ORC land resource officer Bruce Monaghan opened the seminar by outlining how people could access information on soil types, climate and crop opportunities.
Landscape architect Sue Mort then told the 35 participants how to beautify their property.
She warned them not to change too much at the outset, such as chopping down trees, because a year later they might wish the trees were still there.
Landuse consultant Ray Wright explained the commercial opportunities available to individuals and to groups through co-operatives.
An organic grower, he gave first-hand advice on organic crops and how co-operatives worked together to market vegetables locally, and discussed niche opportunities for other types of growing.
Participants were then given an opportunity to ask the presenters questions about their own land and how to optimise its use.
Mr Monaghan said there was a keen interest by many of the participants in visiting the Otago Polytech Cromwell Campus to look at crop data put together by the Polytech.
"Growers can look at where they live and see what would grow best in that region or alternatively decide what they wanted to grow, and then look for suitable sites," he said.