How the Fernmount Food Forest Developed

This path, seen here in the morning mist, was the first piece of infrastructure placed on the block. The edges required a concreted gutter to prevent road wash-outs, we had two, from heavy rainfalls. An Eastern low can dump 46mm in an hour.

We chose a 0.4 hectare block in Fernmount because it was close to Bellingen and the Pacific Freeway. The block had sufficient land to develop a large garden but not so much that we would be overwhelmed with maintenance and fencing expenditure. We built a modest house, designed as best we could, for the local climate. We hoped to develop a food producing garden that was an attractive place to work and visit.

The Donkey Paddock

Looking from the house site towards the back of the block the remnant dam can be seen at back centre. The Pine Tree marks our back boundary. The pic also shows the neighbour's block. A large Bloodwood is at left and a few small trees are sited on the house site.

Carol and I (John) retired to Fernmount in 2008. Having lived in Bellingen in the mid 1980s for a year we knew we would return on retirement.

We started the earthworks and planting for this one acre/half hectare, garden/food forest in mid 2008.The land has pastured sheep and donkeys in recent history. Parts of the block were very boggy from water run-off from neighbouring properties. Paspalum grass, Kikuyu grass and weeds covered most of the block. The dam in the western bottom corner had a smashed wall and had reverted to a bog. Tall Scotch Pines screened the western sun. The north facing slope helps create higher daytime temperatures for subtropical plants although very light frosts may occur in winter and cause some moderate branch damage.

The first step we took was to grade the access road, front to back, east to west, along a contour. A trench was graded along the top southern boundary to carry water west and down towards the dam which was deepened and had its wall repaired. A rocky stream bed was established to carry heavy rainwater flows from the southern front of the block under the road and down to the dam. Vetiver Grass, Arundo donax, Lomandra Grass, Louisiana Iris and Acalypha plants help break the water flow and beautify its banks. All landscaping rocks had to be imported.

Grading the road

 Installing the road was our first step. This pic shows the slope towards north more clearly. Vegetation on the left marks our southern boundary. 

Road construction finished and a path is made at back.

In the later 1800s bullock teams were stabled overnight on the block when Fernmount was a thriving timber and dairying community with hotels and shops. I am told this land had freshwater springs, some still evident in very wet years. Half of the soil is a quality loam although clay and shale lie 20-30 cms deep.

From bottom north western corner after three years.

Fruit trees establish quickly in this climate. Here a White Mulberry grows in front of an Apple (Tropical variety). The chicken shed at back sits off the road contour.  Zone 3

Vegetable garden below shed two years on. Zone 1

Zone 1 vegetable garden three years on.

Zone 1 vegetable garden with young screening bamboo at back.

Zone 1 vegetable garden.

Now the Zone 1 vegetable gardens, alongside the house verandah, now contain more perennial vegetables but in these early years they grew mainly annual vegetables. A vegetable garden has also been developed below the shed.

The large Bloodwood eucalypt in the background was the only tree left in a grassy paddock that once sheltered teams of bullocks in the 1800s. The Costa ginger in the foreground seems always to be in bloom.

Brugmansias flourish in the usually well watered climate and I have noticed the chickens will eat the leaves.

Brugmanisa is fairly easily contained by an annual pruning. The plants provide a range of colour (gold, white, pink). Just keep the prunings stacked on other branches to prevent them rooting. Brugmania was an early planting on the block and helped retain the soil above slopes and to build humus.

Chicken Shed

The Chicken Shed was established in Zone 3 an easy walk of 50m from the house along the road or path. In this view steps lead down to a grassed ramp or path which leads down to the north western corner of the block. Local native Lomandra grass is planted above steeper slopes to prevent wash outs. Cutting back the Lomandra provides plenty of soil-building mulch.

Lomandra Grass, a native, was planted at the top of most steep slopes to control heavy rainfalls and silt.

The gravelled path/road shown leads towards the back of the block on a contour. The Slender Weavers Bamboo and Tiger Grass screens the shed in Zone 2. Elsewhere Buffalo Grass lawn paths, planted from cuttings, help control weeds and reduce the tracking of mud. Using a mower that mulches grass clippings builds up the soil and this is very useful on the few areas of clay such as the dam wall.

After a few years. A view from the back verandah.

In this view many of the fruit trees are established. A nectarine tree is netted against bird predation. Steps at right lead down to Zone 2 narrow vegetable garden terraces. Slender Weavers Bamboo screens the shed. Bee attracting Salvias at lower left are just below our home's western verandah. The neighbour's trees at the back of the block are steadily screening out our western view. Young Silver Wattles (now replaced by avocados) are holding the grassed terrace around the large Bloodwood tree.

Here are some random recent pics of the garden.

Cercis Canadensis (Forest Pansy) has edible pink flowers. It is a useful ornamental in a subtropical garden.

Lousiana Iris established around the lower dam.  Zone 4

The ornamental Maple Tree below screens the house verandah from westerly sun. Bronze Sugar Cane pokes up behind it.

Early morning view from rear verandah towards Zone 4 at rear of block. A morning mist is quite a common sight.

This Zone 1 retaining wall on the house's southern side  holds back a bed of ornamentals and some edibles such as Pepino bushes, Blueberries and Pineapples.

The raised bed on the southern side of the house has a Persimmon, Blueberries and pineapples amidst the screening ornamentals..

Zone 1 This is a view, towards North, of the established front ornamental garden containing three olives and many bird and bee attracting Salvias. This path flows down to the rear of the block. It was designed to allow vehicle access to the rear of the block but is never used, a wheelbarrow is sufficient.

Slender Weavers Bamboo screens the shed grown prolifically in this mild climate.

The small dam at the north western corner of our acre has its own charm.

Early photo of the lower dam with the grassed bank and Lomandra (Tanilba variety) front left foreground.  Zone 4

After seven years in our ground, an Illawarra Flame Tree grows near our tall Bloodwood. The red flowers will be a future pleasure.

 These trees (see below) above the road are drip irrigated by the excess water from our sewerage system. A worm farm processes the grey and black water which then filters to a tank before it is pumped over the 300 square metre area. Here Pecans have grown tall, curcubits wind into trees and a variety of citrus trees always produce heavily.

Orchard Path

View from the Dam Wall path looking east up the hill

Tree Ferns have seeded themselves where a small bridge crosses the dry stream bed. Two large concrete pipes ensure the path is not washed away.

Road from small bridge looking west.