An ambitious project that aims to celebrate the work of regenerative farmers through the eyes of artists will kickstart with a workshop at Bowna on July 8.
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The Earth Canvas workshop, at Gillian Sanbrook's 'Bibbaringa' property, will encourage participants to examine the landscape from the perspective of a farmer, artist, scientist and an educator.
The day will include catchment planning, decision-making in tough times, an artist talk on the local landscape and farm walk.
Ms Sanbrook said artists were often the "canary in the coal mine" with the ability to see things well before others.
To that end she is behind a project that has connected six artists with six regenerative farmers between the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers to bring to life the farmer's work in the paddocks through an artist's palette.
"It's a chance to see the landscape from a creative perspective - and to highlight that we are not just farming the land for production at all costs," Ms Sanbrook said.
"It celebrates farmers who are looking after the country and producing healthy food from healthy soils."
In November, open days will be held at each farm giving local communities the chance to view the artwork and the land that inspired the artistic vision.
The artist and the regenerative farmer will share their knowledge and understanding and discuss how they each see the landscape they have shared.
Ms Sanbrook said the second stage of the project would involve a travelling exhibition starting at the Albury Library Museum and moving to nine other regional galleries in NSW, Victoria and the ACT.
She hopes the project will open even a "slight gap" in awareness that there is more to farms than just economic production.
"The solution to climate change and environmental sustainability is everyone's responsibility," she said.
"The consumer is part of the solution; if they understand where their food comes from there will be more pressure to produce healthy food from healthy soil."
The workshop, supported by the Murray Local Land Services, is open to all and will include presentations from scientist Peter Hazell, who works in natural sequence farming and landscape rehydration; educator Brian Wehlburg who will discuss how to change your decision-making process; and Albury landscape artist Jo Davenport who will reveal how an artist views the rural landscape.
Ms Sanbrook will also share her story of regenerating the once-bare Bibbaringa during the on-farm walk.
- To book go to trybooking, email info@earthcanvas.com.au for more details or phone 0428 696 724.
