Alida Fabris
Taradale,VIC
Summary
Experience market gardener with qualifications in botany, specialising in permaculture and regenerative gardening practice. Brings a range of horticultural skills including seasonal crop planning, plant cultivation, pest management, irrigation maintenance, and with hands-on experience in seed production horticulture, agricultural research trials, and IPM including past roles at Rijk Zwaan, AgriBio (DEDJTR), and Melbourne Zoo. Experienced in facilitating farm tours and gardening workshops, sharing practical knowledge on sustainable food systems, plant care, and wild food identification. Active volunteer Treasurer for a local environmental friends group, contributing leadership, financial management, and community engagement skills. Committed to promoting food security, sustainability, and responsible land stewardship through ethical farming and education.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Horticulturist
Hugh Martin @ Mini-Farm
Metcalfe, Victoria
04.2024 - Current
- Mentoring new owners through the horticultural aspects of managing an ex-market garden property, including downsizing garden beds by incorporating pollinator gardens, and cover crops. As well as Small-scale crop planning, growing seasonal produce, soil building.
Market Gardener
Home Grown On Piper
Metcalfe, Victoria
02.2023 - 04.2024
- Cultivated high-quality seasonal produce for local distribution to farmers markets, veggie box orders, café and restaurants.
- All aspects of the garden operations, including planning for seasonal crops, propagation, planting, crop maintenance, weed control, irrigation system maintenance, harvesting, processing, storage, and managing soil health.
- Implemented regenerative practices, including cover crops, living mulches, crop rotations, water-saving plant guilds, and more efficient composting systems.
- Mentored new owners, oversaw staff operations, conducted farm tours, and led gardening workshops, with an emphasis on permacultural practices and plant biology. Coordinated with chefs to deliver future produce needs and collect feedback
- Responsible for seed inventory, organising garden shed and tools, ordering stock feed, and supplies to ensure that materials are available when needed.
Glasshouse Technical Assistant
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
AgriBio Centre For AgriBioscience, Bundoora , Victoria
07.2017 - 07.2018
- Provided technical support for scientific plant trials, including propagation, pest control, and irrigation management.
- Applied IPDM strategies and ensured biosecurity compliance within controlled growing environments.
- Performed routine maintenance on tools, nursery equipment, and growth facilities, ensuring compliance with workplace standards.
Nursery Assistant
Melbourne Zoo
Parkville, Victoria
05.2017 - 06.2017
- Assisted with growing and maintaining the botanical requirements for the invertebrates exhibited at the Melbourne Zoo.
Seed Breeding Production Cadet
Rijk Zwaan
Musk, Victioria
11.2014 - 01.2015
- Assisted with the vegetable growing of trial and seed production crops for commercial breeding.
Education
Units 1 & 2 (Diploma) - Science of Gardening
University of Tasmania
TAS11-2020
Bachelor of Biological Science - Botany
La Trobe University
Melbourne, VIC11-2015
Skills
- Crop planning for seasonal vegetable cultivation
- Grow and supply organic produce to local cafés
- Apply regenerative, organic farming practices
- Soil health assessment and remediation
- Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM)
- Irrigation System and greenhouse maintenance
- Facilitate farm tours, and gardening workshop
- Coordinating, training, and supervising staff
- Developing systems for workplace efficiency
- Bookkeeping, budgets, and finance allocation
Certification
- Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
- Agricultural Chemical User Permit
- Manual Victorian Drivers License
- OH&S Construction White Card
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Horticulturist
Hugh Martin @ Mini-Farm
04.2024 - Current
Market Gardener
Home Grown On Piper
02.2023 - 04.2024
Glasshouse Technical Assistant
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
07.2017 - 07.2018
Nursery Assistant
Melbourne Zoo
05.2017 - 06.2017
Seed Breeding Production Cadet
Rijk Zwaan
11.2014 - 01.2015
- Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
- Agricultural Chemical User Permit
- Manual Victorian Drivers License
- OH&S Construction White Card
Units 1 & 2 (Diploma) - Science of Gardening
University of Tasmania
Bachelor of Biological Science - Botany
La Trobe University
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