagement, and strengthening nutrient density outcomes through shared learning
Beyond the technical outcomes, one of the strongest results of the program was the sense of connection that emerged among participants.
"What stood out was the strength of the community that formed," said Carbon8 co-founder Helen McCosker. "Those connections will continue well beyond the program."
Programs like this demonstrate the power of locally led, community-driven learning in supporting farmers to build resilient, productive systems while strengthening rural communities.
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