Tags
ecology, farm, kangaroos, propagation, revegetation, seasons, seeds, soil, southwestern Fleurieu, trees, winter
The day one team, still smiling after 350 holes
In early June we hosted our third annual tree-planting fiesta. Through the generosity of our friends and family, we planted another 800-odd trees, forming shelterbelts and habitat corridors along the southern and western boundaries. As in previous years, the trees are mostly local provenance with some propagated through Trees for Life, and others from seed we’ve gathered. This year, we’re also experimenting with enhancing seedling resilience by inoculating them with beneficial fungi and mulching each planting, in addition to protection with roo-thwarting tree guards.
Jumping into the mulch pile
We hope the annual planting is becoming a tradition. Despite the aching muscles and brisk breezes, there’s great pleasure in working among friends beneath a big sky. For the brood of kids, there are gullies and mallow thicket cubbies to spend days leaping into. There is great pleasure too in the sense that this future, hoped-for woodland is an enduring legacy of the companionship and generosity of our community.
The (tree-guard) weaving circle
Lorikeet’s trip to the country
A kangaroo skull warns its more active relatives away from investigating the new growth too closely
A walk in the future forest
A (brief) break
Day’s end
Deepest thanks to Jeremy, Claire, Innis, Anthony, Ly, Steven, Jeff, Sue, Pete, Shani, Arlo, Freya, Nat, Jess, Oliver, Laura, Will, Rupert, Henry, Abi, Shane, Richard, Marg, Andrew, Delwyn, and all those who didn’t quite get there but hope to in the future!
Yarnauwi Farm 
It was wonderful to be a part of it. It also helped me appreciate our little piece of wooded hillside and all the hours over the last twenty years that my mum, our neighbour, trees for life and bushcare spent planting an understory that had previously been lost. That understory of silky tea tree, paradoxa and a few others has allowed the wrens to thrive, the bandicoots to return and the gums to self propagate. Native orchids are thriving. Now to the next challenge, our large gums are being denuded by the excess of koalas fleeing civilisation.
Hey Delwyn, thanks so much for all your help, it was wonderful having your company and labour! It’s great to hear about your own property and its own journey towards restoration. We’ll have to come by sometime and see it that you’ve done, we’re always on the look-out for more inspiration!
It is a joy seeing what you are doing. I look forward to intermittently going back and seeing the bare hills of the Fleurieau gradually re-tree. I’m not sure when my next trip back to Australia will be – but I’d love to lend my arms and back to help you guys out when that happens.
Hey Pippa, how great to hear from you from far away! We look forward to welcoming you and your arms back again in the future! Hope you’re well.
Fingers crossed for next time! Wishing those new young trees all the best, m
We hope so Mary! There may be another small round this year if you’re interested, otherwise, we hope you can make it next winter. Catch you soon!
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