Crafting Quality Compost for Viticulture

Crafting Quality Compost for Viticulture

Monday 20 September 2021 9am -1:30pm

Wirra Wirra, McLaren Vale

 Presented jointly by the Australian Organics Recycling Association, AORA and the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia, NASAA

Key Presenter: Tim Marshall, TM Organics and NASAA Chair

An opportunity to learn from a composting and organic farming guru and from iconic vineyards in the beautiful McLaren Vale region of South Australia. We will examine different approaches to making high-quality compost at the scale required on farm.

This event, presented jointly by AORA and NASAA, will:

•                    Feature Tim Marshall providing a workshop on composting. Tim masterfully blends composting theory with decades of practical insight.

•                    Shared learning as composters get introduced to biodynamic growing principles and as growers are introduced to best practice in organics recycling.

•                    Get up close to the compost heap at Wirra Wirra with Anton Groffen. We’ll workshop how he oversees composting of winery and vineyard byproducts.

•                    Get down to earth with Ben Paxton from Paxton Wines and other organic and biodynamic farmers along with Peter Wadewitz from Peats Soils on how composters and growers collaborate to make great compost.

•                    Get discussion going on the opportunities for increasing landfill diversion by composting kitchen waste and grapes (sampled in the lead up to Vintage).

There will also be a unique opportunity to get up close to soil and vines at Wirra Wirra to better understand the methods and benefits of applying compost, mulch, as well as the broader Biological Input Farming principles taught by Tim.

Tim Marshall is a founder and first Chair of NASAA. He is a trainer, author and consultant with long experience in compost, organic growing and certification.

WHEN: September 20 2021 9am – 1:30pm

WHERE: Instructions on meeting place to be provided on registration.

COST:   $44 incl GST for AORA and Partner Members (NASAA members);

$55 incl GST for Guests (ACO and MGWTA Growers)

Price includes morning tea, lunch and a brief handbook that Tim will prepare for participants.

This event is a COVID safe event.  Masks will be required and social distancing measures will be in place.   

BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY)  - our system works best on Chrome Browsers.    

How to use our booking system  (can be paid by credit card or invoice - payment must be received in our account prior to the event) 

MEMBERS BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS 

Our booking system uses your email address to identify whether you are a member or not, therefore the system defaults to 1 ticket at a time (you will not be able to select more than one in the basket)  

To book your ticket, type in your email and click lookup.  If the system identifies you as a member, it will auto-populate your information and you can just add any dietary requirements.   If you need to purchase another ticket for another member, there is the option to add another in at the bottom of the box (do this as many times as you need for your booking.)  Then you will be able to go to the cart and proceed through the checkout as one bulk purchase. 

If you are a member, but it doesn't recognise your email address it means you are not linked to your business membership (and it will not apply member pricing to this ticket.)

To solve this you have two options  -1)  go to https://www.aora.org.au/membership and click the button that says sign up for an account to connect.  Put your email in here and click look up, find your business name (it may be listed as the registered trading name of the business) and click connect.  Your membership account administrator will need to approve your connection.  They simply need to login into their account and approve you.   

Option 2)  Send an email to Alex (alex@aora.org.au)  with the subject  Membership Connection Needed.  In the email please include the full name of the staff member, their email address and the registered/trading name of your business. Alex will endeavour to get your staff member linked as quickly as possible.  

NON- MEMBERS BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS 

For non-members, your email will not be found during lookup.  All you have to do is fill out your info and when you get to the checkout, you will be able to create a website user account to enable your transaction to take place in the secure payment portal.

If you are a NASAA Member - please contact Lee Mastus (Lee.Mastus@nasaa.com.au) to get your discount code.   This cannot be applied retroactively, so please ensure you have it before proceeding.