Making the transition
The moment Julie and Shannon drove through the gate of their property, they knew it was “The One”. But it wasn’t perfect; in fact, it needed a lot of work.
“We never wanted to farm conventionally,” Julie says.
“We’ve got hard, rocky soil and lots of bush and scrub. There was no life in the soil when we first arrived. We couldn’t even grow grass.
“We planted as many plants as we could, heaps of diverse species, and we brought in chickens, rabbits and turkeys to go over the land.
“It was amazing. This green-blue grass started coming up three or four days after the turkeys. The soil started changing.”
We plant things that other people say we shouldn’t. Maybe we’re a little crazy, we aren’t afraid to try new things. But someone has got to be the first to give it a go
Practice changes so far
Julie uses permaculture, biodynamics, holistic management and regenerative agriculture practices on her farm.
- Animals are rotated through paddocks, then paddocks are rested for regeneration.
- No sprays are used.
- Heavily-scented herbs help reduce pests, especially around fruit trees.
- Natural processes have been allowed to return to the land.
Experience on RAMP
Drawing on mentor Brian Wehlburg’s holistic management experience has helped Julie understand when to move her animals into particular paddocks, and when to take them off.
“Brian is incredible, and it’s been great to make connections with the other farmers,” Julie says.
I love finding out how people do things on their properties and getting ideas about things I could try at our farm.
Regenerative farming goals
Julie would like to plant perennial food corridors for fodder around the perimeter of their paddocks. This would be a multli-species crop of bana grass, pigeon peas, vegetables, banana trees, tagasaste and more.
Other farm priorities include:
- Finalising a holistic management grazing plan.
- Trial the use of electric fencing.
- Continue to practice biodiversity in plants and animals across the property.
“Blue Marble Farm is a health journey for us – our health, the soil’s health – and we want to leave the land in a better condition. This is life, not work.”
Best advice for farmers transitioning to regenerative agriculture
When Julie first started on her farming journey, there was one question she continually asked: “What can I do to let the land fix itself?”
She also says it’s important to seek information and soak it up.
“You need to be mentally prepared to learn and to be prepared for success or failure,” she said.
“There is a lot of short term pain for long term gain. Every single thing we do on our farm is about making life easier for ourselves in 20 years.”
