Natural Sequence Farming

Ian - Thanks, the hard data from WA (Cattle properties) and VIC and NSW (Mixed and Sheep producers) indicates a significant decrease in the use of herbicides, increase in soil microbiodal activity, increase in water retention and reduced weeds with significant resurgances in native grasses. This all...

Hi Shirley, thank you for all your observations about blackberries in your area. One thing I forgot to mention about blackberry is that it not only reproduces by way of seed but has a very effective method of putting out long runners which will root and start a new plant usually several metres from ...

Hmmmm. Sam welcome. In our area and on our property we have a significant blackberry issue but on one level it is not a problem. Let me explain. The blackberry is a great indicator of moisture and wetter areas and they struggle and do not progress where the land is drier, they are essentially a wate...

Through a lot of research I believe I now have the answers to my own question posted earlier. For those interested it would appear that a stocking rate increase is possible but there are a number of big if's and a number of conditions attached to these practices. Essentially all the various techniqu...

I would be interested to hear from Peter or others about whether or not they have been able to lift carrying capacity on their pastures as a result of improved pasture growth (management) and hydrology. I read the articles by Salatin and (Savory et al )re Ultra High Density Grazing in Africa and the...

I no gripe with blackberries as a plant per se, the produce very nice fruit which you can put to a variety of tasty uses but they are a declared noxious weed in NSW which means you are required under an act of parliament the Noxious Weeds Act to control and eradicate the plant. In our area they do b...

Ian James has a very pertinent point, farming is a business only the degree varies. From subsistence farming to massive agribusinesses, the bottom is always rock hard, at the bottom you starve at the top you go broke. Like all businesses you have to weigh up where is my market and who are my competi...

This is a difficult question to answer and I am not sure I have a definitive answer but this is how we have approached the problem. When we bought the property we have, it had in general terms been very neglected, both by the absentee owners and the actions of indifferent individuals who were given ...

Novaris posed a very timely question - Can small farms be profitable? One could be tempted to respond - How long is a piece of string? Rather let us look at the proposition from another perspective and hopefully not find a complete answer but a means to answer the question for yourself. If you are a...

I would like to personally and publicly here say thank you to Peter Andrews, to the supporters of Natural Sequence Farming (NSF). Peter's efforts are appreciated, his generosity in sharing his life's work is welcomed and his ideas respected, by me and many others. Thank you! And thank you Duane and ...