Syntropic Farms

Syntropic Farms Co. (SFC) has been founded to be a vehicle for the dissemination of Syntropic Farming principles and practices in Australia. With the support from Agenda Gotsch, Brazil, SFC aims to implement and educate on regenerative agricultural systems that are based on observations of local forestry ecosystems, built through succession and managed for abundance.

Syntropic farming has been proposed by Ernst Gotsch, a plant biologist who over many decades of observation and practice, has organised agricultural systems based on natural succession, creating ecosystems with similar structure, function and dynamics to natural and localised biomes. Syntropic farming fosters positive energetic yields that results in abundant systems, in both qualitative and quantitative terms, at different scales, and is able to support micro and macro-organisms while also ensuring the health of the greater organism – Plant Earth.
Syntropic Farming 1: Introduction to Syntropic Farming

Here is where it all starts! Get to know the philosophy, the theory and practical aspects of Syntropic Farming in our 4 day course. You will experience hands on how basic concepts are put to practice. Our teachers are all Syntropic Farmers themselves with many years of experience in Brazil. The demonstration sites hosts several areas, each with different focus and conditions of soil and terrain, allowing lots of practical exercises and many places to learn from.

SF1 is for farmers, entrepreneurs, students, teachers, decision makers, and anyone that wants to be involved and take responsibility in two key aspect of our living: food production and environmental stewardship, both of which are essential to our subsistence in the short and long term.

Overview of SF1 content:

• Basics of Syntropic Farming – theory
o Selective weeding;
o Pruning principles;
o Introduction to soil food web;
o Stratification framework; and
o Introduction to ecophysiological functions of plants.
• Basics of Syntropic Farming – practice
o Understanding the roles of key species in the system;
o Soil preparation;
o Planting; and
o Irrigation.


Syntropic Farming 2: Advanced practices of Syntropic Farming

Welcome back! Great to know you want to deepen your knowledge in our 4 day advanced practices course. This course is also a mix of theory and practical exercises with greater focus on the key concept of selective pruning.

The SF2 is recommended for people that have already complete the introductory course SF1. Priority will be given to those that have a real contact with agriculture and/or those that intend to embark on the journey in the very near future.

Overview of SF2 content (indication only):

• Advanced Techniques of Syntropic Farming – theory
o Plant architecture and their relationship with ecophysiological functions;
o Advanced pruning techniques for system management;
o Successional composition of consortiums;
o System planning and implementation.
• Advanced Techniques of Syntropic Farming – practice
o Implementing a system in a forestry ecosystem;
o Advanced pruning techniques;
o Soil preparation and planting.


Recommended readings:
• Dirt: the erosion of civilizations. Author – David Montgomery
• Living Energies: An exposition of concepts related to the theories of Viktor Schauberger. Author – Callum Coats
• Texts on www.agendagotsch.com/texts