Our convictions have determined not only our farming methods
but our whole farm approach involving rehabilitation of the
creek line, creation of buffer zones and wild life corridors
through the identification and reintroduction of indigenous
native plant species. In fact, we have been recognised nationally
for this, as a category winner of the
2005 Banksia Environmental
Awards, the pre eminent environmental awards in Australia.
We have extended this approach to the design of our farm buildings.
The renovations and additions to our farm-house are chemical
free and have proved to be a very successful solar solution
for the climate in this region.
Our pump-house is constructed of recycled materials and is
kept cool by outer walls of edible planting consisting of
passionfruit, grapes and honey suckle to cut down the smell
of our organic fertiliser.
Land for wildlife: Our property is gazetted with the Department
of Conservation and Land Management as a land for wild life
project. No. 199.
Wild Life Habitat: Fallen logs are left in the forest for
wildlife habitats. We do not clear our verge of fallen logs
or native plants as road verges are one of the few remaining
environmental corridor systems.
Remnant forest: We have been collecting our own seeds of acacia
saligna (wattle) and “Jackie”,our local land care
officer, is teaching us to propagate them using smoked water
in the Land Care Nursery. We will add these to the existing
shelter belt previously planted around our remnant forest.
They are used for nitrogen fixing and as a buffer to prevent
weed penetration into the forest.
Environmental corridors: We have created environmental shelter
belts to link patches of remnant bush that are on our property
and adjoining properties. We have constucted a race from the
forest to the creek line so native animals have access to
water all year round.
Bird control:
In planting our vineyard we have created a mono culture that
is ideal for parrots and silver-eyes. The birds come for the
sugar in the grapes as they ripen. We do not shoot or harm
birds in the vineyard, but we do net our vines and have trained
“Zak” our dog to go under the nets and flush outbirds
which have become trapped.
Creek line: Our creek line has been fenced off from the cattle
and has been planted with species indigenous to the area.
We hope one day that other property owners can build on this
corridor and create a link to the Blackwood river.
Shelter belts: Are planted with native species (up to 60 metres
wide in some cases), and have been designed to create a sun
trap and a micro climate for our vines and native flowers,
harvest excess nutrients, provide a long term source of furniture
timber, create environmental corridors linking patches of
remnant forest and act as a buffer between us and our neighbours.
It is proposed to thin some shelter-belts to a 60% density
when they are ready for harvesting for furniture. This will
allow an air-flow sufficient to prevent fungal build up in
our vineyard.
Sheoaks:
(casuarina species) Have been planted around our native flowers
to create a winter sun trap and shelter from the south west
winds. They are also nitrogen fixing and a possible future
source of silicon.
We have extended this approach to the design of our farm buildings.
The renovations and additions to our farm-house are chemical
free and have proved to be a very successful solar solution
for the climate in this region. 
