Dave Forrest

Dave became interested in biological farming and nutrition  in the late 1960’s when working on farms lead him to Hawkesbury Ag College to study Applied Agricultural Science.  He graduated in 1977 and since then he has been farming a diverse range of horticultural crops and livestock for the regional marketplace. Dave and his partner, Sue, grow macadamia, citrus , ginger, turmeric, coffee and small crops on three Certified Organic properties under their label Organic Forrest. 

In 1980 Dave began teaching Agriculture at NSW TAFE. In 1984 he started teaching full time and developed the Organic Farming course in 1989.  Dave always taught students to understand biological farming principles to enable a regenerative farming system. Dave taught pest , disease and weed management , soil health and plant nutrition, compost production, integrated farm management and more.  He received the Sustainability Trainers Award in 2015.

​A foundation and committee member of Soilcare from 2006, he developed and delivered many biological farming courses for farmers. He facilitated the development of the Soil Health Card series and industry specific Better Soil Management Guides. 

Dave has participated in many farming committees, roundtables, conferences and workshops in Australia and overseas presenting a biological farming perspective , its’ principles and practises.
Thousands of farmers, students and groups have visited his and other biological farms during his training courses.  Dave consults to a wide range of farmers and trainers who want to improve soil health, productivity and production using ecologically sound practises and inputs.