Farmgate Blitz

The Huon Valley Farmgate Blitz project aimed to address the need for improving and enhancing the diversity of produce grown in a regenerative way to create a vibrant and abundant local economy. It directly linked to the first priority theme - Local, regenerative food economy and abundance.

The project consisted of conducting ten farmgate ‘blitzes’ or community workshops to enable small-scale farmers to be regenerative producers. The Blitzes were run from October-December 2022.

Local experts in specific regenerative farming practices such as bio-dynamics, market gardening and regenerative agriculture were engaged to provide mentorship/training at each workshop. These events were open to all community to encourage knowledge sharing and to build a community of local growing across the Huon Valley.

An open ‘Expressions of Interest’ was conducted in late August/September 2022, where interested farms could nominate to participate. These submissions were screened and selected to ensure diversity of topics and benefits to fit with the project’s objectives.

The interest generated through this opportunity was considerable and welcomed by many small-scale producers within the Huon Valley. We were oversubscribed with the number of expressions of interest received. This required careful screening by our panel of experts and Project Officer to ensure the final ten offered diversity and broad benefits for participants and community.

Over 86 participants engaged in the Blitz program from October-December 2022. Many of the events were booked out (capped at 30 participants per event), with most attending multiple events over the program.

Overall, feedback from the Blitz ‘hosts’ was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. The program offered the chance to gain new skills, share knowledge, and enhance their growing capacity. However the biggest success factor has been the emergence of a growing community - whereby hosts and participants have a platform for continued engagement, sharing knowledge and supporting each other, helping to foster a resilient food community.

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The Farmgate Blitz project is one of several trial projects that were delivered during the development of the business plan for the Huon Valley Food Hub, to help inform this important foundational work. Further information about these projects and the broader Huon Valley Food Hub Business and Strategic Plan is available here.