Over the years before, I’d been reading the writings of Neil Barr and Roland Clark, the latter being the originator of this column writing as Norwester, and both had waxed lyrically of the benefits of trees on farms.
So, I’d joined the HB Farm Forestry Association in 1983 to better understand just how to plant trees properly and successfully on our property, and started going to the branch field days to learn from these people.
I listened to the wise folk and picked their brains mercilessly.
There were Holts, Whittles, Olsens, Hallidays, Thomsens and the Hartrees amongst many others.
They were generous with their advice and support.
Although, it must be said, also somewhat coercive as within a few years I found myself president of the branch for a few years.
That field day might have been a long time ago, but I still remember it well.
Tom and Dora had created an award-winning garden, which Dora used to raise funds for the Cancer Society. The garden had crept out into the surrounding paddocks and around a lake.
And as we toured the farm itself, I realised that Tom was continuing a garden-like ethos around the property with nooks and crannies planted in all sorts of species, as well as conventional forestry.
I was hugely impressed and thought I wouldn’t mind my farm looking like this one day.
Last week, we had another opportunity to see this wonderful property, as Tom and Dora’s son Greg, along with his wife Rachael, won the same award on the merits of what they have been doing during their own farming career.
Dora died 17 years ago, but Tom was still there going strong at 86. A nicer man you wouldn’t meet, and it was great to catch up with him again. He’d been farming and living on this land for 65 years.
He must have been so proud to see us observe what his son has now achieved on these properties. And just as proud as his grandson Jack, at just 17, talked to us confidently about the cabin he was building out of timber milled from trees Tom had planted amongst towering Californian Redwoods that Tom had established some 50 years earlier.
I lay down on the ground and stared up into the canopy as these trees quietly rocked to and fro in the light, summer breeze. The most spiritual experience I’ve had in a long time.
These farms are genuine intergenerational, sustainable-wise, land-use enduring farming businesses.
We saw lakes and dams created and fenced off with all sorts of species surrounding them. An 81-hectare QE11 covenant protects a pristine stream and native bush with another 44ha of native bush protected with a covenant on another property.
The trees are providing massive shade, shelter and land protection benefits.
And then there is 160ha of radiata forestry and a myriad of other blocks of alternative species.
Exactly the sort of model that the powers that be want to see elsewhere.
It was impressive and uplifting to drive around these properties and see what one family has created over a couple of generations.
I was surprised to hear that although the HB branch of Farm Forestry is in reasonable health, many of the other regions are struggling with membership. Thirty years ago there were 4500 members nationally, but now just 1300. This at a time when there is massive planting of trees on farms and people should be wanting to do it well. There is nothing like learning from the failures of others to save yourself some grief. I’d advise you to look up your local branch and join if you want to get your planting and silviculture right, and supported by a network of pragmatic enthusiasts who will soon become mates.
Thirty-five years ago, I was one of the young members of this group.
Age is relative and last week I still felt young as the rest have aged at the same rate, especially as I chivvied Dave as he spent some time getting from a sitting position on the ground at one of the stops to his feet. “Your time will come” he told me with some satisfaction.
The Farm Forestry Association obviously needs some young blood, and you whippersnappers will benefit greatly by joining and getting alongside these elder states people of the land and learning from their many experiences.
