Getting their hands dirty for the environment
By Jenny Dwyer
Members of Hay Plains Landcare travelled to Carrathool and Narrandera recently to hone their skills in composting and propagating.
To fast-track their nursery and demonstration site development, members visited the established nursery at Narrandera to learn effective methods of propagating native seed.
The workshop touched on the different containers and potting media available, labelling and record keeping, watering regimes required, and the seed preparation needed for the hard coated seeds like acacias.
Different techniques of sowing seeds were discussed such as the extremely fine seed of eucalyptus which get a different treatment from the larger acacia seeds.
The visit was facilitated by Narrandera Landcare’s Glenn Currie who was very happy with the session.
“I was approached by Hay Plains Landcare and was happy to show them a few pointers,” Mr Currie said.
“Our nursery gets a lot of support from Landcare Australia. The funding they give us is from a donation from Michael King who wants to assist small native nurseries like ours. Michael’s big goal is to get more trees into the ground and this workshop is going to help achieve that.
“Assisting another Landcare group in achieving their goals is worthwhile by itself, but we also got 900 tubes prepped with 10 different species so our Narrandera Landcare Group has a big head start for our plantings and tree giveaways next year.”
Local Landcare co-ordinator for the Bidgee West area, Jenny Dwyer was the instigator of the workshop and said Hay Plains Landcare was developing an endemic native species demonstration site and nursery to propagate locally collected native seed.
“Seedlings grown will be suitable for planting on landholder rehabilitation sites, travelling stock reserves, crown land and gardens,” Mrs Dwyer said.
“Attending the Narrandera Landcare propagating workshop provided our members the opportunity to see how an established nursery operates, while gaining the skills and advice to start our propagating journey.”
The group also visited WormTech’s Carrathool Composting Facility and were treated to a tour by Gary Dal Broi and Allan Fincarto. They found it particularly interesting to learn about chemical-free fertilisers and the benefits of compost for increased quality, production and overall plant and soil health.
They were generous with their time and detailed how organics recycling and composting is carefully managed and monitored to ensure every batch made gets biologically and chemically tested to maintain the highest standards.
Hay Plains Landcare chair Bert Matthews said Landcare is all about sustainable farming practices, and to see the vast quantity of raw organic material diverted from landfill and naturally converted for reuse as a high-quality soil conditioner is an exemplary method to rehabilitate soil.
Hay Plains Landcare nursery and demonstration site is being developed adjacent to the Hay Gaol. The community is welcome to utilise the facilities with regular Thursday morning ‘Landcare Alive’ activities on-site.
For more information contact haylandcare@gmail.com
Above right: Hay Plains Landcare members, Paul Turner and Lani Houston prepping tubes to give Narrandera Landcare Group a head start for the 2024 plantings. Left: ella Smith (Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists) and Sally Ware (Riverina Local Land Services) at Narrandera. Images supplied.
