Peter Andrews, is a third generation farmer who has been involved in farming and horse breeding for 60 years. He grew up on a property near Broken Hill area and spent much time with his stockman father and members of the Aboriginal community learning to read the country.
He believes that heavy grazing of streambed banks following European settlement has, mainly by reducing vegetation, significantly increased stream velocities. This has resulted in gouging of streambeds and the lowering of water tables in floodplains.
Peter Andrews sees the effect of these changes in the landscape resulting in dry spells turning into drought conditions faster than they should, biodiversity being reduced, and in many instances fresh water that once sat on top of saline water being drained off, resulting in salt being released into the streambed.
Peter Andrews has found that even plants labeled as weeds can serve as pioneering species in inhibiting nutrient and soil erosion. They collect and supply essential substances for environmental health. Once slashed, fertility is built up and the weeds are replaced naturally by palatable grasses. To maximize production and conservation results requires a good understanding of interaction of the roles of clays and sands in the process.
There is going to be a two days workshop on Natural Sequence Farming on the 31st of October/ 1st of November.
Please visit Peter Andrews’ website at www.nsfarming.com for further informations.
