Small Blocks, Big Impact: Peri-Urban Landholders Made Their Hectare Count!

If you own a small rural or lifestyle block around Perth, you’re one of more than 15,000 landholders helping shape the health of our natural environment, and we want to say a big thank you for the role you’re playing. 

Last year, we launched the first Make Your Hectare Count project, an initiative aimed at empowering small landholders to learn more about regenerative agriculture and sustainable land management. Most importantly, the project provided like-minded landholders the opportunity to connect with others on the same learning journey as themselves. This project was rolled out across the Perth region, focusing on equipping small landholders with skills required to:

• protect soil; 

• use water wisely; 

• support biodiversity; 

• build resilience against things like fire and climate change;  

Here’s the proof that we achieved exactly that:

• Every single participant at the knowledge workshops reported they learnt something new, would share information with others and were likely to implement something they learnt on their properties.  

Every choice you make on your patch makes a difference, and this project was all about giving you the tools, knowledge, and support to make those choices count. 

What we got up to: 

Through a mix of hands-on workshops, property tours, and community field days, we covered all sorts of useful topics. Here are some of the highlights:  

• Heavenly Hectares Kalamunda (May 4, 2024): A collaborative event with the Shire of Mundaring and City of Kalamunda featuring Chris Ferreira and other presenters, covering topics from native vegetation preservation to livestock grazing management.  

• Kadina Brook Field Walk – Kalamunda: A hands-on tour with the Friends of Kadina Brook and local landholder Andy Farrant, highlighting community restoration work and property-scale improvements in soil and water management.  

• Gidgegannup Farmer Field Day (May 26, 2024): A chance for the community to explore regenerative agriculture and sustainable food production methods.  

• Landcare in Action Property Tour (October 20, 2024): Hosted by Simon and Rebecca Bell in Mundaring, this tour showcased seasonal grazing practices, bushland restoration, and resilience building.  
• SJ Foodie Bus Tour (November 23, 2024): A celebration of local producers and regenerative food systems, this tour included market visits, farm stops, and a tasting lunch with local volunteers.  

This project was funded by the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.