LAURENCE KOENIG
Organic and biodynamic farmer, Ingelara family farm
Laurence Koenig takes a holistic approach to vegetable and beef production at Ingelara, a 230-hectare property in the Monaro region south of Canberra. Working alongside his parents, Laurence, 28, focuses on improving soil health to grow delicious produce, which is available at Capital Region Farmers Market and Southside Farmers Market, and local restaurants and stores.
The Koenigs have been practising regenerative agriculture to rejuvenate their landscape for the past 18 years. They use cattle and time-controlled grazing to help improve mineral cycles and build soil health, along with adding natural soil amendments and biodynamic preparations. “We’re always open to new ideas,” Laurence says. “The three things we aim for are a positive environmental, social and economic impact. Socially, we want to produce healthy food for our customers and ourselves. We also want to produce that food in a way that creates a healthy soil and natural environment – and while doing all of that, we need to make a profit.”
Laurence completed a Diploma in Organic Farming at the National Environment Centre in NSW, and spent three years working on biodynamic farms in Europe before returning
