Dion and Sharon
In 2002 we purchased a 65 ha property in Upper Warren, approximately 20km east of Pemberton and called it ‘Stonebarn’ after the stone lodge we built. This property is located on the picturesque Warren River and is used for accommodation and functions.
Our other activities include truffle production, Tasmanian blue gum and Sydney blue gum plantations and a forest of remnant native vegetation consisting of marri, karri, jarrah and associated understory species. We are also looking at the concept of growing shiitake mushrooms on oak and eucalypt logs.
Truffles are our main long term project, as we have planted approximately 2000 ‘truffle trees’, using English oaks and hazelnut trees as hosts and they are now 10-years-old. We planted the truffle trees on sites with free-draining soils to reduce the risk of fungal attack and also along the contour as this helps to harvest water and reduce erosion. Regular harvests occur from June to late August using specially trained sniffer dogs and we encourage visitors to get involved with this activity. Our markets are mostly overseas, but we do supply some Perth, Melbourne and Sydney restaurants.
Tasmanian blue gum plantation is grown for woodchips and is a second rotation crop. A large number of coppice stems have re-sprouting from the stumps and we are considering removing the coppice by commercial in-field chipping and using the chips as a soil additive and stabiliser.
The Sydney blue gum plantation is a second rotation sawlog crop with some thinning and pruning. The native forest on our property is used for conservation and biodiversity and is a feature for our guests to enjoy. We have been members of the ‘Land for Wildlife’ project for ten years and this forest will form a wildlife corridor with adjacent native vegetation.
I was first introduced to the peer group mentoring project by Julian in early 2015, as I was discussing truffle management with him. A site visit occurred on 8th April 2015 and three mentors Julian, Sharon and David did a site assessment and discussed management options.
After reading their report I have contacted a local fire officer to discuss firebreaks and fire management. Over the last six months a number of follow-up phone calls and e-mails have occurred.
At this stage we haven’t launched into projects involved with our eucalypt plantations, but this will happen in the near future. The PGM project has helped us clarify our objectives for improving the management of our eucalypt plantations and remnant native forest. On-going maintenance of our ‘wildlife corridor’ is a high priority.
In 2002 we purchased a 65 ha property in Upper Warren, approximately 20km east of Pemberton and called it ‘Stonebarn’ after the stone lodge we built. This property is located on the picturesque Warren River and is used for accommodation and functions.
Our other activities include truffle production, Tasmanian blue gum and Sydney blue gum plantations and a forest of remnant native vegetation consisting of marri, karri, jarrah and associated understory species. We are also looking at the concept of growing shiitake mushrooms on oak and eucalypt logs.
Truffles are our main long term project, as we have planted approximately 2000 ‘truffle trees’, using English oaks and hazelnut trees as hosts and they are now 10-years-old. We planted the truffle trees on sites with free-draining soils to reduce the risk of fungal attack and also along the contour as this helps to harvest water and reduce erosion. Regular harvests occur from June to late August using specially trained sniffer dogs and we encourage visitors to get involved with this activity. Our markets are mostly overseas, but we do supply some Perth, Melbourne and Sydney restaurants.
Tasmanian blue gum plantation is grown for woodchips and is a second rotation crop. A large number of coppice stems have re-sprouting from the stumps and we are considering removing the coppice by commercial in-field chipping and using the chips as a soil additive and stabiliser.
The Sydney blue gum plantation is a second rotation sawlog crop with some thinning and pruning. The native forest on our property is used for conservation and biodiversity and is a feature for our guests to enjoy. We have been members of the ‘Land for Wildlife’ project for ten years and this forest will form a wildlife corridor with adjacent native vegetation.
I was first introduced to the peer group mentoring project by Julian in early 2015, as I was discussing truffle management with him. A site visit occurred on 8th April 2015 and three mentors Julian, Sharon and David did a site assessment and discussed management options.
After reading their report I have contacted a local fire officer to discuss firebreaks and fire management. Over the last six months a number of follow-up phone calls and e-mails have occurred.
At this stage we haven’t launched into projects involved with our eucalypt plantations, but this will happen in the near future. The PGM project has helped us clarify our objectives for improving the management of our eucalypt plantations and remnant native forest. On-going maintenance of our ‘wildlife corridor’ is a high priority.