Introduce yourself!

[Dave]

I thought I would start a thread for new members to introduce themselves.

Tell us where you are from, what you are interested in, anything at all :thumb.

Welcome to the forums!

[mary-kate]

Hello Everyone,

I am 'calling' you from the UK !

Dave Riches suggested I make contact here with a view to making
friends.

I visited Australia twice last year and I think you are all most fortunate
to live in such a beautiful land !

I have been a widow for the past 9 years and would like to communicate
with people in a similar situation. My background is Scottish/Irish -
-a true Celt ! My business background is Secretarial/PA. However,
I am very adaptable.

I would like to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,

Mary-Kate.

[ldhb]

hallo everybody
I am a 24 year old chemical engineer(IIT) from Punjab(India).
Hoping to have a nice time with you. :)

[nomad]

Hi everyone. Nomad here,
I live in sunny Tassie and travel for ½ of the year.
I enjoy hunting and fishing and the occasional beer or 3
nomad

[nuagforest]

My name is Dr. Carol Cross. My expertise is in growing and using kenaf and Leucaena through the development of Leucaena Effect Agroforestry. I have an earned doctorate in plant ecology from the University of Oregon and have spent many years working in Central America with samll farmers and livestock producers. I also work in tropical food production and processing. In June I will be opening the Honduras Investment Center to stimulate investment in agriculture, forestry and sustainable tourism in Central America.

If you have any questions about kenaf or Leucaena please feel free to ask. My websites are at http://www.satglobal.com/kenafbas.htm and http://www.satglobal.com/leucaena_entry.htm. However, because of email problems, I would prefer communicating through this forum.

[ariel]

Hii every one and lawyers and exotic fruit growers especially

My name is Ariel Shai 51 years old, 180 cms, 100 kgs, a lawyer and an exotic fruit grower in Israel, living on a small farm 4 hectares of numerous rare exotic fruiting trees.


I was born in Israel to a small farming family specializing with dairy, poultry and deciduous fruits

I studied for my BScAgr in Horticulture in Israel and graduated in 1980. Then,
I studied for my MScAgr in Horticulture in South Africa at the Horticultural Science dept of the Natal University and graduated in 1982. Then, I received a one year scholarship to study for my PhD in Agriculture at the University of New England NSW Australia.

I enjoyed my stay in Australia and visited many research stations and many exotic rare fruit growers. I had further studied for 5 years for my PhD in Israel, but I did not finish it because I got married and bought my farm.

Few years later I studied and graduated for my LLB in Israel, became a member of the Israeli BAR and for 8 years I work also as a lawyer specializing in agricultural law, farming legal problems, family law with regard to farming and inheritance aspects.

I had visited many countries for horticultural purposes such as: NZ, Fiji, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Hawaii, California, Florida, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and the Island of Guerensey. I was also interested in the wholesale fruit markets in Europe and visited them in England, Holland, France, Italy etc

I grow pricklypears, pepinoes, capegooseberry, blackberries, longans, olives, papayas, stawberry guavas, pitanga, babaco (very little), ketambilla, paaionfruits and various pitaya. I am trying to crosspollinate and find seedlings that are adapted to my farm conditions and then graft or propagate them vegetatively. I do follow a few of Burbank's ideas in developing new varieties.

I work alone in my farm with my 10 fingers and an old tractor and old equipment that I bought. All my plots are irrigated by drippers and I have few plastic tunnels and a nursery for propagation of my plants.


Farming is a way of life for me. Most women in my life came from the city and did not like it for more than 24 hours. MY farm is located 3 minutes drive from The town of Gedera, 15 minutes from the towns of Rehovot and Ashdod and 30 minutes from Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem.

I practice law from my small office on my farm. I appear in all types of courts in Israel, but as I finish a session, I change to my farming clothes and continue my endless work.

During 1966-1970, I stayed with my parents in Ethiopia and thus I specialize with Ethiopian agriculture, Ethiopian law and Ethiopian food

I am a good cook with all my fruits. Recently I bought 2 large freezers where I keep hundreds of 2 litter bottles of nectar from my over production.

I will be happy to host people for free or some help in my farm. There are 2 little old houses on It.

People can contact me for further information: ariel023@zahav.net.il

I like Australia and have many friends around Cairns, Mossman Bay and exotic fruit regions in west Australia and north east Australia Qld


I will be happy to get comments and cooperate on various crops via exchange of plant material or knowledge.......................


Ariel Shai - an exotic fruit grower - Israel

BScAgr MScAgr LLB

[Bruce Evans]

Way back in 1840, the first Europeans arrived in the the area that became known as East Gippsland, 250 kilometres east of Melbourne. Four years later, the first settlers arrived, some assisted by Ticket of Leave men, convicts assigned as servants. Among these was Joseph Evans, transported at 15 years of age for picking pockets in London. Some 20 years later, he selected a block of land where I still live.

Born in 1925, I served in the RAAF in WW2 as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner and travelled via South Africa, Sierra Leone to Britain. After nine months, I was transferred to Cairo, then Jerusalem and back to Egypt until the end of the war.

With my brother, I operated our farm as a dairyfarm for 15 years before being elected to the Parliament of Victoria, a position I held for 31 years.

I have my own web page which has recently been archived by the National Library as a page of "cultural significance". On my web site, which is at or near the top of a Google search of my name, there are facts that explain why rural communities are in decline in Victoria. I am anxious to know if other governments are similarly biased against those of us who live outside the capital cities.

[Tim Leske]

Hello all,
I'm Tim Leske, an Agrispecialist with the ANZ bank in Wagga Wagga New South Wales (Australia).
The region I work in extends south to the Murray River, east to the Snowy Region, west to Hay/Deniliquin, and north to Orange/Parkes. This area is very diverse, with irrigated summer crops (rice, cotton, maize, lucerne, citrus, wine grapes) and irrigated winter crops (wheat, canola) to dryland winter crops (wheat, barley, triticale, canola, peas, faba beans) to mixed operations of grain and livestock (mostly sheep for wool and meat, and some cattle).

I have a Bachelor of Rural Science (UNE), and have previously worked for the Dept. of Ag. as a beef extension officer, run my own farm for 10 years, and been in rural finance for the last 20 years.

My role is one of support to the "front line" managers, and I also have a role as the Bank's grain/sheep specialist. I therefore have an interest in gathering marketing info that can be summarised and passed onto the managers who deal directly with our farmer clients.

[cathynz]

My name is Cathy. My husband and I are Dairy Farmers in New Zealand in the Waikato. Im a bit shy at introductions...
:)

[tamlee]

Hello Im new :)
I live in North Queensland, Im married and have 4 kids. And a couple of horses a dog and two cats :D .
My interests include horses, the weather , taking storm piccies. Bush walking blar blar, can't wait to get on and check the forum out.
:beer

[Ian Holton]

I am an ex-bureau weather forecaster (for 20 years) and now have my own business doing short and long range weather forecasts by yearly subscription to farmers in all winter cropping, sheep/cattle, and grape growing regions of Australia (for past 8 years).
I have many clients in WA, SA, VIC , NSW, E TAS, and SE QLD.
I am also interested in all agricultural for my own interest and to better understand clients agricultural weather needs.
I will post a few weather interest and forecast snippets from time to time, but all more detailed local weather I have to keep for my clients only use, of course. I also have a web-site with some interesting weather articles for those who may be interested.
If any one has any "curly" weather questions, I will try and answer them when I have a spare moment.
Regards & Cheers to all, Ian

[kingfisher]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Dave and I live on North Stradbroke Island where I operate a 4WD Eco Tour business. You can visit my web site on this link if you wish: www.straddiekingfishertours.com.au

I am also very interested making some Bio Diesel. So look out for the posting by Mag as he said he will put it on for everyone to do.

So good luck in your batchess and hope to see you on my tour some day.

Talk soon.

Dave

[Will]

Will Hill. Age 35
Graduated High school in West Covina, California, USA. A suburb of Los Angeles.
Went to college and dropped out.
Left home at age 17, started working in construction of homes, did that till age 22, then moved to a small beach community in San Diego, where I went to work in a terrific health food store called People's, worked as a vegetarian chef. At age 23, started a guatamalen import biz with my brother in the same beach area. Had a lot of fun and success with that. After that, went to Hawaii for a while, and travelled around there working on organic farms occasionally. And ever since then I've kinda been a free spirit just working for organic farmers. I've got a lot of practical experience and know a lot about organic farming and creative engineering. I'm now looking into the possibility of starting a fruit tree nursery somewhere, and to grow a huge amount of fruit trees on a continual basis. Any info/ideas pertaining to that would be great! Please email me- willmhill@hotmail.com

[monet1]

Hi Ariel - I'm a farmer too - but on a small scale as well. :)

My partner works away mining up the top end of Australia to help make ends meet & help put my youngest daughter thru uni - which is in another couple of months :thumb

I grow mohair fibre from angora goats here in the mountains of Victoria.

We bought this property when it was run down & overgrown with blackberries - have been here for 13 years - & wanted to be here for retirement - so 13 years later - alot of money & effort & we are getting there - the bush fires of a few years ago put us back quite a bit as we had to replace all boundary fencing & we are still trying to build up stock nos. :eek:

And I lost a lot of fruit trees in the fires - but have replace most & added more - I'm not a gardner but am very interested in growing veges & fruit for ourselves without chemicals - trying to become as self sufficient as possible in this throw away world.

I do a lot of spinning of the fleece myself & dyeing & knitting!!

We have the opposite problem to you - we can be rather wet - average r/fall 40 inches - although we have been in drought for a few years.

I bred horses for 30 years & my first veterinary advice for equine & human is prickly pear - !!! - soooo I am really interested in what you do with it??? : )))

You have a lot of what we would exotic trees/fruits in your orchard - must be extremely hard to get them going in that dry country - we have snow & severe frosts here - our biggest problems is late frosts.

Would luv to share your preserving tips etc.

Take care monet1Hii every one and lawyers and exotic fruit growers especially

My name is Ariel Shai 51 years old, 180 cms, 100 kgs, a lawyer and an exotic fruit grower in Israel, living on a small farm 4 hectares of numerous rare exotic fruiting trees.


I was born in Israel to a small farming family specializing with dairy, poultry and deciduous fruits

I studied for my BScAgr in Horticulture in Israel and graduated in 1980. Then,
I studied for my MScAgr in Horticulture in South Africa at the Horticultural Science dept of the Natal University and graduated in 1982. Then, I received a one year scholarship to study for my PhD in Agriculture at the University of New England NSW Australia.

I enjoyed my stay in Australia and visited many research stations and many exotic rare fruit growers. I had further studied for 5 years for my PhD in Israel, but I did not finish it because I got married and bought my farm.

Few years later I studied and graduated for my LLB in Israel, became a member of the Israeli BAR and for 8 years I work also as a lawyer specializing in agricultural law, farming legal problems, family law with regard to farming and inheritance aspects.

I had visited many countries for horticultural purposes such as: NZ, Fiji, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Hawaii, California, Florida, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia and the Island of Guerensey. I was also interested in the wholesale fruit markets in Europe and visited them in England, Holland, France, Italy etc

I grow pricklypears, pepinoes, capegooseberry, blackberries, longans, olives, papayas, stawberry guavas, pitanga, babaco (very little), ketambilla, paaionfruits and various pitaya. I am trying to crosspollinate and find seedlings that are adapted to my farm conditions and then graft or propagate them vegetatively. I do follow a few of Burbank's ideas in developing new varieties.

I work alone in my farm with my 10 fingers and an old tractor and old equipment that I bought. All my plots are irrigated by drippers and I have few plastic tunnels and a nursery for propagation of my plants.


Farming is a way of life for me. Most women in my life came from the city and did not like it for more than 24 hours. MY farm is located 3 minutes drive from The town of Gedera, 15 minutes from the towns of Rehovot and Ashdod and 30 minutes from Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem.

I practice law from my small office on my farm. I appear in all types of courts in Israel, but as I finish a session, I change to my farming clothes and continue my endless work.

During 1966-1970, I stayed with my parents in Ethiopia and thus I specialize with Ethiopian agriculture, Ethiopian law and Ethiopian food

I am a good cook with all my fruits. Recently I bought 2 large freezers where I keep hundreds of 2 litter bottles of nectar from my over production.

I will be happy to host people for free or some help in my farm. There are 2 little old houses on It.

People can contact me for further information: ariel023@zahav.net.il

I like Australia and have many friends around Cairns, Mossman Bay and exotic fruit regions in west Australia and north east Australia Qld


I will be happy to get comments and cooperate on various crops via exchange of plant material or knowledge.......................


Ariel Shai - an exotic fruit grower - Israel

BScAgr MScAgr LLB

[katgoeswoof]

Hi All!
My name is Katrina but all my friends call me Kat!
I am 28years old and have recently become a single mum after seperating from my hubby after 11 yrs together..I have 2 fantastic kids..9yrs and 5yrs whom I love more than anything else.
I am currently living in the Swan Valley(western australia) but am planning a move to the country next year.I am thinking of the Goomalling area here in WA but am open to other sugestions!
I do loads of things to tick the day away including my job as a sales p.a for a large photocopier supply company in Perth, ride horses 1-2 times a week,I volunteer my time at the local after school care centre as a Staff Liason Officer,just joined a gym(heh I gotta drop those extra 15kg Im carrying if I ever want another man again!!LOL),scrapbooking,cars(yes I like hot cars.my fully loaded 04 magna is no exception!) and of course my kids!!
I like everything country and am really looking forward moving there next year...I think it would be the best thing for my kids.And if I can find myself a cowboy/farmer then it would just complete me!!LOL(any takers??)
Anyway enough about me... I will put my 2 cents in around the forum and also hope to learn alot from the farmers who frequent here.... I am a sponge for knowledge so bring it on!!
CHEERS :beer
KAT

[mag]

nice to see a fellow sandgroper in the forum, welcome kat... :beer

[lechaim]

Ariel:

Your farm sounds really interesting. I would like to arrange a visit. I live in Jerusalem. I'd be happy to help over a couple days. You can reach me at jakatz@012.net.il . Your email doesn't work. !? Thanks for replying. Yehudit

[degio]

Hi everybody!
I'm Marco from Italy!
Before to start you have to sorry me for my english...
i come from a north italy, near the lakes end the Alpi.
I'm so unhappy because last mouth i bought an australian hat from an online shop (AOT) and last week i understood that the web site was disappared an my hat is not arrive jet.. (But the money were good......)
So this is a time that in my zone is alwais raining and i still have to wet my head....
:mad:

P.S.
Thanks a lot Dave for the message!!!!!

[lechaim]

Ariel:

I don't know why my email letters to you are undeliverable- something about a yahoo account that doesn't exist.(?) Anyway, do you have a phone # I can call or alternative email? After succot is ok although I have vacation time now. I have experimented with growing and marketing medicinal herbs, as well as propagating various plants in my solarium in Iowa. My daughter and I just moved here this summer, we're in ulpan and getting adjusted to our new home. One of the things that we got excited about coming to Israel is the warm climate fruits-avocados, mangos, papayas, etc that we can not get enough of in the cold (very cold!) midwest. I love to garden and love animals. By profession I am an RN, but can not work in this field until my language skills are functional, although I would only do this out of neccesity at this point. I love art, and do ceramics, combining clay with natural things. We haven't been to the area that you live in yet and looking forward to meeting you and learning about your farm.

[lechaim]

Ariel:

I received your message today. Again I tried to reply but was unable to do so with the email you normally use. So, I sent a letter with contact info to your mailbox on this forum. I have contacted my server company and they don't know why I am unable to contact you at zahav.co.il. They think you rerouted your mail through yahoo at one time and yahoo no longer has an address for you- email weirdness!!!! So please check your ag mailbox. Judith

[suzanne tatafu]

I thought I would start a thread for new members to introduce themselves.

Tell us where you are from, what you are interested in, anything at all :thumb.

Welcome to the forums!hello everybody my name is suzanne and I live in sydney Australia. I am currently studying the effects that salinity has on farmlands in Australia and I would welcome farmers perspective on managing dryland salinity. I have 7 children who have now grown up and I have decided to study again. I would also love to hear from Americans about 50 years old

[tracy]

Hey Kat,
Your letter was great , I am a single Mum too, I couldn’t believe he wanted to sell our beautiful farm, he couldn’t believe I would leave him if he did –
I don’t know very much about Goomalling, I lived all my life near a W.A town about the same size ,but all small country W.A. towns are great.You will love the sense of community, I wish it was me, but my kids are a little older and I have to wait for them to get through high school now before I can go bush again , it is always the people that make a town great but it can also be the people that make you still feel like a visitor 15 years later, ( some say you have to be born in the town to be local, or marry a local, or give birth to a local so hopefully you will meet your farmer/cowboy soon , I know I am wishing and hoping to meet mine. If you are going to work at the town where you want to live, the local school is always a major employer of Mums, and they organize next years workforce soon. The school will love it also when you register your kids as future students - most WA country schools struggle for numbers, the difference of 1or 2 kids can sometimes mean they get to keep a teacher or an aid.
I would give my right arm to be in your position, I hope you love it as much as it sounds like you will , but don’t give up your dreams even when it tougher than you imagined it will be worth it in the end, you have a lot of courage heading to a strange town on your own, I would be finding a way to get to the local Pub on a few Friday nights ( before Harvest starts and the Pub gets deserted) to meet some locals before I moved there
Best of luck, keep us posted
Tracy

[Dusty]

Hi everyone,
My name is James and I live and work on the south coast of NSW.
I have operated my own pest control business there for the past 14 years. Prior to that, I was an electrical engineer working for the state government.
I keep myself busy as one of the moderators of another message board for pest controllers as well as the general public.
I am divorced with a couple of adult kids, neither of whom live at home.

http://upma.proboards44.com/

[dexter_sativum]

hello! im new here! just wanna introduce myself to you guys! im dexter enriquez 19 years old, i'm an agriculture (animal science major)student from Central Luzon State University here in Philippines. well, im very interested in livestock as well as crop production!

[Ali]

Iam from Sudan , east of Africa , the vast big country with its huge agricultural resources , with its different climates and diversity of crops and products , banana, mango, lime , orange . pineapple , sugarcane, maize , sorghum, peanuts , wheat , and most of vegetables , beside more than 130 million of sheep ,cows , and camels . This is my country and iam not living in .
I like much to exchange experiences from different countries to develop agriculture in Sudan. Iam living in Saudi Arabia working in alfalfa farming to produce hay for milk production . I expect to receive messages from friends . Welcome my friends .....................

[clancey]

Hello from Canada. I have not been to Australia in several years, but still vividly remember the experience of travelling to Wagga Wagga for a legume industry conference and back to Sydney for a few days of R&R.
Maybe I will run across some of the people I met during the trip. Other wise, I hope I can offer some Canadian perspective on a few of the things going on.

[Russell]

Gday All

My name is Russell and i am 29 years of age and have now worked within the Fresh produce arena for about 6 years. I work for a small advisory company to the fresh produce retail sector. Our company name is Best Results. we offer services to every part of the supply chain including farmers - growers / agents / retailers.

The Australian Fresh Produce Industry has undergone significant changes in the past decade. The major retail chains, continue to drive costs down and quality up. There is increasing competition amongst suppliers for fewer supply channels, growers are facing significant costs due to fuel, quality assurance programmes and other levies and charges, while consumers are constantly demanding better quality at cheaper pricing.

The "Retail Trends" workshop identifies many of the issues and opportunities in this competitive environment and suggests a number of key area's of asssessment and potential solutions to ensure continued profitability and business development.

we are currently based in Homebush Bay, Sydney Australia.

We are in the middle of creating our website.

Basically i just want to put my name out there as we are now currently building trust amongst various players within this industry and would love to get to know more people within this arena.

Looking forward to knowing you better

Russell

[nswnotill]

I am a semi-retired tertiary educated farm manager/agronomist who grew gain on the NW Slopes & Plains of NSW for 40 years.
Now assist farmers in my area, as well as some participation in foreign aid projects (ACIAR)

[bowhunter]

G'day people, im new around here. Im 19 years old, i own a small book binding business. I also have a little girl who just turned 3. I love outdoor sorta stuff like bowhunting, fishing and camping.

Cheers Paul

[countryboyatheart]

Hi everyone,
I am 24 and looking at heading back out to the country.
I work in Brisbane in sales and marketing and I am also looking at going back to school. My dream though is to go back to the land and set up a hobby farm, maybe turning it into a farm stay project over the next few years.

I am mainly here to learn, I left the land at a young age when my father sold up and we moved to the city. However, I miss it and whilst I do like the city, I want to get my own place and have a crack at making it work. My dad passed away recently and I am currently in negotiations with a real estate agent out Toowoomba way.

I am pretty lucky I have my uncle as he has recently come off the land but he is in NSW. I daresay I will be making a lot of phone calls to him in the future. I am ex army and love shooting, hunting, reading, looking after animals and computers, I am also an avid boxer, rugby league player and love my sport.

Hope to meet some good people on here and get some good advice.

Cheers,

CBAH

[ranacts]

Hi all,

I live in melbourne and am sick of the rat race.
I grew up on a hobby-farm and love the outdoors.
I've held a long interest in agriculture, but unfortunately am stuck in an unrelated industry. I guess I did this for financial reasons.
Well, I've decided it's time to go for it. I'm going to start studying agriculture and move into the field that I've held a long-running interest in.

If anybody can suggest ways to move into agriculture, or advice as to reputable agricultural courses that can be studied flexibly/ by distance education, I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Dean.

[kjd]

Gday Everyone,

I am from the Picton area in NSW and currently working as a part time sales rep and assistant for a small dvd production company.

My true loves are: the land, hunting and fishing. Always after hunting properties so if anyone needs the help of a law abiding shooter. I am more than willing to.

My goal in life is to own 100 or so acres in the Goulburn area with my partner so I can have my small farm and my girlfriend have a quarterhorse stud she has always dreamed of.

Hope to learn a lot here.

Cheers,
Keith.

[Kate]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Kate and I come from Capmbelltown N.S.W. I recently gained my qualification as an equine vet nurse and work part time in a Horseland store at Narellan. I am currently on a trial basis at a veterinary products wholesaler at Blacktown and love anything to do with animals, particularly horses and livestock.

I enjoy riding, Western Pleasure shows and spending time with my boyfriend at his godfathers cattle and sheep farm in Yass. I have an appaloosa gelding and an old black mare. I would like to move south with my boyfriend and breed Quarter horses and German Shepherds. :) :)

[Leanne]

Hello

Firstly it seems very hard to introduce yourself to a blank page. This is all very new to me. Having worked most of my life in Administration/ Bookkeeping I have now found myself at home. I am married and have 2 boys aged 16 and 14. I have travelled within NSW and Victoria due to my husbands work committments - he being a Farm Manager. We have just recently moved back to the Central Tablelands of NSW, hence the reason for my unemployment. Even though I have been around agriculture for some 20 years being a Farm Manager's wife you don't have the hands on experience you would if you owned your own farm.

My two boys love the farm and both aspire to do something in Agriculture when they finish their education. Recently in the news there have been comments about the amount of people leaving agriculture and wanting to know what can be done about this. They point out that mines can pay big money to entice people from the agricultural industry, this might be true but many agricultural people have the land in their blood, they wouldn't leave just for money (I know this from experience). I feel their is more to it than drought, low wages and long hours that are forcing EMPLOYEES to leave the agricultural industry. What are your views on this

[Petamol]

My name is Peta, and my husband and I are starting a new business at the moment selling beef direct from the farmer to the customer. For a better idea of what we are about, please visit our website //www.honestbeef.com.au We have been having a few problems with the freight, and I was wondering if your expertise ran into this area? Any help you may have would be greatly appreciated. Regards.

[james_p]

I am looking at moving into semi retirement in the near future and will purchase a life-style rural property. Would like to look at a range of horticultural crops including breeding boer meat goats.

Looking to correspond with people who have enjoyed a similar experience with semi-retirement and breeding goats.

James_p

[Bentan]

Alf has 50 years of experience working on many wild and cultivated plants in Australia. Now approaching retirement as a teacher, it is a natural progression for him to purchase and develop a hobby farm. He is developing a 5-acre hobby farm at outskirts of Melbourne 50 km from city center. Alf hopes to enjoy his lifelong passion for growing plants, especially fruit and vegetables. With the help of friends, Alf has also established an internet portal My Hobby Farm (http://www.farmforfun.com) to share his ups and downs in his own piece of paradise.

As most of southern Australia has had below average rainfall in recent years, hobby farmers will have little chance of success without an effective water harvesting system. Alf writes in details the farming basics and the many challenges (www.farmforfun.com/Upcoming_Challenges.html). Other topics of interest such as crop reviews will be added. By web presence Alf hopes to share his hobby farming venture with the like-minded. At the contact page (http://www.farmforfun.com/Contact_Us.html) he hopes to hear comments, suggestions or questions, thoughts or experiences from the virtual visitors of his farm.

[harmeeksingh]

hi friends iam harmeek singh from india, iam researcher in biodiversity i love traveling and making friends iam male 27 looking for good friends across the globe by and take care u alllllllllllllllllllllllll

[Farming Pages]

FarmingPages.com specialize in promoting agricultural products and services both nationally and internationally. We carry out extensive advertising campaigns including, local marts, international exhibitions, mail shot of our monthly newsletter, radio etc.

I have an honours degree in Agricultural Science and Business Studies from The University of Wales Aberystwyth. I also have a H.Dip. in Computer Science.

The countries that we advertise in are primarily, Ireland, U.K., New Zealand, Australia, U.S.A and Canada.

[byblos]

hello everyone.my name is tony and i live in the city of sydney/australia with my wife and two beutifull kids(teenagers).i run my own businessof importing stones from all over the world and also tiles.we supply ,detail fix ,repair all types of wall and floor finishes. i started buying small farms in the late 90's as i allways like the outdoors{bushwalking,fishing,4wd,and conservation hunting}and it is good oppurtinity to recharge the batteries away from the hassle and bassle of city life
till 2003 we had smaal acreage ,then we decided to buy few hundreds acres around COOMA/FOOT OF THE SNOWY IN NEW SOUTH WALES
being a novice in farming ,and not even two month after we bought the property ,we were lumped with a (WEED NOTICE) THAT APROX 95% of the 500acres are infested with weed(african lovegrss,serrated tussock, horehounds,and viper bugloss)
we had no option but to use chemicals(it make your lands like a MOONSCAPE)IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE BURDEN OF WEED
two years later and ten of thousand of dollars,we hade weed coming from every corner.i startet educating my self about cell grazing and the use of livestock as a manegement tool
this is where the white dorper sheep came into play,bought some 2nd and 3rd crosses and stud rams
after not even 18 month of using those sheeps from one paddock to another we have a complete transformation from a moonscape full of chemicals to a gren new scape full of organic matter and no chemicals
this breed is amazing in their hardiness ,and survival they cleaned the weed and put a new perspective in my life
never give up allways try the solution is around the corner:

[cass]

Hi everyone, I live in county Victoria Australia.
I am a mother of 4 kids and a volunteer firefighter.
I would like to find out more on biodiesel and alternative fuels

[Stu]

My name is Stuart, I run a Grain Brokerage business and manage an ag shop in NNSW, hope I can help you all at some stage.

[Arclein]

Hi all,

I grew up on a small farm in Ontario, Canada back in the fifties and sixties and have always maintained an abiding interest in agricultural issues even though the rest of my life has been about intellectual pursuits and the corporate world.

I have started a blog on the so called global warming issue focused on the role of agriculture in resolving the carbon dioxide issue.

The title is globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com

I personally believe that a revolution in agricultural practice is about to begin and i am trying to show everyone how it can and will occur so that we can learn to properly guide it.

Farming will become the place to be again! And I am looking for correspondents in Australia to help protocols that can work there.

regards

bob

[BSGCORP]

I'm a retired successful businessman- now my hobby is growing 5 acres of rasberries in southern Utah.

[Hamish]

I am Hamish Dunsford.

I work for an Agribusiness Recruitment and Consulting company, The Lucas Group.

If you are looking for a change of career, are looking for staff, or have an other Human Resource related issue, feel free to give me a call anytime on 08 7221 5000.

Cheers,

Hamish

[wormtec]

Hi Aglink members
My name is Greg and I am the owner of Wormtec worm farming and vermiculture, located on the Gold Coast in Queensland. I am married with 3 great kids, I love fishing and the outdoors, I love to grow vegies and fruits, garderning is one of my favorite things to do. I love visiting farmers on the land as I love there way of life and they hold Australia together in good times and bad, where would we be without our farmers or there produce.
Wormtec has been working with the Soil Food Institute and the Environmental Analysis Laboratory at the Southern Cross University in testing and developing our organic soil improving worm derived products. We have invested over 7 years in the development of our products and we are having great sucsess with our organic compost teas and extracts as a soil improver and as a disease preventative.
We supply our worm derived soil improvers into agricultural and home garden markets. I believe organic soil improvers will be the biggest soil improvement to come onto the agricultural market, as farmers see all the benifits of these organic soil improvers without the negative impact that chemicals have on soil biology and ground water supplies.
We are currently working with farmers across Australia in converting there synthetic fertilizer programs into a more natural soil improver one without it affecting there crop while rebuilding there soil health and crop health at the same time.
You can visit us at wormtec worm farming and vermiculture for a more natural soil rebuilding method this is a totally environmentally friendly and a sustainable method of farming and soil improvement without any negative impact on the environment.
I look forward to helping group members and farmers.
Regards Greg Plevey Email greg@wormtec.com.au

[dave franklin]

i saw a little profile about you and what you do.quite an intresting family and about the worm it really got my intrest.i live in africa and practice more of of what our ancestors thought us.which is just the natural way of farming without the scientific knowledge.

i will be glad to learn one or two things from you and consequently be a friend if you dont mind.
lest i forget,my name is dave,single with a beautiful daugther.inherited a vast land and i am into cassava,vegetable and goat farming.hope to get areply from you greg.stay blessed

[Yvonne]

Hi everyone!
My name is Yvonne and are a new member :). I`m 18 years old (soon 19) and from Norway, goes to an agriculture school here in Norway. Don`t live on a farm, but allways loved farming and animals. Have my own horse and 3 rabbits :)

Kind Regards
Yvonne

[all_natural]

My name is Sharon and Im' from Victoria, Australia. I guess I'm here because I am always looking for new tips and information on growing crops on a chemical free farm.

I have a strong passion concerning all things organic and the biological health of soil. It's true that there are some chemicals that we as farmers can't be without but for the most part I like to use what is natural.

Organic farming is the sustainable way to go.
I hope to get to know you guys better, and I will share any tips on organic/farming that I feel might bed of some use to you. :)


Cheers,
Sharon

[Chook]

Hi Im Lindy and a student at UNE studying agriculture. Will be looking through all the threads in search of info for my essays! Keep the info flowing!!

[Kirstie]

Hi all

I'm currently working for a company who specialises in finding staff for people in the agricultural sector. We tend to place alot of 'travellers' in good farming jobs where they earn great money and have a great experience. We believe we are helping reduce the effect of the current skills shortage on the farming communities of Australia.


Cheers
Kirstie

[daycap]

Im not all that good but i'm trying
My name is Chris and i go by Daycap I live in Hobart Tasmania
I am learning new things with photoshop and i have today created a sig but i cant show you i would have loved to but i wasn't permitted for some reason

Cheers

Daycap

Can you please let me know when i can add links

[Dave]

Chris, we have had problems with people spamming our site by joining and posting links straight away to online stores etc. You need to have 10 posts and be a member for 7 days before you can add a working link. Otherwise just post the URL and let people work it out for themselves.

[wayne]

Hi there all

Well another new member - I joined the web site for ideas & sugestions to share & improve farming methods.

Attached is the quote from the farms web site:

Jessington Farm was established in 2003 when we moved down to the beautiful Flinders Ranges from Roxby Downs. We actually bought the acreage for olive produce and to run an agistment farm. I have ridden all my life and I was trying to find a "good" pony for my then 18 month daughter. On finding our first beautiful Welsh Section A mare, we decided that we would breed our own ponies. Ponies that parents could trust with their children. Hence Jessington Farm was born

I must stress, in our eyes we are a hobby farm - we enjoy the life style, peace and tranquillity.

All the best

Wayne

[farmsave]

Hey Everyone!

I'm from Western Australia and I run Farmsave.com.au and farmforum.com.au :)

[Dozer]

Gday,

wow, what a great looking bunch of people :D so many different backgrounds, its amazing isnt it.

I'm 29y/o male, married with 2 gorgeous little girls.

I currently work in a non-ag job, but have always had in the back of my mind that it would be great to be on the land. i have cousins that are farmers and as a kid i used to stay on their farm in school holidays.

(i have an office based job and im sick of it)

my wife grew up on a dairy farm, but they left there when she was about 9. we actually only live about 45minutes - 1hr away from her farm. and reasonably often we go for drives down that way.

We are thinking of buying a farm, but as I have no experience, i'm here to find as much info as possible. If anyone can suggest courses that would be great, or steer us in the right direction. Is TAFE a good start? or are there better places to learn(that dont cost mega)?

we are leaning towards an olive farm - but i dont mind the idea of cropping/vines/sheep or cattle. BUT i feel that the animals would be the hardest for me, as i dont have any experience in farming.

I'm happy to even go and help a farmer on Saturdays/weekends so that i can learn.

I look forward to getting to know you all, and look forward to any replies.

[farmsave]

welcome to the forums!

[sreeja]

Hai
I am a new member from India.Nice to meet you all.My name is sreeja.I am from India.This forum looks so interesting.Hope i can enjoy stay.

[SandyStar]

Hey all,
My name is Michael and im from Aus, and part owner of Sandy Star Stud, breeders of miniature Kyrhet cattle, belted galloways and miniature horses.

:)

[Custom Blend Hort]

Hello,

We are a new agricultural fertilizer manufacturer. My bus partner and myself having extensive experience in sales, marketing and over recent years manufacturing what we believe to be superior quality fertilizers and additives including recent biological products we have blended. Through a number of years in making and selling hydroponic fertilizers we are now applying that knowledge to main stream ag which often uses over priced basic nutrient mixes which we know we can make superior blends at much more competitive prices. So nice to meet everyone and keep an ear out for Custom Blend Horticulture look forward to chat with you all.

Cheers Darren

[twawki]

Hey All

Found this site tonight and looks good. Single Dad from Sydney Australia, bought about 80 acres in the Crookwell district last year, cleared, basalt soil, good rain (snow in winter) and have since planted about 400 (mostly exotic) trees in copses of different varieties. Fascinated with trees as food, medicinal, crop forage, timber etc. and am doing permaculture/organic food production as well.

Mostly working with old world non hybrid varieties.

Doug

[anurag]

I am an Agribusiness professional with 19 years of versatile experience from Teaching, Marketing, Product development, Farma Management, System Developer etc. Now thinking to start my training center for the benfit of Developing countries, looking for inputs in term of training materials and presentations from Global agricultural professionals.

Any takers Please contact
91991522980

[BackboneMan]

Howdy,

Great to be here. A forum virgin on AgLinks. Run a brand called Backbone - watches (with other stuff coming soon) catering to the working man.
Looking forward to being a valued member of AgLinks for some time to come.

Cheers
BackboneMan

[acerxz]

Hi !

Im grace ! ! Im from Philippines and i'm just looking for a new knowledge about farming. My grandfather have a one hectares and i want him to help in developing his farm. :)

[AgCentral]

New to the forum...I work for a farm supply, direct to farm, business. Wanted to come on here and see if I could get connected with what's going on in farming circles. Always better to be educated about what's going on with the people I do business with.

Bruce.

[australian_soldier]

Hey, well my names Brandon im from Gippsland im 17 and have just enlisted into the Australian regular Army as a
Rifleman, if i decide to leave the Army after say 10 years service what would be the best way to set about starting up a wheat property ??

cheers in advance

[men]

Hi Dev
I am base in Victoria. At present in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Involve in a assaignment to build a tissue culture laboratory for Seed production.



I thought I would start a thread for new members to introduce themselves.

Tell us where you are from, what you are interested in, anything at all :thumb.

Welcome to the forums!

[Thomas]

I thought I would start a thread for new members to introduce themselves.

Tell us where you are from, what you are interested in, anything at all :thumb.

Welcome to the forums!

Hello I'm from Wales, United Kingdom. I noticed that one of your contributors wanted to make contact with Welsh Black enthusiasts. I just wanted to invite him to a social network site as follows: http.iwbcforum.ning.com
All for now
Thomas

[ppcsupplies]

Hi there,

I'm Freddy from PPC Supplies. I'm actually based over in the UK and own a pest control suppliers. Just interested to see whats happening round the world regarding pest control, and see whether techniques are similar and what products people are using... in particular reference to the ag market.

Well, a big hi!

Best

Fred

UK supplier of pest control product

[M & M Stockyards]

Hi Everybody!

I am new to forums in general but so far its easy!

:-)

[PeterC]

Hi everyone.
My name is Peter. 37 years old. I am a Tafe Student studying Cert III Horticulture.
I have 1 Term to go after the holidays.

[Everything Agriculture]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Peta. My husband (Rowan) and I have just started a farm management consulting company called 'Everything Agriculture'. We lived and worked on the 'family farm' in Bathurst for years - until a lack of succession plan and reluctance from other family members to get one - saw us venture out on our own. Anyway - we read an article in the SMH months ago how 'treechangers' from Sydney are buying into rural holdings and are unhappy when they get there. Charles Sturt Uni has done a bit of research into it and found that not enough research is conducted in regards to matching their requirements to their purchase e.g. they want a vineyard - but don't buy a place with the appropriate soils or climate. So we formed our company to help sydney based investors source, develop and manage their agricultural holding. i'm hoping 'AgLinks' will keep us up to date with new developments in the industry - and can provide us with valuable referrals...

Hope to hear from you all,
Peta

[Vermingone]

G'Day my name is Daniel and I live in Perth W.A. and are currently working on the waterfront.
In my spare time myself and a mate get out into the country and control feral animals with rifles.
At this stage this year we have eradicated all goats from a property in Gingin and significantly reduced the fox numbers as well as rabbits.

[dppark]

Hi All,

I am a breeder of Australian Lowline Cattle. We are located near Timboon, south west Victoria.

Dave

www.dpparklowlines.com

[CrazymanWade]

hows it goin, yea im new round here but i aint new to country work and the life style. i currently live in perth wa with me folks and is as borin as bat ****, so basically i am on here as i am looking for stock work or farm work anywhere and am prepared to travel any where in the state. Any way have a good one and if u got any questions or info for me feel free to let me know.

Have a good one
wade

[will-nsw]

hi all im will live and work around the warren quambone area fixing bikes cars trucks and welding general farming work

[snipe67]

Hello people :) it's nice to meet more people here

I'm from australia selling cattlles, horses, sheep and alpacas :)

[Ag_Trainer]

Hi, I just discovered this great forum, and hope to be an active part in the furture.
I am a trainer and assessor for a training company that specialises in agricultural machinery operation.
I teach harvesting (header operation) courses, planting, baling, GPS, and Farm OHS Inductions - all of these nationally recognised as part of a certificate III in agriculture. My favourite part of the job is doing the on-farm visits for RPL.
I also travel to the far reaches of queensland and northern territory, including mount isa, cape york, alice springs and thursday islands teaching earthmoving operation and ticketing, mostly with indigenous jobseekers.
Its pretty rewarding.

thanks again
Jason

[Gdeavin]

Hi there,

I am part of a research team looking at how science is communicated to relevant local communities.

One of our case study areas is the Simpson Desert where students, professors and volunteers from the University of Sydney do a lot of research on Bush Heritage's Cravens Peak and Ethabuka Reserves as well as Carlo Station.

Their studies range from looking at predator-prey interactions of Sand goannas and red foxes to the effect climatic extremes has on plant and animal species.

The Desert Ecology Research Group is now in their 20th year of study in the area but until now there has never been an event where the scientists speak to local land holders, managers and locals about what they do.

On July 1 the scientists, volunteers and Bush Heritage representatives will host an information evening in Bedourie, Queensland, and everyone is warmly welcome to attend.

As well as learning about the University of Sydney's current research and what Bush Heritage's present and future plans for Cravens Peak and Ehtabuka are it will be a chance for people to ask questions and raise issues and concerns.

Thanks for reading my post. If you would like more information about the evening please write to me at: gemma.deavin@sydney.edu.au

The details of the event are as follows:

Thursday July 1 (on the eve of the annual Bedourie Gymkhana)
6pm for 6.30
Bedourie Town Hall

Refreshments and drinks provided

Speakers:
* University of Sydney Ecology professor, Chris Dickman
* Bush Heritage ecologist, Max Tischler

[seats]

We supply replacement seats for a whole range of tractors, mowers, trucks, forklifts and construction equipment.

These are quality seats but at lower prices than you would normally pay through the major dealers.

So if the seat in your tractor or truck is a bit worn out and uncomfortable then have a look at our range of new seats and see cheap and easy it is to get something comfortable to sit on. We deliver Australia wide. See the website at:
TractorSeats.com.au

Cheers,
Graeme

[watts2c]

Hi All

watts2c specialise in independent power solutions - everything from generators to hybrid solar.

Ideal if you don't want, or can't connect to the grid.

We supply all over Australia and Don the owner is happy to share his wealth of knowledge as well. He is an award winning electrical designer/engineer so really knows his stuff.

Check out our website or give us a call...

cheers

MH

[jamec9869]

Hi! I've just visited this forum. Happy to get acquainted with you. Thank

[mfcha4]

Hi Everybody,
my name is wendell.
I am a fertilizers guys in melbourne. :)
Please feel free to contact with me if you are interested with chemical or fertilizer. :thumb

[Rduto85]

Hi everyone I'm mike...from colombia but live in Brissie for the last couple of years

I hope I can help and be helped!

:D

[ostrichfarming]

Hi everybody.

I'm Alan Stables and I have over 15 yrs experience in the world of ostrich farming.

Please feel free to ask my any questions, and I'll see if I can help.

Thanks
Alan

[Johno]

G/day my name is john I live in Sydney(not for long) and looking forward to moving to the bush and growing some cattle.

[Melbourne Pest Control]

Hi All

I'm Rick from Melbourne. My Specialty is in Pest Control. I would love to share my thoughts and others on this forum.

I'm glad to be a part of this forum.

Thanks
Rick

[thefarmstore]

Hi All,
Just wanted to get the word out about our website The Farm Store
We have a huge range of farming supplies.
Everything from Electric Fencing to Drenching & Injecting.

Check us out, and if you want to purchase in bulk, call us and we will give you a discount.

Regards,
The Farm Store

[Bosbull]

We are a retired couple who live in the Hunter Valley and run a small herd of Limousin Stud Cattle plus some chooks and 3 dogs. Two of which are Australian Bosdogs or (Australian Bulldogs). We hope to contribute to the forum

Regards

Bosbull

[Alan Finnie]

Hi Mary-Kate,
I recently seperated and and having a very tough time with it all. My dad was from Scotland and I would like to make contact with you.Please. Alan QUOTE=mary-kate;65]Hello Everyone,

I am 'calling' you from the UK !

Dave Riches suggested I make contact here with a view to making
friends.

I visited Australia twice last year and I think you are all most fortunate
to live in such a beautiful land !

I have been a widow for the past 9 years and would like to communicate
with people in a similar situation. My background is Scottish/Irish -
-a true Celt ! My business background is Secretarial/PA. However,
I am very adaptable.

I would like to hear from you.

Yours sincerely,

Mary-Kate.[/QUOTE]

[Tish]

Hi,

Thought I would join this forum and see if anyone else out there has much to do with pigs. I love my mini's and one of my girls is due in June, I'm a little worried but excited as well. This will be my first experience with farrowing and while I've dealt with horses, goats and dogs this somehow seems very different. Any advise???

[tnnursery]

I am Tammy with Tn Nursery
I'd like to introduce myself or much over our company Tn Nursery. We deliver and ship plants to all state and 13 foreign countries. We are State certified by the USDA and we have quality speciman plants at affordable prices. We deliver alot fo herbaceous and medicinal plants to Australia also.
Thank You!

[tnnursery]

We also have alot of perennial plants we export as well as bulbs, fern rhyzomes and trees.
Tammy

[tnnursery]

Id love to have some information about your zones in Australia and other informaiton.

[tnnursery]

Are your planting zones much diffrent than those in the US? Id like to know a little about this and how your Dept of Ag. relates to the states zonal comparisons.

[tnnursery]

We also have a retail store which is Quick Growing Trees. Its not an international shipper site as tn nursery is. Just wanted to share a quick FYI:)

[tnnursery]

Nursery (http://www.tnnursery.net) plants and trees at affordable internaitonal shipping prices.

[Bellingara Stud]

We are a horse stud in the Illawarra area of NSW. We breed Warmblood horses for dressage and Welsh Mountain ponies primarily for showing and breeding. We also stand several stallions at stud. Come and visit our website for more info, photos and videos of our horses:

Bellingara Stud - Warmbloods & Welsh Ponies (http://www.bellingarastud.com.au)

Oh, and we breed Angus cattle as well!