We all know the benefits of keeping stock out of dams. Doing so has benefits from a production point of view and also improves soil management. Thanks to solar technology now becoming cheaper and more accessible, there is a cost effective option for good paddock management.
I recently had the privilage of spending time with Simon McLachlan at his farm, Gooligulch, in the Yarra Valley. Simon, previously an Avocado farmer from Queensland has a pedigree in conventional agriculture and found his way to Biodynamic farming after observing impacts of chemical use on his farm and viewing an episode of Landline back in the ’90’s. Simon is … Read More
Sheep are a gentle and rewarding animal to run on a hobby farm but like any animal, they have specific care needs. This week I joined John Gilligan from Gilligan Property Services to go over some of the basics about crutching that every hobby farmer should know. Why and When Crutching needs to be undertaken at the start of each … Read More
Well, in short, no. But there are a lot of ways to make a mistake when you first construct your fence that cost time, money and even worse stock losses and injury. This week’s video, supported by Whites Rural, looks at some options out there for your farm fence planning. The only thing worse than paying too much for your … Read More
Recently an innovative Australian company Woodshield, gave me some posts to play around with. Promising to do away with CCA posts and the environmental issues surrounding the use of heavy metals in agricultural trellising and fencing. I was excited to try them out. I had some reservations, mainly the water proof quality of the posts when fixings were added and … Read More
Wine made over a decade ago with friends. A chilly night in May was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the labours of this year’s harvest while relishing the memories of vintages past. This week I completed the initial winemaking process and pressed the fermented wine off the skins. After 9 days of ferment the wine was reading 0 degrees … Read More
This week’s video sees me back to the vineyard finishing off the season’s work. Vintage, the time we harvest the grapes is like a long sigh of relief. The ups and downs of the season, hard work and many a sleepless night worrying about weather and pests culminate in a day of activity that ends in a sticky sweet juice … Read More