The next farm walk will be at Simon Budden and Michelle Jones property at Coles Creek, 2pm on Sunday 30th August 2015
Keyline patterning on broadacre land in the Munna Creek catchment.
This months farm walk will be a hands-on, tynes in the ground discussion of keyline concepts and taking a landscape perspective on soil and water management on a property. We will look at practical methods for surveying and marking out suitable patterns for subsoil ripping to improve rainwater infiltration and other issues that come up in discussion on managing soil and surface water.
Simon and Michelle have kindly offered the use of their property that they are planning and setting up. We hope to discuss and demonstrate how some of the principles and techniques normally applied to large broadacre properties may be adapted to smaller blocks. If you have never done any basic on-the-ground laying out of contours or planning a pattern for cultivation to increase soil water infiltration and reduce the risk of gully erosion – then this is your opportunity to have a go.
There will be people on hand ready to share their practical experience with different equipment and techniques. If you have your own interesting bit of surveying or marking out gear or techniques that you would like to share, then bring them along to be part of the discussion.
As with all the co-op farm walks, the afternoon starts at 2 pm, and visitors are asked to bring along some food to share for afterwards, and a gold coin donation for the farmer giving up their time to have people on their property
The entrance to Simon and Michelle property is the last driveway on the left as you drive towards the old Bruce Highway on Coles Creek Road. The entrance will be signposted with Field Day signs.
Please confirm your attendance by email to maryvalleycountryharvest@gmail.com, or by contacting Elaine on 0459 225 399. (It helps us stay in touch if their are any last-minute changes of plan)
If you would like to do a bit of background reading beforehand – here are some useful resources: http://www.yeomansplow.com.au/yeomans-keyline-system.htm, http://earthintegral.com/tag/how-to-keyline/
On related matters – here are 2 excellent practical and comprehensive handbooks which relate to earthworks and soil management on farm, applicable to the Mary Valley, even though they were written for the NSW Northern Rivers Region: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/270881/saving-soil-complete.pdf, http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/soils/guides/soilpak/vegetable
Keyline cultivations are usually NOT contours – they are on a slope to spread water from gully lines towards ridges.
