Cath and Brad
Before getting involved with the Peer Group Mentoring Project, I had just completed the Master TreeGrower course in Margaret River so had recently found out quite a lot about trees. In particular I’d learned about the technical aspects of growing eucalypts for sawlogs and the potential for growing deciduous trees.
Once I’d signed up to be mentored, three mentors (Bob, Peter and Gary) visited the property. We walked around looking at the various areas and operations discussing what I had in mind and other ideas that they suggested.
From the initial site visit I recognised the need to look at the native bush in more detail as it covers more than 60% of the property. A second site visit was arranged to include Danielle, a forest silviculturalist working for the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
The second site visit led to a significant discovery for me; that I have the power to improve the long term health of remnant vegetation – that, through active management, I can look after our native forest. I also learnt a new word – “senescence”!
Another topic that came out of the site visits was food and fodder trees. The idea of growing trees for a perennial source of food for us and fodder for our animals was of real interest. My appetite was whetted and I wanted to learn more.
The most significant change for me has been how I look at my native forest. I now know what to do to look after it. Before us, the property had had very little in the way of inputs. It’s all been about outputs; taking out timber, extracting gravel and using the bush for rough grazing. I now have a vision of a healthy, visually pleasing forest with well-spaced trees, an understory coming back and improved habitat for wildlife. I now have the contacts and some of the
knowledge to look after a major proportion of our property.
The great thing for me about the mentoring program was getting connected to a network of contacts and knowledge that I can tap into.
Before getting involved with the Peer Group Mentoring Project, I had just completed the Master TreeGrower course in Margaret River so had recently found out quite a lot about trees. In particular I’d learned about the technical aspects of growing eucalypts for sawlogs and the potential for growing deciduous trees.
Once I’d signed up to be mentored, three mentors (Bob, Peter and Gary) visited the property. We walked around looking at the various areas and operations discussing what I had in mind and other ideas that they suggested.
From the initial site visit I recognised the need to look at the native bush in more detail as it covers more than 60% of the property. A second site visit was arranged to include Danielle, a forest silviculturalist working for the Department of Parks and Wildlife.
The second site visit led to a significant discovery for me; that I have the power to improve the long term health of remnant vegetation – that, through active management, I can look after our native forest. I also learnt a new word – “senescence”!
Another topic that came out of the site visits was food and fodder trees. The idea of growing trees for a perennial source of food for us and fodder for our animals was of real interest. My appetite was whetted and I wanted to learn more.
The most significant change for me has been how I look at my native forest. I now know what to do to look after it. Before us, the property had had very little in the way of inputs. It’s all been about outputs; taking out timber, extracting gravel and using the bush for rough grazing. I now have a vision of a healthy, visually pleasing forest with well-spaced trees, an understory coming back and improved habitat for wildlife. I now have the contacts and some of the
knowledge to look after a major proportion of our property.
The great thing for me about the mentoring program was getting connected to a network of contacts and knowledge that I can tap into.