Natural Sequence Farming

Ghosta, g'day and welcome to the NSF forum. Can you explain to me what happens to the higher ground that you say loses some of its soil to the lower ground level? I went outside and built a heap of dirt with a shovel. Then tipped water over it. As you stated, the higher dirt moved under the power of...

Have to agree with Jenni 100%
Tillage will slow your progress. Fences and troughs grow grass.

Duane,
Is Peter saying that it is better to just mow and leave the plants lying as a coarse mulch, such as with a disc mower?
Or to chop them into smaller pieces, a finer mulch, with a slasher or flail mower?
Does it matter either way?

Shirley, this is my take on gorse. As far as I can remember, I have only seen it growing on grazing land. Anywhere that conventional cultivation can be undertaken, the machinery can deal with it easily enough. There is a good chance that fertilizers have been applied on cultivation country as well, ...

Just a bump on this thread.
Any answers yet? I can't decide in my mind what would be most beneficial.

Great idea Shane.
Get the camera out and give a pictorial account of your trials.

G'day Julian, I have put pattersons curse mulch on the uphill side of an area that had grown the plant for many years. It isn't an overnight thing, but I can see the start of species succession. You shouldn't expect things to turn around to your ideal immediately. I think mulching the area affected ...

Michaela, Any mulch is good mulch in my book. It all retains moisture. I would plant any/all desirable species you would like to see growing there. Whatever the soil conditions suit, will be what thrives. Ideally you are looking for biodiversity. Perhaps divide the area into a few sections and try d...

One other thing in regards to grazing. Try to not let pasture be eaten down below 5cm/2" in hight (The height to the bottom of the elastic on your elastic sided boots.). It will respond faster to rain and protect the soil if not grazed too short. This entails being able to rest paddocks. If you can ...

Hi Michaela. African Lovegrass, as with most undesirable species in a grazing operation, likes low fertility. As you have written, I would suggest getting mulch on your higher points as is the NSF way. If you can slash/mow some lovegrass and put it at the top of the area it is invading, the principl...

Read this on the ABC news site. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/02/2834045.htm Makes me wonder what it does to humans. This link tells you non farming folk what atrazine does and how it works. http://www.croplifeaustralia.org.au/files/newsinfo/facts/cropprotection/Atrazine%20FAQ.pdf Anoth...

Spot on Duane.
Whatever gets people thinking, talking, practicing NSF.

I would have to agree with Jenni in regards to lucerne protecting the soil in a conventional commercial operation. As a monoculture, it leaves alot of soil exposed. The roots will grow very deep over time(as much as 6 meters deep). Therefore sourcing a great amount of nutrients that grasses can't. T...

You are correct gwmbox. A combination of many different ideas and practices is usually what you will use for your own application. You don't have to spray chemicals to manage perrenial pastures. There would be a wealth of knowledge and experience to be gleaned from most ag websites. What to do and w...

Good site. Another perspective on agriculture and yes, well laid out too.
Case studies!!
That would be a great thing to have on the NSF site.