Jean-Martin Fortier of the Market Gardener Institute is coming to Tassie!!

For a single day in December 2025, globally renowned market garden educator and author, Jean-Martin (JM) Fortier is coming to Tasmania. Local partners, Sprout Tasmania and Activista, invite you to share space with this fountain of knowledge. 

Since bursting onto small-scale farming scene with the publication of The Market Gardener in 2012, JM has used his teaching and farming as a way to show how small ecological farms can disrupt the current globalized food system and provide a more sustainable and resilient alternative. Through his work at The Market Gardener Institute, the Ferme des Quatre-Temps, Heirloom, Growers & Co., and the Growing Change Initiative, JM seeks to empower the next generation of growers to start their own successful small ecological farms worldwide.

Choose your own adventure by attending one or both of the following sessions featuring JM. 

Morning Session – JM keynote and panel with Sprout Tas

Free, limited tickets available.

How a small farm can grow big dreams – join Jean-Martin Fortier, a pioneer in the small-scale organic farming movement, as he shares insights and experiences from his 20-year journey in market gardening. In this keynote, JM will delve into how the transformative power of ecological farming can restore and ignite local communities. He will highlight the success stories of future growers empowered by The Market Gardener Institute and explore the innovative ventures that continue to shape the future of regenerative agriculture. This talk promises to inspire and equip attendees with the knowledge and passion to cultivate a more resilient and sustainable food system. 

Following his keynote, JM will be joined by Sprout Tasmania producers in a panel conversation with Sprout Alumni, Ollie Benson to contemplate education pathways for the next generation of growers. 

Registration opens at 8.30am for a 9.00am start, session concludes 12pm. Guests are invited to stay at Longley Organic Farm until 1pm to picnic and connect, please BYO lunch. For those not participating in the afternoon session, exiting the workshop and farm area is required by 1pm. James Hutchinson of ActiveVista/Longley Organic Farm and his team will be available to discuss tool and seed sales at the ‘Here On Earth’ farm shop.

Afternoon Session – workshop and dinner with master grower JM Fortier

$350 full ticket, $250 Sprout members.

Is it truly possible to achieve financial success through farming on a modest acreage? Explore the fundamental elements, techniques, and design principles that transform small-scale bio-intensive farming into a profitable endeavour. Over the past 20 years, JM has discovered simple and effective tricks that allow you to feel prepared, organized, and confident that this new season will be a success! This session will teach:  

● Identifying key crops for optimal profitability 

● Learning strategies for team mobilization and streamlining daily farm operations 

● Life habits you need to adopt to be at your best during the season 

● Management practices to improve your crop and harvest planning 

● Tips to better mobilize your teams and facilitate daily work on the farm 

● Which tools will save you time and increase your efficiency 

Our ultimate objective in this workshop is to empower you to cultivate with greater abundance and, most importantly, with increased efficiency. This session includes a farm tour and tools overview with James Hutchinson of ActiveVista/Longley Organic Farm. Join us as we embark on a journey toward more prosperous and sustainable farming practices.

Registration opens at 1pm for a 1.30pm start, a light afternoon tea will be provided, the workshop concludes at 6.30pm. The ticket includes catering for a BBQ dinner, courtesy of Activista and Hamlet. Please BYO drinks keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum.  

details

Location: Longley Organic Farm, 1690 Huon Rd, Longley 7150, Tasmania.

Parking: Parking is available opposite Longley Organic Farm at Longley Park.

Camping: for guests seeking accommodation a number of free powerless van and campsites are available at Longley Organic Farm from the 8th through to the 10th – please contact James Hutchinson at Longley Organic Farm to arrange directly: longleyorganic@gmail.com.

Tickets: Tickets will be released on 30th October. Sales will close around the 3rd of December if not sold out before hand.

Please Note

Sprout reserves the right to change the event location and format in the event of extreme weather conditions.

This once off event is made possible thanks to Active Vista, Longley Organic Farm, Market Garden Institute and Sprout Tasmania. All proceeds go towards supporting Sprout Tasmania and our mission to empower Tasmania’s small scale producers.