farmers learning centre workshopS
workshop post-session tips
WORKSHOP SCOPE
REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
POST-WORKSHOP MENTEE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING SHEET
DEVELOPED BY MFK-GARDENS THE URBAN FARMER LEARNING CENTRE
TO PRINT PAGE 1-11, FILL THE FORM AND GET READY FOR POST-SESSION SUPPORT
This document is designed specifically to guide a new workshop participant through a new phase of their development in regenerative agriculture. This planning sheet helps a mentee break down their development phase into actionable and trackable steps, ensuring that progress is systematic, supported, and aligned with their long-term aspirations.
POST-WORKSHOP MENTEE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING SHEET
DEVELOPED BY MFK-GARDENS THE URBAN FARMER LEARNING CENTRE
TO PRINT PAGE 1-11, FILL THE FORM AND GET READY FOR POST-SESSION SUPPORT
This document is designed specifically to guide a new workshop participant through a new phase of their development in regenerative agriculture. This planning sheet helps a mentee break down their development phase into actionable and trackable steps, ensuring that progress is systematic, supported, and aligned with their long-term aspirations.
Tips for Implementing Regenerative Agriculture Practices:
- Start Small:
Start by implementing regenerative practices on a small section of your farm to monitor the benefits and make adjustments as necessary. Develop a calendar that aligns with lunar and constellation planting cycles, ensuring that your sowing, transplanting, weeding, and soil management activities are mapped to these cycles. Construct your first swale, using the insights gained from its construction and performance to guide the creation of additional swales on your farm. Collect plant and vermi-composts from your network as much as possible but prioritize establishing your own compost pile early. Set up distinct sections on your farm to move the compost through different stages of decomposition. - Improve Soil Health:
Prioritize building soil organic matter through the use of cover crops, composting, and minimal tillage practices. Ensure that all exposed soil in productive farming areas is covered with either mulch or ground cover. Healthy soil is the cornerstone of regenerative agriculture and essential for long-term farm sustainability. - Diversify Crops:
Introduce crop diversity to improve soil structure, reduce pests and diseases, and increase resilience against climate change. - Integrate Livestock:
Consider integrating livestock into your farming system, as properly managed grazing can improve soil fertility and promote plant growth. At this stage, begin monitoring the presence of beneficial insects, such as ladybird beetles, wasps, toads, spiders, dragonflies, bats, and even snails, as they play a key role in maintaining a healthy, balanced ecosystem. - Encourage Biodiversity:
Foster a diverse ecosystem by planting hedgerows, wildflower strips, herbs, perennials and cover crops to attract beneficial insects and pollinators. - Monitor and Adapt:
Regularly monitor soil health, plant health, and biodiversity. Be prepared to adapt practices based on observations and outcomes. - Build a Community:
Connect with other farmers practicing regenerative agriculture to share experiences, knowledge, and support. - Reduce Chemical Inputs:
Gradually reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides as soil health improves and natural pest control increases. - Focus on Water Management:
Implement water-conserving techniques such as rainwater harvesting, contour farming, and building organic matter to improve water retention. - Stay Informed:
Continue learning about regenerative practices through workshops, webinars, and resources. Stay updated on the latest research and innovations. - Plan for the Long Term:
Regenerative agriculture is a journey. Be patient and plan for long-term benefits that will increase the sustainability and productivity of your farm. - Share Your Success:
Share your experiences and successes with others to inspire and encourage more farmers to adopt regenerative practices.
ABOUT THE SESSION TRAINER AND FACILITATOR:
Ms Sheila Damodaran is renowned globally in The Fifth Discipline circles as a global and national systemic strategist, researcher and trainer on the five disciplines and trains core leadership of government and sectoral agencies working on persistent issues that affect their nation.
She is also the owner of the food manufacturing organisation she has setup in Botswana.
She is the lead designer of the training programme.
For more information check her at https:// www.linkedin.com/in/sheilasingapore/.
Ms Sheila Damodaran is renowned globally in The Fifth Discipline circles as a global and national systemic strategist, researcher and trainer on the five disciplines and trains core leadership of government and sectoral agencies working on persistent issues that affect their nation.
She is also the owner of the food manufacturing organisation she has setup in Botswana.
She is the lead designer of the training programme.
For more information check her at https:// www.linkedin.com/in/sheilasingapore/.