In this final episode recorded at GROUNDED Festival 2025, we share an unedited session captured at the close of two full days of talks, workshops and on-farm learning in Bridgetown, Western Australia. As the festival drew to a close, we wanted to do what GROUNDED does best: throw a few big ideas into the air and see where they landed. The brief was simple — how do we fix farmland? — but the answers, as always, were complex, layered and deeply human. To explore that question, we brought together two people working at the sharp end of land repair from different angles. Michelle McManus, co-founder of Southampton Homestead, also works with Voyager Estate, helping guide landscape repair and regenerative practices across vineyard systems. Her work bridges practical farming, processing and land stewardship. She’s joined by Terry McCosker, one of Australia’s pioneers of regenerative agriculture, widely respected for his work on grazing systems, carbon, soil health and landscape function. Together, they reflect on what repairing farmland really means — beyond techniques and terminology — touching on responsibility, resilience, systems thinking and the long view required to care for land in a changing climate. It’s an open, thoughtful and fitting way to close two remarkable days on the farm. Settle in and enjoy this closing session with Michelle McManus and Terry McCosker on GROUNDED Live. GROUNDED Festival is a cross between a food festival, a farming conference and a field day. It combines science and technology with ancient wisdom, provides a respectful place for lively discussion, an audience as interesting as the speakers and an excellent menu of local food, drinks and music, all on a beautiful, regeneratively-managed farm. GROUNDED is also Australia's only annual, roaming food and farming festival, held in a different farm location every year, so each festival is a unique, unmissable event celebrating local expertise and culture with an inspiring line up of speakers. In 2026, with the support of the local Upper Barwon and Central Otway Landcare Networks, following successful festivals in Tasmania and Western Australia, GROUNDED FESTIVAL will be held at leading regenerative farm, Yan Yan Gurt West, in the Victorian Otway Ranges, two hours from Melbourne in an area renowned for regenerative agroforestry, tourism, local hospitality and great food and wine. Tickets are on sale now - head to the GROUNDED website for information on speakers, the location, and to secure your spot today.
