The first step in planning for the woodlot was to undertake some soil preparation. Our site was a poorly drained swamp before we put in a series of dams and trenches to utilise the water on site and allow more growing areas. We hired a contractor to deep rip the 3 acres for the woodlot to allow more aeration of the soil and water penetration into the clay . This was undertaken two years prior to planting. We then left the hay on the ground after slashing over the next two years to build up the organic content in the soil.
Local contractor deep ripping our 3 acres in the back paddock. The paddock was cross ripped to allow roots to grow in two directions to withstand the strong winds we get here, at a cost of $248.00 25/6/2000
In May 2001 we excavated the next 6 dams on our property, in the back paddock area, to drain the fields for the planting of 3500 trees the next autumn. We used the clay excavated to build up a circular driveway into the proposed woodlot area for easy access and potential camping space in the future. We also made a continuous raised earthberm around all six dams to provide a north facing suntrap and shelter from the southerly winds. This was planted out with a mix of green manure crops and pioneer trees, as well as eucalypts and in 2003 is already providing some wind protection.
Wwoofers, family and friends helped to finish the tree planting effort, and after two weeks of solid work, and a heavy rainfall, the woodlot was off to a good start.
Our tree planting day on April 6th 2002 was
fairly productive. Here the groups start out
with trees and stakes.
A few rows of trees were planted. After
posting a help notice on the wwoof website
bulletin we finished the job in two weeks.
James and Mary from England answered our wwoof bulletin and stayed for a couple of weeks. Here they are with Riley (2 years) planting out the last trees.
And the woodlot is growing.... these photos were taken in November 2003, only 18 months after planting the woodlot, and 2 and a half years after the dams were constructed. We're pretty happy with the growth rate so far.
The trees planted around the back dams are creating a lovely suntrap and in 2 years have outgrown Naomi. The dams are already producing yabbies and have drained the swampy back paddock, promoting woodlot growth.
The trees in the foreground are just over 2 years old, and in the background are the woodlot trees, now poking up over the grass.
The woodlot trees, a combination of eucalypt and acacias, are growing well and will soon be pruned into poles for future timber production. The trees around the border of the property will be retained for wildlife and shelterbelts as a Zone 5 area, whilst the trees in the central area are Zone 4 for timber and fuel. All trees taken out of the system will be replaced in future with trees grown from seedstock gathered from the hardiest trees.
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