FREE EcoVineyards field session – Riverland Copy

Workshop

• 9 – 9:10am: Introductions
• 9 – 10am: An introduction to the EcoVineyards project, functional biodiversity enhancement (good bugs, biocontrol, native insectary plants and practical examples) by Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture.
  • • EcoVineyards fact sheets
      – An introduction to native insectary plants
      – How to develop a biodiversity action plan (BAP).
      – Pre-European plant community lists for the Riverland
      – Fire resistant insectary plants
• 10 – 10.20am: Meet the EcoGrowers (Sheridan Alm, John & Luke Lory) and an introduction to their projects.
• 10.20 – 10.35am: Soil health projects by Jeremy Nelson (Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
• 10.35 – 10.50am: Morning tea.

Field session

• 10:50 – 11.20: Meet EcoGrower Brett Rosenzweig and view his demonstration site.
  • Examples:
    – Microbial activity (calico strips)
    – planting techniques (power planter, Pottiputki, Hamilton planter etc.)
    – tree guards (and Arborgreen discount offer)
• 11.20 – 12 noon: A focus on predatory birds (insectivorous/raptor birds), ways to attract them to the vineyard and predatory bird perch update with Phil Barron, Barron Environmental.
• 12 – till 1pm: A focus on soil health with Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture and Dr Amanda Schapel, PIRSA.
  – Soil carbon (PIRSA project results)
  – Predatory arthropods (in field assessment)
  – Water infiltration (infiltrometer ring test)
  – Soil resistance (penetrometer)
  – Soil temperature (in field and handheld thermometers)
• 1pm: Lunch and close.