Video What do authors do besides writing – they farm truffles?

TLF ID M019330

This is a video about author and farmer SD Gentill and how she combines writing with growing black truffles. It consists of an interview in which she answers questions posed by Will, a young boy. To a background of scenes from her Snowy Mountains farm and a Brisbane restaurant she supplies, Gentill explains how truffles are grown and hunted for with dogs, and how the seasonal nature of truffle growing allows her time to write. The video lasts for 3:18 min and in the latter part Gentill cites her own experience in telling Will that being born in the country is not necessary for becoming a farmer.





Educational details

Educational value
  • This resource is of considerable value for upper primary and lower secondary teachers to use with their classes when integrating various learning areas around an agriculture theme. Within the years 5, 6 and 7 English curriculum, the video provides an interesting introduction to SD Gentill as an author of young adult fiction such as 'Chasing Odysseus' and a starting point for content descriptions in the Literature strand.
  • In Economics and Business the video supports the year 6 content description about the reasons businesses (such as truffle farming) exist and the different ways they provide goods and services; and the year 8 content description about types of work and how people derive an income. In Design and Technologies, it supports the years 7/8 content description in the Knowledge and understanding strand of that refers to the ways in which products evolve locally and regionally through the creativity, innovation and enterprise of individuals.
  • The resource may also be useful for the year 9 work studies curriculum. The interview is relevant to the content description about Investigating a wide range of occupations, and the skills and personal qualities required in these fields. Gentill describes the skills a truffle grower needs and her working life provides an excellent case study of how to manage several different occupations at once. Her website indicates she also breeds miniature cattle.
Year level

5; 6; 7; 8; 9

Learning area
  • Economics and business
  • English
  • Design and technologies
  • Technologies
  • Work Studies
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Design

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: AgriFood Skills Australia
  • Organization: AgriFood Skills Australia
  • URL: http://www.agrifoodskills.net.au/
  • Publisher
  • Name: AgriFood Skills Australia
  • Organization: AgriFood Skills Australia
  • Description: Publisher
  • URL: http://www.agrifoodskills.net.au/
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Unknown
Learning Resource Type
  • Video
Rights
  • © AgriFood Skills Australia 2015. Except where indicated otherwise, this material may be used in accordance with the Standard YouTube License at http://www.youtube.com/t/terms.