We have been busy preparing new planting areas in two of our paddocks that are used for calves and replacements. These paddocks are not irrigated and get very dry in the summer, so landscape architect Anna O’ Sullivan created a crescent bund planting design to capture and maintain rainfall, improving soil moisture for the establishing plants. The open side of each crescent faces uphill, allowing the structures to intercept and capture runoff generated during heavy rainfall events. By slowing water movement and encouraging infiltration, the bunds help direct valuable moisture into the root zone of the planted species.
Two bund sizes have been incorporated into the design: 1 metre wide by 2 metres long, and 1 metre wide by 4 metres long. Each bund is constructed by excavating a ditch approximately 500 mm deep and using the excavated soil to form the raised earth bank. This approach creates a simple and effective micro-catchment system that supports plant establishment without the need for irrigation.
Following completion of the earthworks, the entire planting strip will be sown with an aromatic seed mix to provide ground cover, stabilise the soil surface, and suppress weed growth. The bunds themselves will be planted with a carefully selected mix of four drought-tolerant tree and shrub species suited to the site's dry conditions.Together, these elements create a low-input, water-efficient boundary planting that contributes to biodiversity, landscape enhancement, and long-term farm resilience. The proposed planting palette of Dodonaea viscosa, Leptospermum scoparium, Olea europaea 'Manzanillo' and Muehlenbeckia astonii has been selected for its suitability to Canterbury's dry climate and low long-term water requirements.
We have all the fencing and earthworks completed, and have started seeding the planting areas with the aromatic mix (containing red clover, lance leaved coreopsis, wild bergamont, hyssop, garden thyme, beebalm, marjoram, oregano, lemon balm, German chamomile, peppermint, sage, thyme, yarrow, marigolds, meadow foam, phacelia, black cumin, rosemary, lemon beebrush and rosemary cotton lavender). We are hoping to start planting the trees and shrubs soon.
Our cows are milking well and increasing their production, producing an average of 22.5L/cow/d (3.0L increase) and 2.2kgMS/cow/d (0.2kg increase) for the month of September.
We also had our last cow calve on the 28th of September.
