Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Bogged! (Trying to Feed the Ewes)



So much rain. While Newcastle was being pounded by vicious storms, we were happy to receive 85 precious mls of rain. Filling the dams. Soaking the rootmass of the pastures. In fact, we have a hydrology problem because low lying areas saturate and become waterlogged (which indicates that we need more deep rooted plants 'ploughing' our soils, making them more sponge-like and capable of holding water).
We have got a lot to learn about Uamby's behaviour under water (not had much experience of too much water in 7 years of drought). We now know not to try taking 1 tonne of feed grain on a 1 tonne truck down to feed ewes on the flatland after rain. WE bogged the Red Landcruiser, Dan's Landcruiser, a quad bike and finally the tractor... each one bogged while trying to pull the other out. (We eventually had to dig the Red Landcruiser out.)

The Cudgegong River did not break its banks, welcoming the flushing out as it had become stagnant and fetid. I hope the platypus family were snug in their home in the river bank. Molly's Creek cut the road for a short while. "What's this stuff?" asked Ravi, the Red Kelpie. "Water," I told him. "What's it doing in the creek?" he asked. "Just reliving old times," I said. He gave me a quizical (?) look.

Monday, June 04, 2007

"Uamby" helps the Holistic Management movement raise money

More than 30 million acres are being managed holistically worldwide. ANd holistic management is a climate change solution. So support Holistic Management International, says the flyer. This has been distributed throughout parts of the United States.

And Uamby is featured prominantly on the flyer: as "The green land" which is managed holistically.

We have been managing holistically for 10 years, now.



Peter Holter, the PR wizard with HMI, visted with us several months ago... with HMI's Australian anchor Judy Earl.


We were hosted for part of our visit to New Mexico by Peter, when we were in ALberqurque visiting with the Southwestern Partnership (one of President Bush's groups of universities and scientific institutions working on geosequestration and soil carbon sequestration.)



We were flattered to receive Peter's request to use our photograph - taken from a light aircraft 2 weeks after we received 75mls in 35 minutes. It has browned off considerably since then.