Sarah Poynton

2023

Horticulture

Sponsored by Acorn Nursery

I have been in the Horticulture industry my whole working life gaining loads of experience as well as growing up with horticulture on both sides of my family. My passion for plants runs deep and I have loved learning the intricacies and wonder they have to offer. I hope to apply and practice what I have gained so far and learn how to direct this knowledge into a more sustainable and climate conscious future.

I am passionate about propagating and growing plants, this is something I am currently a part of in my workplace and has been a vital element of what I have grown up watching for as long as I can remember. I love the hands on and immersive process of this - seeing the plants grow from start to finish is a very satisfying and fulfilling journey. This being a core factor that keeps me enthralled in the broad horizon of all things related to horticulture.

I recently completed a Permaculture Design Course (PDC) at Ceres in Brunswick. This has taught me lessons I know I will carry with me through my life and I aim to spread what I have learnt as far and wide as I can. I really enjoy what I have gained through completing this course and value the ethics its carries - earth care, people care and fair share. Ethics I feel that are crucial to moving through these unprecedented times ahead.

I feel grateful to be able to offer my learnings and help others integrate small but impactful practices into their daily life. I hope that through the ethics and principles I’ve become familiar with in Permaculture, I can help others realise that they can create many sustainable pathways without feeling completely overwhelmed with the larger picture. This is something I realised through the course that helped me feel more comfortable with approaching climate issues, as small changes can equal larger very beneficial results for the wellbeing of the environment.

I believe I would gain the most out of visiting Europe and the UK. Europe being the leaders in sustainable agriculture I feel I would gain a lot of insight and valuable knowledge from experiencing that environment.

In particular The Netherlands with the technology they use around growing hydroponically. I feel this would be really beneficial to gain access to as this could be a possible path into how we grow and source our food especially with the decline in soil quality in Australia as result of poor land management, farm practices and regeneration.

“Sarah shows clear passion and determination in a branch of horticulture that is not widely understood but represents a major area of growth and success in the long term. Coupled with sustainable ideals outlined, I believe she will make a great scholar.” - Assessment Panel