Cactus

One of the only plants that grow extremely well in this enviroment, this is just one of many types we planted, all seem to be doing rather well.

Establishing fruit trees

Trying to establish fruit trees in this dry country is hard enough but when there is a drought as there is at the present its even more trying. Here we are using a 1000 lt shultz tank with 2 battery powered garden timers each watering 4 trees every 3 days for 5 mins, the tank lasts about 8 weeks before it has to be refilled. This seems to be the only way we can get them to survive for the first vunerable years, We have about 8 of these tanks each watering 8 trees from olives to almonds to pomegranates and many other fruit and nut trees. We are hoping that they will need less watering as the drought hopefully breaks and the trees take off skyward.

Regrowth

It takes so long for things to come back to life after they have been abused for many years, but nature always wins in the end. All of the growth in this photo would not have grown if the sheep who are no longer welcome hadn't been removed as they eat everything and don't allow anything to get a foothold.

Recovery

Recovery is our property's name which is how we feel after spending anytime there, we return too Melbourne recovered from our meaningless other side of life, working and paying those dreaded bills, which seem to increase by about 10% per year for no apparent reason other than boosting company, government or council profits, or lining fat cats pockets. Trying to grow things in the Australian country side is horribly challenging, learning from mistakes is not only costly moneywise but timewise as well. We have spent 15 years growing allsorts of plants from vegetables to fruit trees to natives, bulbs and flowers. Many challenges have tormented us along the way from bushfire, drought, insect plagues and wildlife. but being out there in the landscape and getting your hands dirty is about as good as it gets. Growing your own food is a challenge worth its weight in gold, picking your own, eating fruit straight from the tree or vegetables direct from your garden put the supermarkets to shame, and they darn well should be ashamed. So get out there and do it, its the most rewarding part of existence..