Total newbies on 8 acres Vic

9 posts
Thu, 04/11/2019 - 10:56 #1

Member for

6 years 6 months
shelle
Last seen: 08/13/2019 - 19:25
Joined: 04/11/2019 - 10:34

Total newbies on 8 acres Vic

In Dec we moved to our "farm". Its 8 acres, off grid, bore and 2 dry as a bone dams. And from next week both semi retiring to work towards self sufficiency, Ha! Came here to learn

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Tue, 04/16/2019 - 16:07 #2
admin
Last seen: 11/01/2025 - 19:51
Joined: 02/28/2011 - 14:19

Hi Shelle,

Welcome to the small farm forum and congratulations on the new move.

Water has become a real issue for a lot of people over the past few years with such dry seasons.

We also have a Facebook discussion group which you may like to join
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FarmStyle

Look forward to hearing how your farming and self sufficient lifestyle progresses.

Regards,

Charlie

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Tue, 06/11/2019 - 15:29 #3
sallyero62
Last seen: 06/11/2019 - 19:02
Joined: 06/11/2019 - 14:01

Go newbie guys,
Fridge full of cold beer a must. Also any big decisions should be make after a cup of tea and a think about it.. my nannas words ... Be prepared to loose some weight buy a belt. you will need 2 pairs of boots each, they get wet. also pair of gummies tall ones . Plant trees you will get plenty of practice sitting under them. Make a lovely recycled seat for the missus, and your all set. good luck friends after 28 years got plenty of advise, our ground was so hard couldn't even get a mattick in. and that was the pointy end.
Best of luck enjoy every moment . Remember there are no problems just solutions
sally

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Tue, 06/11/2019 - 15:38 #4
sallyero62
Last seen: 06/11/2019 - 19:02
Joined: 06/11/2019 - 14:01

hi newbies
goodness forgot the most important thing , you need hats ….. the daggyer the better. Youll need a good supply of these , as you loose heaps , & wear out heaps .
sally

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Thu, 06/13/2019 - 12:08 #5
Albertgotdonkey
Last seen: 02/11/2020 - 07:45
Joined: 03/20/2019 - 11:41

Maybe a beanie or 2 as well. I am from Southern Victoria and although mild last few days we had a winter blast not long before that

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Tue, 07/23/2019 - 19:43 #6
shelle
Last seen: 08/13/2019 - 19:25
Joined: 04/11/2019 - 10:34

So first winter, and dams have filled-
and emptied.
Beanie's a must!
Been improving soil, composting, got fruit trees in. Planted trees for shade. House block fenced, and home brew on the go😊

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Sun, 07/28/2019 - 14:56 #7
Albertgotdonkey
Last seen: 02/11/2020 - 07:45
Joined: 03/20/2019 - 11:41

Very impressive start Shelle. You sound organised.
I think the more you plant and improve soil the more enjoyable farming is.
Nothing nicer than a beer on a warm night and inspecting your garden and all your improvements. Actually motivates you to want to do more and more

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Sat, 08/10/2019 - 10:35 #8
Gumboots
Last seen: 08/10/2019 - 10:42
Joined: 08/10/2019 - 10:03

Hi Shelle
where is your place?
I am wondering why your dams have emptied so quickly, I'm not an expert on this but I wonder if you might need to reline the dams with clay. We have never had to do this to our dam so I barely know what I am talking about. However: if your dams are empty what a great opportunity to consult the expertise and get some work done on them .... including deepen them if necessary.

Very best of luck, there is a lot to learn - don't get discouraged - we've been in it 20+ years and still learn every day.

On shade trees, Silver Wattle is a good option, very quick to establish. It is short-lived so it will give you some firewood in a few years time - but you will need to plant in some longer lived and slower growing trees as well. We have found Blackwood good. All the acacias are fire retardant. When we came to our place it had 100 pine trees and some tasmanian blue gums - took us about 18 years to get rid of the lot and of course they keep growing all the time. We have replaced with blackwood, silver wattle, and other local natives that are not eucalypts!!!!!

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Mon, 08/12/2019 - 18:42 #9
shelle
Last seen: 08/13/2019 - 19:25
Joined: 04/11/2019 - 10:34

Hey gumboots. Thanks for your response.
And we have the answer of why the dams empty, it's because our dams leak.
Solution: we are going for permaculture(esque) direction.
We're going to fix 1 dam using a technique called "gleying".
We're going to fix dam 2 with a polymer you apply to surface of water.
I'm a skeptical hippy. I believe polymer will work to reveal dam. But for shits n giggles, I'm well up for gleying. Working pigs, happy pigs.
Experts charge. My neighbours dont. And we've had so much help. It's been a delightful bonus of our move. We have a plan. We are all ready behind. But hey, I've got the rest of my life to practise:)
I'm being told what to do by weather/season/time of day it seems - bliss

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