What sort of fence do you need
for your stock?
Learn how to construct a strainer assembly
How to strain a fence and how to repair a fence
Fencing Expo
Saturday afternoon March 24th
starting at 2pm with a Sundowner to follow.
At Ric Evans’s property on Hamilton Road, signposted from the corner of
Hamilton and Tweed Roads.
Sponsored by Richfeeds and BVSLG with
Joe McCree
(Cyclone Rural Fencing) Demonstrations throughout the afternoon.
Individualized advice.
Shaun
Greenway (Gallagher) Products & electric fencing advice.
Wesfeeds,
Animal Nutrition advice and products.
Attendance is free but you can
help us with catering by registering your interest in attending.See Ric Evans at Richfeeds or
ring Jenny Dewing 9761 1139. Final details in March edition and on our
website. www.smalllandholders.com
July 2006
The Small Landholder's Auction was held on 30 July
2006 with 76 individual lots presented for sale. The Public response was
good with people coming from Northcliffe, Karridale and surrounding districts to
participate. The majority of items sold although, as expected, the lack of
feed due to the dry start to winter meant that sheep were not as popular as in
the past.
June 2006
The following is an example of a highly successful workshop recently conducted
for members. 45 members attended.
"Grow your
own Fruit" Field Day
Landholders in the Blackwood Valley have an opportunity to learn
from experts how to go about fruit growing.
Blackwood
Valley Small Landholders Group has teamed up with the Department of Agriculture
and Food’s Small Landholder Information Service to organise this timely
workshop.
Workshop
organiser Jenny Dewing said “Many of us come to the country with the intention
to grow our own fruit, and to share this produce with family and friends. We all
know that you can’t beat the taste of a tree-ripened apple picked and eaten in
the orchard. The Blackwood Valley, particularly Bridgetown and Balingup, is an
excellent fruit growing area and was the centre of the apple industry not so
long ago. We have pockets of excellent soil, particularly the loams and clay
loams on terraces along the Blackwood River. We also have excellent chill and if
you are a little way from town you may be fruit fly free. Water, followed by
pests and diseases, seems to be the chief limiting factor for most”.
Peter
Coppin, acknowledged fruit growing expert from Perth is attending and sharing
his considerable experience. Peter was formerly a Senior Horticultural Advisor
at the Department of Agriculture's Garden Advisory Centre and Small Property
Advisory Service for ten years. The previous 17 years were spent in fruit and
nut research at the Stoneville Horticultural Research Station. He has lectured
at TAFE, Curtin University and other tertiary institutions, runs short courses
and seminars for the public, and has managed a family orchard in the hills. He
actively supports the planting of trees for fruit, nut or timber production, not
just as ornamentals.
Local experts, orchardist Anthony Fullam and ex Bridgetown grower Doug
Burtenshaw, will add practical local knowledge. Topics covered include site
selection, what varieties to grow, fertiliser regimes, water requirement, pests
and diseases, pruning and netting. Visits to three local orchards will provide
lots of practical examples and an opportunity for informal discussion and
questions.
Ms Dewing
said, “Support from the Department of Agriculture and Food’s Small Landholder
Advisory Service and National Heritage Trust funds has allowed us to keep costs
down to $20.00 per participant (early bird price for BVSLG members). This fee
includes lunch and bus fares. Notes and other material will be available”.
