CASE STUDY: TARWYN PARK
BYLONG VALLEY, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Of Droughts and Flooding Rains - Australia Story - 5 min version
A hydrogeological investigation of the Natural Farming Sequence applied in the Bylong Valley at Tarwyn Park Property
A hydrogeological investigation of the Natural Farming Sequence applied in the Bylong Valley at Tarwyn Park Property, A thesis submitted by Paul Anderson in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Master of Science degree in Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management, October 1997. National Centre for Groundwater Management, University of Technology, Sydney
A New Future for Beautiful Bylong
Bylong: A Valley That Became a Living Laboratory - Before & After
The 'Natural Farming Sequence', CSIRO Expert Panel Report
"The panel believes that NFS is a successful and sustainable farming system for the current enterprise at Tarwyn Park, where it has led to substantial agronomic and environmental improvements on the property.
"Central to the implementation of NFS at Tarwyn Park is the manipulation of the hydrologic regime, that has increased aquifer water storage providing effective sub-surface pasture irrigation.
"This has substantially increased pasture productivity, and avoids the evaporative water losses that occur with surface irrigation.
...
"The increases in pasture productivity appear to translate into increases in economic productivity, and hence the relatively small financial investments required by NFS implementation are likely to have substantially increased the profitability and market value of the property."
~ The 'Natural Farming Sequence', CSIRO Expert Panel Report, 2002
CASE STUDY: PETER ANDREWS' BUNGONIA FARM
BUNGONIA, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Scientific Assessment of Bungonia Farm
by Paul Anderson BSC Msc Grad Dip, Biogeomorphologist
Top Paddock at Bungonia Farm:
Before and after Natural Sequence Farming (NSF) contour implementation
Step 1: Dig contour (on level) in compacted lifeless soils
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Step 2: Pump water into the contour to prime the landscape
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Result: Vegetation starts growing around the water body
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Orchard at Bungonia Farm:
Before and after Natural Sequence Farming (NSF) contour implementation
Step 1: Dig contour (on level) in compacted lifeless soils
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Step 2: Pump water into the contour to prime the landscape
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Result: Vegetation starts growing around the water body
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Scientific Assessment of Tarwyn Park and Bungonia Farm
by Paul Anderson BSc MSc Grad Dip
"Bylong Valley and Bungonia: two different geographical locations, two totally different starting conditions. Peter Andrews has implemented Natural Sequence Farming and proper water management, and I’ve seen the exactly same result in both locations in less than a year - the evolution of plants, the automatic transitioning from woody pioneering weeds to beautiful grass and clover.
Relevant Conclusions from Metaanalyses of Data and Studies over 40 Years:
1. There is a substantial potential for subsurface water storage in the unconfined aquifers associated with floodplain function. This allows several benefits to be realized.
- Water loss through evaporation is minimised
- - Irrigation is minimised
- - Landscape becomes more resilient to drought conditions
- - Temperature extremes managed through evapotranspiration
- - Soil profile maintains sufficient saturation maintain cover crop
- 2. Erosion control and rehabilitation.
- - Surficial water can be managed through natural interceptions and contouring, encouraging sedimentation and remediation of the effects of gully erosion and topsoil loss.
- - Landscape becomes more resilient to flood conditions.
- - Landscape becomes substantially more productive."
~ Paul Anderson, Hydrogeomorphologist, 20 Oct 2020
CASE STUDY: BARAMUL STUD
WIDDEN VALLEY NSW
Sunlight Packaged by Plants
Baramul: A brook that sprung back to life
Assessment of Baramul Stud by Prof David Goldney
“Here [at Baramul Stud], in 18 months, you are seeing soil made on top of sand by a very simple process, and the organic layer is quite significant - that black layer that starts to form.
"I think it’s the most significant contribution to landscape restoration that I’ve seen in Australia. ...
“It all comes together in this very simple process that he has invented in a sense what was always there in the Australian landscape.
"I think Peter is a near genius. He’s a simple farmer who’s understood science better than most scientists, if not all scientists, and they come somewhat grudgingly to learn at his feet.”
~ Prof David Goldney, See extract of ABC Australian Story 'Of Droughts and Flooding Rains', originally broadcast on 13 June 2005.
CASE STUDY: JILLAMATONG
BRAIDWOOD, NSW AUSTRALIA
Exponential Economics of Nature
The Jillamatong Story
See also the case study 'The Jillamatong Story', by Soils for Life on the prime lamb, cattle, garlic, truffles and yabbies enterprise.
Innovations included restoration of eroded areas and development of chain of ponds.
Key results included vastly improved water quality through from chain of ponds, significant reduction in costs, 230% profit between 2005 and 2014.
Innovations included restoration of eroded areas and development of chain of ponds.
Key results included vastly improved water quality through from chain of ponds, significant reduction in costs, 230% profit between 2005 and 2014.
CASE STUDY: YANGET FARM
GERALTON, WA, AUSTRALIA
Yanget Creek Rehydration Project - Before & After
Statement by Rod O'Bree, Yanget Farm
Yanget Farm in the Media
"... Nyungar elder Clint Hansen is teaching in the wide-ranging Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management through Geraldton's Central Regional TAFE and Batavia Coast Maritime Institute. He said the content included rehydrating creeks and rivers, ...
The hands-on work for the students is taking place on Yanget farm, east of Geraldton, working alongside the owners to help regenerate the property...
Mr O'Bree said the water diversion had a number of impacts including better crop growth and environment benefits.
'We're not getting that run-off heading down and out into the Indian Ocean and murkying it up out there and damaging our sea beds and stuff like that,' he said."
~ Glenn Barndo, Indigenous regenerative land management included in agricultural program at TAFE, ABC Mid West & Wheatbelt, 21 July 2020
Yanget Farm Rehydration Project by Rod O’Bree and Peter Andrews, assessed by Tim Wiley
| yanget_rehydration_project_report_august_2017.pdf |
See also Catchment Function Analysis Using Google Earth Mapping, Tim Wiley, Australasian Agribusiness Perspectives 2017, Volume 20, Paper 1, 2017
CASE STUDY: GUMLU NEAR TOWNSVILLE
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Before & After
CASE STUDY: LAKE COWAL
SPRING CREEK, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Natural Sequence Farming - Catalyst for Riparian Restoration in Semi-Arid Australia - Project Planning & Implementation - Prepared by Donna Johnston and Malcolm Carnegie - Lake Cowal Foundation and Commonwealth Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry - National Landscape Programme, 2008. see www.lakecowalfoundation.org.au/_literature_4752/NSF_Project_Implementation_Report
