Southern Forests Community Landcare

02/09/2026

The Firewise Garden is really taking shape under Kylie's management.

01/09/2026

Can you help in any way?

We are on the look out for some positions, one being the Secretary Role

✍️The Secretary role for Warren Districts Agricultural Society is a very important one which must be filled for the show to continue and can be tailored to suit what time and skills you’re able to offer. The role at a minimum focuses on the key tasks of meeting agendas and minutes, managing emails and correspondence. Meetings are every second Monday of the month, with the lead up to the show in January and February twice a month. A paid honorarium role can also be discussed on the level of work load you are prepared to take on. Seem daunting? Not to worry you will have our outgoing Secretary assisting you!

Pavilion Section Stewards
We are on the search for Pavilion Stewards to help run and promote each area. It’s not mandatory to attend meetings or even be on the committee. What we do need from you is communication and promotion of the section, stewarding judging at the show, set up of your section and helping the chief steward the week of the show and on showday. If you are passionate and have ideas for any of the following areas let us know. An area not currently there also let us know. We’d love to grow what we already have and also grow some new sections.

🍒Fruit & Vegetables
🌻Flowers/plants
🎃Giant Vegetables
🥚Produce (eggs, honey, oil, amateur brewing)
🎂Cooking
🍋Twin Lakes Lemon challenge
🫙Preserves
🥓Italian sausages
🪵Industrial art
👧👦Children’s section
🎨Children’s art

We are also on the search for Grounds-people to help assist with the set up and pack down the week of the show. Again you Dont need to be on the committee or even attend meetings but we expect you to be available the week of the show especially Friday - Sunday to help with set up and pack down

Lastly an Entertainment Co-Ordinator. We are looking for someone that can liase with Entertainment options and managing entertainment on the day. Being on the committee is again not monitory but regular attendance at meetings or regular reporting of progress of all things entertainment.

01/09/2026

Soils for Life have a range of webinars running in September.
* Monitoring your soil health, building your confidence 9th September
* Getting started with soil monitoring for on farm benefits 22nd September *
* Monitoring to build farm profitability and resilience 29th September
Check out their website for more details.

Encouraging regenerative agriculture and landscape management to enhance the natural environment and enable sustainable production - for the benefit of all.

30/08/2026

When I was at school we learnt about taproots and adventitious roots. The link provides more detail. https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghana-bhardwaj-kaul-761b268b/recent-activity/all/

28/08/2026

Gardeners are gearing up and itching to start their spring tasks. However careful attention needs to be paid to the w**d potential of plants selected to add to the garden.

The Invasive Species Council wants the common sweet pea plant, Polygala myrtifolia, with its pretty purple flowers recognised as a significant w**d and removed from sale.

28/08/2026

27/08/2026

For those whose thirst for soil knowledge know no bounds!

Earthworm counts are a good start, but if you want to see the bigger picture of what’s happening with your soil biology do you know what else you could be looking at in the field, and when a lab test is worth the investment?

Dr Jessica Rigg from Impact Ag Australia joins us for the first session in our Monitoring Series, in the lead-up to launching our new Soil, Plant and Landscape Health Monitoring practice guide.

We'll cover:
- The major soil biology groups and why they matter.
- Soil biology lab tests: what you can measure, when to measure, what the results mean, and how you can use them.
- What you can measure yourself in the field.
- Strategies for building biological activity in the soil.

Bring your questions!

Jess brings over 10 years experience in applied soil microbiology, working across government and industry on plant-soil microbe interactions, nitrogen fixation and carbon processes. She's passionate about connecting producers with science so they can improve soil health, boost productivity, and build climate resilience.

📅 Wednesday 9 September, 12pm AEST.
Online, one hour

👉 Register: https://events.humanitix.com/monitoring-soil-health-webinar-with-dr-jessica-rigg

Free to register, and a recording will be sent out for those who can’t make it.

The monitoring webinar series and the Soil, Plant and Landscape Monitoring Guide are funded by James N Kirby Foundation.

27/08/2026

What's a sugar volcano?
It's the sign to look for when checking trees for polyphagous shot-hole borer infestation. This DPIRD advice published in Avocados Australia newsletter provides helpful information.

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27/08/2026

The SFCL Feral Cat Management Project is catching more than just feral cats on camera….here are some of the cuties (and some seem to know it!) who have blessed us with their best angles. These are the ones we’re fighting hard to protect as most of the cameras who have recorded these guys have also, sadly, spotted feline predators passing too.

Speaking of cuties, keep your eyes peeled as we’ll be running a workshop on Wildlife Identification in October. This workshop will also include feedback from the DBCA on their recent work in the Tone Perup Nature Reserve, plus a Q & A opportunity for all things feral cat. Details available soon.

Southern Forests Community Landcare (SFCL) received funding under the State Government’s Feral Cat Management Grants. The Feral Cat Management (FCM) Grants are an initiative of the State Government, delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

21/08/2026

Southern Forests Community Landcare is hosting a free double feature workshop on the 25th September 2026 for all producers big and small.

To register please email [email protected]

If you want to learn ways that you can use dung beetles as a natural tool to – control flies and other parasites, improve soil, pasture, livestock health and productivity on your farm or what dung beetles are in your area and how you can encourage them onto your property, then register now for this workshop.

Additionally!

Project officer, Katrina Zemke and FECPAK and PARABOSS accredited Emily Stretch will be presenting another ‘Livestock Parasite Control using AI and IPM’ session for producers through the Dung Beetle Soil Health Initiative. SFCL believes that it is important our farming community has access to the best and most current information regarding livestock parasites, testing opportunities and IPM strategies (Integrated Pest Management) available to them as well as knowing their worm egg count (WEC) thresholds, active ingredients in chemical pesticides and their off-target effects and the effectiveness of any drenching activities. Just as importantly, is knowing the benefits to dung beetles and other soil organisms when choosing more ‘dung beetle friendly’ drench chemicals. Be supported to plan and make evidence-based decisions when it comes to livestock parasite control on your farm.

The 1-day workshop not only covers all these topics above but also offers free AI FECPAK testing of livestock manure to all attendees to determine their worm egg counts and then re-testing after drenching, if it was needed to test for effectiveness.

When: 25th September 2026
Time: 9.30am - 3pm
Where: Southern Forests Community Landcare, Manjimup Heritage Park
What to Bring: A fresh manure sample for free parasite testing
Morning tea and lunch provided
If you would like more information on this workshop or would like to register, please contact [email protected]