How the Gardens Began

Towards Self-sufficiency
Wholeearth Gardening Method
Sustainable Practices

How the gardens are beginning at Dorrigo

On the 15th September 2005 we purchased 146 acres of undulating land west of Dorrigo. This was after a lot of research of different chosen areas in Australia. Paul was the researcher such things as climate, landscape, altitude, services, resources, local and state government, community, township economy, etc were all considered. Of course affordability as well, but more important suitability to what we needed, what we desired to achieve and future suitability. It is a time of lots of thinking, researching and patience when choosing to move and the purchase of a new property. The strongest advice we could give you is to take your time. Paul first look into this area 16 months ago, he then first looked at this property in March 2005, we looked at it many times both physically visiting it and by maps and photos. The next important thing is to learn about the property you are interested in from the neighbours and people in the community. Retrace the history of the property and the community before you buy.

Before - the house paddock 4 days after purchase, September 2005

This property is naturally beautiful, yet it has experienced demanding owners. It has been sub-divided. It has always been heavily overstocked with cattle and horses. The soil has been depleted. Livestock and graders have been used to force back the forest and to control the new growth of natives with in the forest. The landscape around the dams has become barren from compaction and erosion that occurred from the livestock. In places along the forest streams the native understorey vegetation has been damaged, grazed, destroyed and eroded by the livestock. All bad management practices.

We aim to protect all species on this property and manage it sustainably and ask of it only to give what it receives.

After - the house paddock 3.5 weeks later after application of Natra-min & wormcastings

There is approximately 120 acres of temperate wet rainforest, which leaves about 26 acres of cleared land. The 26 acres is divided by cascading creeks and deep forest gorges. We call the first area the house paddock ‘Zone 1’ and it is about 6 acres, that is a huge Zone 1, the second area is the knoll about 4 acres and the third area is the long paddock approximately 16 acres and completely surrounded by rainforest. All accessible by walking tracks and four-wheel drive tracks.

There is a liveable shed on the boundary of the first paddock and this is where things are starting from. Zone 0 ‘the house’ is the liveable shed for the time being and we do advise to get Zone 0 soughted out first before going onto Zone 1- the intensive gardens around the house. For four days after purchasing we cleaned the shed and made it suitable and comfortable to live in, we also prepare for the incoming processions that we would be bringing on the big move day. We then located and designed the immediate vegie growing area, composting area and the temporally location for the worm farms and chook pens. Once again it is very important that we are growing our own food as soon as possible, at least fresh greens. Paul implemented the first vegetable garden and we prepared the soil and heavily feed it so it could grow until we moved in. A compost bin was also made to mature. Four days after purchasing we hand broadcast out minerals (Natra-min from Ag soloutions Gympie) all over the 6-acre house paddock and we applied by hand flicking liquidised solid worm castings. We always remineralise first and add microbial activity, and then we add or apply organic matter.

The soil we're starting with - get the soil right first using minerals, compost, worm castings & mulch, mulch, mulch

The house paddock was grazed to the dirt, weeds were germinating and there was cow manure everywhere 15/9/05, there was very little rain during the period until we moved down Thursday 13th October 2005 and there was a huge difference in the vegetation, you can see from the pictures. Always start with the soil. The next thing we are doing is just observing. Observation is vital. Spend precious time just being out there. You must observe all the energies and forces of nature. Learn them for every small area that you wish to garden, now design and then evolve them into the future of your growing garden to make your adjustments. Really you could spend a year just observing and each day and season would show you different outcomes. But it would be a year well spent for a lifetime of successful growing. Getting it right from the start applies to the soil and to the actual location and design, it is extremely important.

We will be doing things slowly and in small steps as we hope to minimise our mistakes and we have a huge challenge, that of matching or complimenting the natural beauty of this property.

We are taking each day at a time; we do not know what the future is for this Simply Natural Organic farm, yet we didn’t know what was to happen at Eudlo. We have no plan, as we are not business, moneymaking people, the only desire we have is to create an aesthetically pleasing, productive, sustainable farm and home.

We just want to help this place shine.

We hope that what we achieve and share from here will help others sparkle.

We hope that you receive the trickling flow of good mountain energy that we send down each day.

Towards self-sufficiency

The out back Garden vegies and chooks all close and handy

Starting from scratch.
You can achieve a lot in a very short time.

From day one of owning this place we have been hard at it. Yes it does take energy and effort to create self-sufficiency.

Priority for us is providing our own fresh food, so day one was about starting our vegie patch. We chose to place the vegie garden, close to the liveable shed on the only flat piece of land around. Flat because, the knoll had been excavated when the shed had been built. The top of the knoll had been taken off hence the soil was subsoil and rocks. Yet it was growing waist high kikuyu, we thought that this must have meant good soil. ? Since, our observation has been that rampant kikuyu grows in disturbed and or depleted soil, and in soil that has been forced feed (urea) and toxic in an over abundant nutrient. This area of ours was the case of disturbance and low nutrient.

From bad soil and rocks to beautiful healthy vegies in 6 months

We cut the grass low to the ground and piled it up for the use of mulch later. We deep chipped away the layers of kikuyu to the soil and rock. Paul then attempted to dig the soil with a garden fork. It was extremely hard going and a crow bar would have been a better choice of tool. Rocks everywhere with very little soil, the fortunate thing was that it was soft rock and the soil between the rocks is clay. Both of us thought we will never grow anything in this. Well that is true, but we weren’t going to grow in just that. It doesn’t matter what you have to start with, as long as you start growing. That is what is really important.

After a double dig over there was still plenty of small rocks in the soil and the soil depth was only 4-5cms. We were both quite put off. Yet the knowledge that we had created deep, rich, magnificent soil before at our last property gave us the push to continue. We had brought with us bags of worm castings and humus from my composting systems. We had collected cow manure from the last owners leased cattle to add and we had brought all the minerals and biostimulants we needed to make a great start to growing the soil.

After choosing the correct location your first plant is a cover crop

The recipe.
The ‘Outback Vegie Garden’ is 4 meters by 4 meters, a square. The internal design is 4 triangles. The 2 paths run from the corners and cross in the centre of the square.

We marked the paths in, dug the soil from the paths onto the future garden beds and then we used old fencing post as borders for the garden beds. On to each garden area we applied - rock minerals (Natramin), soft rock minerals, zeolite (McLeod’s), McLeod’s soil conditioner (McLeod’s) and our own solid worm castings and humus from composting. Each of the triangles got a 40kg bag of humus and a 20kg bag of worm castings, a very heavy application, to allow depth in the garden bed. All of the above was dug in and mixed.

This is how you start a garden - slashing the soil

On top we applied approximately 2cms of cow manure and then another application of rock minerals. Then we used seaweed (Natrakelp) and molasses with water in watering cans and watered the garden area. Watering in well. We covered the garden area with the fresh kikuyu that we had cut and over the top of this we applied dried old grass mulch. The paths, we applied dolomite to, then watered and covered with dried grass mulch. The entire area was lightly watered and the garden set up was finished. The growing process was about to begin. We were growing soil first.

This is the method I used in this case. Some things are the same as I always use some things are specific and different to what was the required outcome.

After slashing the soil improving crop is turned in

I had never applied raw animal manure to my garden soils before and normally do not recommend it. I applied the cow manure as the immediate and long-term food for the soil workers and the microbial activity, that was in my worm castings and humus. The cow manure would also be the food for the new populations of soil workers over the next 3 weeks as well as the biodegrading kikuyu. It was going to be 3 to 4 weeks before we moved here so this method allowed me to grow the soil before I came, without using my normal method of growing a green manure crop first. We created a garden in a day. We started our soil improving. We started growing, growing the most important crop of all – soil.

The next day we built compost heaps in preparation for using for the first plant in our new vegie garden when we got back.

Start composting when you plant the green manure crop

When we moved in, we brought with us vegie seedlings. It was 2 days after we moved in and 4 weeks later. The compost was ready to add with the planting and we had brought more worm castings to add as well. On opening the mulch, we were amazed. The soil life scattered, the smell was sweet and the soil was dark. There was no cow manure left on top. With a trowel I turned the soil 6cm deep, the soil was forming. The structure and texture had certainly altered, as had the colour of the soil. We were witnessing magic! What a major improvement, but still along way to go. We could plant in this. We planted our seedlings and around 6 weeks later we were harvesting the first of our fresh greens. The first of many harvests. Three months later we were harvesting remarkable crops of vegie fruits and still harvesting the vegie greens and salad. We couldn’t believe what this soil was producing.

We mulched with 2 year old Kikuyu Grass and sawdust

Even though we knew what the soil would be, we extended this vegie garden area 3months later and again another 3 months later. What kept us doing more were the results we were getting. In areas where it was totally impossible to create a garden such as solid, compacted, hard rock I have used terracotta pots, clustered together in large circles. Here I grow a huge range of culinary and medicinal herbs.

The ‘Outback Vegie Garden’ is jammed packed with harvestable food at all times. Being right close to where we live it is extremely handy and provides fresh, nutritious, fast food. The soil has kept improving in quality over the last 19 months, with good texture and structure down to approximately 12cms. The top 6cms still remains high in organic carbon and abundant with soil workers due to my frequent inputting of organic matter.

Each section of my garden is 1.5 meters by 1 meter

I have successfully created beautiful soil in a very short time. Well no I haven’t, the soil life has create the beautiful soil. I just provided a healthy environment for them to live and breed, and I keep providing the food for them. The soil workers have arrived and thrived and so to is my garden. My reward is a garden that is thriving! The ‘Outback Vegie Garden” is higher than my other Vegie garden being on a ridge. This garden area is cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter than the ‘Abundant Life garden’. Having both garden areas allows me to grow in Summer cool season crops as well as warm season crops. Our Spring, Summer and Autumn fresh food supply is extremely diverse and grown with minimal weather difficulties.

Large growing area for fresh food self-sufficiency.
Our whole farm is under going enhancement and development but we are focusing our daily provisions coming from approximately 6 acres in front of our living area. We say we are developing this area! Zone 1.

May 2006 the vegie garden is done

Aspect and face.
This area has a long east face, a wide north face, a long western ridge and an elbow shaped ridge to the south. I would class it as being a northeast/east aspect. The face of the landscape runs down to the east. A gentle slope. Across the slope from the ridge to the forest the areas are - native plantings, orchards, vegie garden, house cow pasture paddock and forest. This layout allows nutrient to travel through the vegetative layers, with maximum nutrient being received at the lower level where it is required, the vegie garden. The pasture under the vegie garden area allows excess nutrient to be trapped in the grassed area. This aids in growing high quality pasture for the house cow while decreasing and purifying nutrient before it enters the native forest. The pasture on the east side of the productive growing area allows early morning sunlight as does the pasture on the north side. Hence the house cows paddock, our fresh milk supply, is ‘L’ shaped.

The first vegie planting

The gentle slope that runs from south to north and drops to the northeast is planted - windbreak, orchard, windbreak, and vegie garden.
The vegie area was chosen for the slightly sloping, northeast aspect with an east face. I believe ideal for growing. Another important factor was to use the slope for gravity feeding stored water to the growing zone. Also the previous planting layouts would enhance the success of the vegie garden.

The ‘Abundant Life Garden’ is a large rectangle shape with 2 rectangle tunnels within it. The gardens and pathing run across the landscape. The vegie growing area is 19 metres by 9 metres, divided into 2 tunnels with a 1-meter herb growing area in the centre. This area is used for growing the soil improving herbs that go into the compost and that we use to make the biodynamic preparations.

The Abundant Life vegie garden structure is finished

From Scratch, How did we do it!
We ripped the ground with a tractor and over the next week we removed by hand the large grass clods, chipping with a hoe as we went. Just shallow. We applied dolomite and rock minerals (Natramin) then planted green manure crops. I believe your first planting must be green manure crops. It is the plant that makes the soil. Grasses/grains and legumes we use, 4 varieties of each. Before flowering we slashed the crop to the ground and rotary hoed the crop through the soil. We shaped the garden beds and paths. Over the garden beds I applied liquid worm castings, seaweed and molasses. We then mulched the garden beds with grass mulch- (spoiled old livestock feed, kikuyu) and the paths were mulched with old sawdust from the chook houses. With this size garden, we just did a section at a time, over the next week, adding humus and the worm castings and digging them in. We waited for the green manure crop to completely break down and then we started planting our vegies. The top garden was planted out with berries and strawberries, by Summer we had delicious crops of berries.

Support plant around your garden. This is the East side

The infrastructure we did as we were planting the vegies. The design of the garden had to suit infrastructure and the design had to be efficient in its use of resources. Hence rectangle and tunnels. Previously we had gardened with the wildlife and gardened successfully yet here the wildlife is abundant and diverse. We are not the only ones who want to live in this beautiful, healthy place. We knew when we designed the garden and choose the size that we would need to allow for infrastructure. The infrastructure would also serve the function of protecting the garden and its crops from the climatic ‘wild energies’. Our main energies we need to calm, at present, are frost and wind. Yet with the accelerated rate of the occurrence of climate change, giving serve weather conditions, we knew we would need to protect against hailstorms, rain deluges and hotter weather. Already it is happening and the future preparation we made is being used in the present.

The North side of the garden from the house cows paddock

The hail guard as our covering is delivering remarkable results. We have offered a 15% reduction in sunlight, but an increase in light reflection by using white shade cloth. I thought in Dorrigo we would be well before the time for this, yet this last year’s weather has proven not to be so. Even here the heat needs to be turned down, now! The choice to use heavy gauge chicken wire down low was for many reasons but the main one being, airflow. I must mention also that we wanted to allow the small birds to enter the vegie garden to help us garden too. Airflow and no generation of heat was the main important factors for using white hail guard and not green shade cloth. The ‘Abundant Life Garden’ named because the now, abundant life in the soil, not because of the abundant wildlife pinching our food. Demonstrates that you can garden with nature and all the creatures that inhabit her successfully. We are also reassuring you that you can prepare your garden and have it well set-up to calm the extremes of climate change.

We are receiving an over abundance of food and resource production from this garden, with a soil depth of 30cms. Magnificent fertile living soil has been created in a very short time.

Jade Woodhouse Wholearth Gardening Method
My method & management

Giant crops, healthy and massive, hence The Abundant Life

I always start with the soil. I grow soil before I grow the edible crop.
Reminerialise the soil first. Apply minerals to breed soil life. It is the plant that makes the soil. So grow plants to provide fresh organic matter to the soil. Aid the breakdown of the organic matter by adding a biostimulant to the chopped green manure. The biostimulants I use are - Liquid seaweed, molasses, liquid worm castings, BD 500 and BD Cow Pat Pit Concentrate (CPPC) or compost tea. Just one or two are used depending on the time of the year and the required outcome. At the same time add ‘stable’ carbon to the soil such as solid worm castings and colloidal humus (made from composting). Always cover the soil with dry carbon mulch.

To restore the soil from scratch I use my 3-year soil-growing program.
I do at least 6 applications of minerals and organic matter, with carbon and biostimulants.

Each year 2 applications every Spring and Autumn for 3 years.
In the vegie gardens I also add humus and worm castings every time I plant. During the plants growth I use leaf foliage applications of liquid seaweed (Natrakelp). Importantly always cover the soil with mulch.

I grow soil and I feed the soil. I do not feed the plants.

The first crop growing in Summer

This soil-growing programme creates a deep, rich, highly nutritious soil.
The health and life of your soil is restored and a balanced is restored.
This program increases - the available minerals in your soil, the organic matter content and humus levels. You will restore carbon to your soil.
The only products I put into my soil or on it are earth friendly and people friendly.

The products I use are soil conditioners or termed soil improvers.
I use all my own ‘homemade’ soil conditioners and all of them are from plant form. ‘It is the plant that makes the soil!’
Homemade is best! As is Homegrown!
To achieve the making of Humus in my composting method has been the highest and greatest achievement of my life. I encourage you to compost and compost and give to the soil far more than you are harvesting out.
Mother Nature returns your nurturing with abundance.

‘The soil is the solution!’
Biological soil, with a high organic matter and a humus level is a healthy soil that will be able to grow healthy plants. Plants grown in healthy living soil are disease resistant, full of vitality, wholesome and contain cosmic forces. The health of your soil is passed onto your plants then on to you. Your health is dependent on the soils health.
You are not only restoring the health of your soil but you will be restoring your health.
I owe my life to the soil! The soil gave me life! My soil cured me.
The soil holds the solutions to many of the problems and health conditions that are facing us today and in the future.
Turn to the soil, it is the answer.

It seams to simple! Restoring soil.
It is easy to do! Recycling plants back to the soil.
And it could be done! You gardening Organically, using Permaculture and Biodynamic lifestyle methods.
If you want to do the one thing that is significantly important to life today and give the chance of future life, then go out and start with the soil.
The soil is the solution!

Education and help is offered.
I offer you help and support by way of my books and courses. Demand for us to open our farm and for me to teach again from the gardens has been extremely strong. I am offering courses and personal demonstration workshops in our living classroom here at Simply Natural Organic Farm Dorrigo. It doesn’t matter where you come from, or what you wish to achieve, the experience you will have with joining me for learning will be a priceless experience. Coming here will provoke thoughts and desires that will manifest out of what I have taught you.

Jade Woodhouse's Wholearth Gardening Method

I garden for the essentials of Life
Firstly I garden for Air. Air that is oxygen rich, fresh, light, unpolluted air.

As a sustainable gardener I use renewable resources for making my soil conditioners. All my soil conditioners are made in a responsible way that is the least damaging to the environment. I use enclosed composting systems and a method that makes right through to colloidal humus. I have earth pits and vessels from nature in the ground, as well, also producing colloidal humus. I have many above ground worm farms converting raw organic matter to colloidal humus and liquid worm castings. All my soil conditioners, when they have been formed to colloidal humus and applied into the soil are non-leaching of pollutants to the air. I believe colloidal humus increases the oxygen and carbon dioxide held within the soil.

Humus is carbon. The lungs of my soil are the humus/carbon. I believe high carbon levels in the soil result in an increase of carbon dioxide being draw into the lungs. My observation is that nature provides the balance if we restore the soil. Nature had provided the soil and plant kingdom to absorb carbon dioxide and give back oxygen. The soil can only work as nature intended if we restore the carbon levels. Plants growing in soil, which has been restored with high levels of carbon can, and will purify our air. Restoring the life in your soil allows your soil to both reconnect with the cosmic influences and utilise atmospheric nutrients.

The soil is the solution to climate change.
The answer to what you should be putting onto your soil and in it is CARBON/HUMUS.

Secondly. Water. Water that is clean, pure, uncontaminated water.
My soil conditioners do not leach. They do not contaminate ground water run off or the underground water table. Humus is stable carbon.
Increased carbon levels in the soil results in the ability for the soil to capture and store greater quanties of water. The carbon in my soil is like having billions of sponges in my soil. I garden for the presents of moisture in my soil at all times.

Third. Soil. Soil that is biological, balanced in nutrients, organic, earthly and heavenly.
I only use products that enhance the soils condition and quality. By using my own homemade soil conditioners I know they are safe for the soil, safe for the environment and safe for me. The way I thought was, if I only use stuff that has come naturally from the earth, grown from it, and recycle it back to it, then, it must be safe. The oldest law of agriculture is ‘The Law of - Return to the soil’. I do it.

I am a minimum till gardener. After the initial two digs in implementing the garden, I do dig my gardens two times a year. I dig in the green manure crops and the soil conditioners every Spring and Autumn. Throughout the planting cycles, I only open the mulch and with my hands or trowel, I slice and turn the soil, once, at a depth of 6cms only. Minimum disturbance of the soil is significantly important. I am not a digger of the soil; I too, am a conditioner of it.
These three essential things I aim to enhance by nurturing and holistic care.

I don’t just garden for what grows out of the mulched soil, I garden for the far more important things that it gives, which is air, water, soil.
My wholearth gardening method involves a huge diversity of management methods, strategies and practices. It is not only gardening but also a lifestyle.
I am a Permaculturist who gardens sustainably and practices Biodynamics. I consider the past, present and future when I garden. My greatest teacher has been Nature and my observation of her. My success as a gardener and educator has come from doing it and truly living the life.
My method involves a lot of you doing it yourself, it does take energy and time producing your own resources but the results are well worth it. My method cost little in money, it doesn’t cost the earth, the air, water and soil you will create is priceless.
Join me as a wholearth gardener and secure your future.

Time to start.
You growing your own food in your own garden is not only healthy for you and your family but is the healthiest way that you can help the environment.

For many years I have encouraged people to grow their own food for many, many reasons and all of them are still vitally important yet the pinch is coming.

The world is running out of food.
Your global food supply is under threat. Harvests around the world have been failing to meet people’s needs. The main influencing factors are – Soil. Soil has been declining in productivity due to declining organic matter content, carbon levels in the soil and the soils health. – Population. The world’s population is continuing to increase.

Since 2000 the last six out of seven global harvests haven’t provided enough food to feed everyone. The food shortages have been avoided by using the stores of food from other year’s harvests. Yet now there are little stores left. The availability of food is going to become more difficult to secure. Your food comes from all over the world. This ‘take for granted’ luxury is going to be taken away from you. I encourage you to prepare for this situation, start gardening and grow your own. Support your neighbours and community in growing food for local people.

There are several threats to the current way of living life – climate change, - loss of fossil fuels, - loss of global food supply, - decline in the availability of water and increased population.
It is certainly a good time to make a lifestyle change and be prepared for what ever the future has to bring.
I encourage you to seek out information about Permaculture and its lifestyle approach.

It is important for you to learn more. I would love to help you. Please do come and join me in one of my courses so I can share my knowledge with you. You can witness the results.

Success from using Simple, Sustainable practices

Repair & Regeneration
As soon as the settlement was made on our new land we started the repair process. Immediately the adjusted cattle, (a money making venture for the previous owner of the land) was to go. The holding capacity of livestock for the land had been overlooked; the land had been flogged, extremely, overstocked with cattle.

Erosion, creek and dam damage caused by livestock

The DAMAGE - The cattle left behind soil compaction, erosion, & depletion. The cattle had grazed the cleared land right down to the new shoots, with only a minimal soil coverage remaining. The forest floor had been robbed of its leaf litter, emerging seedlings, ground covers and moisture. The low and mid shrub and skirt layers of the forest had been heavily grazed by the cattle browsing for food, with the trunks of the trees gnawed by the cattle also seeking much needed nutrient. The cattle had also disrupted the water system of the property by pushing rocks into the creeks, and altering soil disrupted with their daily passing or watering from the creeks. The cattle had also been destructive around the 2 spring fed dams located on the creek lines, causing one wall on one dam to collapse. Vegetation at the other dam had been grazed or knocked to the ground and the cattle were entering the dam around its edges.

Knowing and then seeing the damage and destruction cattle can do, we were put off the idea of having cattle in our system. Yet, we knew the benefits of grazing the grassed pastures, of having good quality manure and the benefits of the uniqueness of cows.

The same dam wall only 14 months later

The Repair!
First was to Rest the land.
And at the same time restore it.
Immediately we collected mountains of manure the cattle had left behind. Even though the manure was of poor quality and low in nutrient it was manure and it was from cattle. We put it through our worm farms and made cow manure compost (Biodynamic cow pat pit concentrate- CPPC).

Restore and Rebuild!
Over the clear land which would be our pastures in the future we applied dolomite, this was the beginning of Spring. From October to the end of December any pasture weeds that came up we just dug out, and left them there as mulch. Any branches from the Native trees we broke up into smaller twigs as mulch through the pasture. In January we slashed the pastures and after slashing we applied rock minerals (Natramin) and a combination of Cow compost (CPPC) and worm castings. The Cow compost and worm castings were liquidised with fresh rainwater and flicked out onto the slashed moist grass. We needed to slash again in early March.

From compacted soil around the dam to this in 14 months

We haven’t and do not intend to remove any native grasses from the pastures; we are encouraging a diversity of species of grasses, both edible and nonedible to cattle. We have legumes throughout the pastures as well. Seasonal herbs (they are not weeds) are left, as we only remove a herb/non native weed if it is possibly toxic to the cattle or wildlife. As the mineral content and organic matter increases in the soil the herbs/weeds will gradually decrease. In nineteen months there is already evidence of this. Also with the increase of nutrient the grasses are becoming more robust and have a lot more vigour and vitality.

Management!

Back in March 2006 we started our construction management of the land. Firstly we divided the cleared land into 6 paddocks. Choosing to keep Highland cattle as the providers of High quality manure (because of their horns and their desire for a diverse diet, both soft and hard fodder) and their superior ability to adjust to dramatic changes in climate quickly. I must mention also they are Magnificent looking animals, standing in the mist, or grazing with frost on their backs. And just completely stunning standing in front of a full moon.

An example of the creek bank when we brought the place

The Highland cattle have 4 paddocks. Chosen to suit the 4 seasons of the year for rotation or the cattle can be divided into 2 herds and rotated between 2 paddocks each. The other 2 paddocks are for our milking cow, which we have chosen the Jersey breed for the superior milk. The house cow also has many rotations using the electric fence around the vegie garden and orchard. While a paddock is stocked another paddock is resting and rebuilding. The stocked paddock while it is being grazed, the cattle are fed mineral licks. The resting paddock receives an application of rock minerals and organic matter. The organic matter is rotated, it could be slashing or an application of worm castings or CPPC -humus from composting. We are doing 2 applications a year, every Spring and Autumn. The pasture paddocks have dung beetles and earthworms working the cow’s manure. I should mention the millions of soil microbes too that are working the manure.

An example of our rehabilited creek area

Each paddock has troughs that are filled by rainwater that we catch from our farm barn. The rainwater is stored in a water tank and gravity fed to the cattle troughs. We do not take the water from under ground, or from our springs, creeks or dams that we have. This is valuable water that is meant to be where it is. Our water in its natural area is providing abundance and multiple purposes. The water is providing vegetation, microclimates, habitat and much, much more. The moving of water from high points to lower points using gravity uses naturally occurring energy. We needed everything that it took to get the water to the trough anyway. We needed a barn, we needed the tank – to water the vegie garden too, we needed the pipes and the troughs if were going to have livestock. The water system is multifunctional.

Motivational!

Looking over the boundary

What’s extremely motivating for us is the incredible rehabilitation that has taken place around our dams and along the creek lines. The spring feeding our dam is on the boundary. Standing at the fence, we look up into the neighbours gully line, and small, narrow creek stream. We see soil exposure and mass erosion. Sparse unhealthy and damaged low vegetation. Creeks with no aquatic plants along the waters edge and none growing in soft moist spots. The trees are just gripping on. All the soil has been lost around their roots. The cattle in the neighbours place are continuing their mass destruction.

Areas that hold moisture, springs, aquifers, dams, creeks etc are all extremely sensitive areas. These areas are habitat for one of the most valuable resources on earth, WATER.

Immediately turning around our spring gullyafter 19 months

Looking at the neighbours we remember what our gullies and creek was like. We turn around, it is absolutely amazing the difference 19 months can make. We see, leaf litter, branches, ferns, aquatic plants, seedlings and pockets of water as the ground cover. Nowhere is the soil exposed. The shrubs and bushes have thickened up and are joined by vines and creepers. At the base of the tree trunks, grasses, ferns and vines have taken hold. We have thickness and depth in the habit of the plants and there is a forest ecology well on its way. Layer upon layer upon layer. About 20 meters down from the boundary it appears that we have more water? The new vegetation cover is slowing the water down.

No matter how big the job if the job is the right one

Both dams are holding greater capacity of water, since the dam walls and edges have been rehabilitated. The 19 months of growth in the surrounding tree vegetation has helped in maintaining shade over the dams. To prevent evaporation we recommend deep, small surface area dams. The dams should be well planted around. Ideal plantings are on the east, north and west sides. Plant native’s low, medium, to high from the dam edge.

The flow throughout our entire creek system appears to be the same, yet we are witnessing far better water quality then we had previously. We were generous with the distance from the creek line to the paddock fences to encourage a wider forest line for the creeks.

Slashing, adding minerals and biostimulants to start the process

At any place where there was a high gradient slope to the creek we allowed a further distance for revegetation. Our creeks start from springs to our dams then flow through gullies, which we have fenced. These gullies divide the cattle paddocks. The water comes through the gullies into our forest creeks. These creeks have rock bottoms and mostly rocky sides. We do have waterfalls and rock pools throughout the creeks. We observe that the water quickens and slows in this natural state of movement. Currently throughout our gullies we are creating different flow patterns by using rocks and planting vegetation. This is also creating a wider watercourse. We have noted that the water is drawing up onto higher ground, this we believe, is that we are refilling the under ground water table.

Understock and divide your paddocks up

Motivating too is the return of the forest.
The forest floor is a mass of mulch. Again absolutely amazing. Fungi and plants emerging up from it. In the old growth part of our forest it is the darkness by day that tells us that the forest is returning to thickness. We know the nutrient is again building in the trees, as they have become host again to many species of tree trunk growing plants. We are excited, it is the sight of thousands of young seedlings growing healthy, and without fear of being consumed by cattle or trampled to death. For us the excitement is an emerging forest working hard for a future and a clean one at that. Trees have vital roles to play.

Sheeanti our house cow always has an overabundance of pasture

Our forest ranges in age from just germinated to approximately 120 years old. We can see the sectors of different aged forest and are thankful that we can witness the forming of new forest and forest that is maturing. We purchased the property knowing the importance of having forested areas, having young emerging forest and wanting to expand the forested area and reduce the cleared area. To have existing forest and to clear it or allow it to be damaged by livestock is criminal. Not to allow trees to grow or to plant trees is denying yourself quality of life and a future. When we started the process of a conservation agreement for this forest, we had to prove that the forest was of significant importance. To those, supposably in the know, the taller, greater circumference tree, the older the tree, this is significantly important.

Well yes all trees should be significantly important and protected, but in fact it is the middle aged and young trees that are truly significantly important, regardless of species.

It is the young trees, the organic matter and humus levels of this forest that hold the greatest significant importance to today’s quality of life and the future. The answer to restoring the climate is carbon. If we all clean our air up and clean our soil up we are making a difference.

Grass is important!

Understocking your pastures

Another very important area we all have for healing our planet is our grassed areas. Our lawns, our paddocks any grassed area. I have always said what ever you grow use it. All plants are great resources and any, cut and come again; growth is doing this planet good.
A mixed diverse species of grasses and herbs grazed or slashed regularly is providing regrowth- an emerging forest. Reseeding and allowing natural reseeding of grasses is planting a new forest. The populous of plants in a grass forest is huge, compared to a tree forest. That’s what you are after, a dense, diverse, young grass forest.
The grass forest will achieve the same results as the tree forest - clean air, clean soil, healing the planet. To achieve this the grass areas need nutrient, organic matter and sustainable management.

Microclimating the chook pen for the chooks comfort

We add organic nutrient to our pasture. We encourage a diversity of species, with high plant populations. We grow edible and nonedible grasses and herbs through the pastures. The nonedible plants can be considered as support plants for the growth of the edible grasses and herbs. Also the nonedible plants provide habitat for wildlife, insects and livestock. Nonedible species provide valuable ground cover and organic matter. We understock our pastures to allow length of grass, to minimise ground cover loss and compaction. We use a rotational system of grazing and restoring. Manure and slashed grass remain on the grassed areas and organic nutrient and organic matter is also added on the resting paddocks.

For the lawns, we use a push mulch mower and cut it regularly, leaving the clippings behind. We never mow low, leave good length in your lawns.

Livestock Health and Care.

Provide suitable shelter against climate conditions

Feed the soil first.
Remineralising the soil by adding dolomite and rock minerals are vitally important for the soil health and therefore your livestock’s health. When you also add organic matter from plant form and leave organic matter in the pastures you are building nutrient in the soil, once again providing health for the soil and growing healthy plants. Everything you put onto your soil/pastures should by natural, organic and safe. A diversity of minerals and nutrients in your soil, accompanied by biological soil, full of soil workers results in healthy livestock. When you feed the soil you are feeding the livestock.
Feed the livestock too.

Stock livestock suitable to your climate

Livestock take a lot out of the soil and also require additional supplementation until the full health of the soil has been restored. Healthy soils and the combination of mineral supplementation will prevent disease and parasites in your livestock, this eliminates the need for chemical drenching and chemical spraying.
The use of so called ‘safe’ drenches and supposably animal ‘health treatment’ only results in decreased health in the animal and increased toxins in the soil.

Visitors to our farm have always commented on the healthy look of our livestock. Our dogs, cattle and poultry have what is termed livestock bloom. Their health radiates from them. The animal’s health comes from creating healthy living soil and feeding from nutritious plants.

Adding minerals to your pastures is not enough

To prevent disease in our animals we increase their health by feeding quality nutritious supplements. Mineral licks are available to the cattle on a daily bases. The cattle also receive minerals in their water and are offered weekly their lolly water drinks. Lolly water is kelp (liquid seaweed) we recommend Natrakelp, and molasses with water.

As we restore the soil health and thereby restore our pasture nutrition, the cattle are less frequently using their mineral licks, hence indicating that they are receiving their required minerals from the pastures.
A plant can only have nutrient if the soil is alive!
Then the plant only has the nutrient in it, which was in the soil, it grew in.
An animal cannot maintain or obtain health from low nutrient soil.
We feed the soil. The soil feeds our livestock.