G'day from sub-alpine Australia

Discussion in 'Introduce Yourself Here' started by Charlie Showers, Nov 10, 2016.

  1. Charlie Showers

    Charlie Showers New Member

    Joined:
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    Occupation:
    Orchardist and Geologist
    Location:
    Stanley, Victoria, Australia
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    Climate:
    Cool temperate climate (SE Aust USDA zone 9)
    Quick hello from Stanley in Victoria, Australia where we are in the throws of establishing a biodiverse orchard for pick your own/CSA apples, pears, berries with some nuts, stone fruit, quince, fig etc. Our orchard is just short of 800m above sea level so very cool by Australian standards with wet cold winters with occasional snow however still hot and mostly dry during summers (however that seems to changing of late with increasing summer rain). All up a perfect climate for fruit growing most of the time (minus the hail storms)!

    Our orchard design has drawn a lot from permaculture principals and is inspired from examples we have visited in the flesh in particular Michael Phillips at Lost Nation Orchard, Stefan Sobkowiak at Miracle Farm and our very own local Mentor Dave Arnold at Murnong Farm all temperate orchards we have loved spending some time in.

    We seek to maintain a healthy orchard system through maximum diversity of fruiting species and varieties, rootstocks, understory species, soil biology, inter row cover cropping and coppice woodsy mulch supply and all done with no synthetic inputs. We believe maximum tree nutrition comes from maximised healthy soils and that takes time, biomass, biodiversity and carefully managed disturbance.

    We're just starting the journey at 'Black Barn Farm' however we'd love to hear from other biodiverse poly orchards planted for commercial use. We've a lot to learn, a lot to observe and a lot to enjoy.

    Warm regards to all Permies and thanks to PMI for hosting such a great online community. Huzzah !!
     
    keenlean&green likes this.
  2. 9anda1f

    9anda1f Administrator Staff Member

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    Welcome Charlie,
    From your instagram posts: "
    So far we have 523 of our 588 apple grafts sprouting new leaves." https://www.instagram.com/p/BMOXRlBD0Sr/
    Wow, good work! Looking forward to hearing more as you progress.
     

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