At least ya got some water in ya dam, out dam is dry and the tanks are not much better... all around us they are in flood; north, west & south we had storms yesterday some places got 5 inches we got 8mill... but it don't look a dry as your place. It hasn't rained since the end of November and Summer is when we get rain... but hey, that's Oz for ya. We have 20 thousand gallons of tank water... we need 50 but that costs. we've lived here for 50 years off grid; fire is my greatest fear. I love building stuff; sheds and shacks, houses and boats, take a look at; ue&co I've only been going for a couple of month on TH-cam, big learning curve I'm enjoying it; new things to learn is good. I'm going to build an off grid hidden house for our youngest daughter this year, should be fun; 2 children 2 adults. I never knew we were/are homesteaders always have been; I don't like the word 'homestead' to American then again I don't like 'squatter'... I think 'off grid & do everything ourselves' describes us... we do hire dozers every 10 years or so, but that's it. Everything else I built myself, still building and love it... I recon if they could do it in the old days, we can do it today and better, ya just got to do it. The hardest thing I found was laying the first brick, once we got that in we've never looked back... now we live in paradise on the Sunny QLD
Fire has always been our greatest fear also. Homestead in Australia has traditionally been used to refer to the actual homestead building on a property but it has it's specific history in the US too. Agreed that this was just life for many aussies in rural areas, not necessarily something called "homesteading"
I just love the winter months here. It is so pretty! One of my favorite things to do in winter is to walk down the paddock along the creeks. Definitely not in the warmer months 😆 🐍
This video perfectly illustrated the drastic changes in our seasons. I can tell you what season I prefer thats for sure 🤣 I was about to make a video like this, reminiscing about the greenery
Been reading up on that Vetiver grass and wonder if that wouldn't be a halfway decent solution for the big river. 90% of the issue there is just being able to make a weir that'd stand up to how much water is coming down the thing. Vetiver would have no problem drilling down to water so you could start planting now and have plenty of good growth before the heavy flows show up. Plus, it's cheap enough that you can install several strips all along the creek bed.
Heya!! Glad you joined us and glad you enjoyed the video. We thought the contrast was startling and it's so good to have footage to demonstrate it. Because when people see our property in summer they can't imagine it green and wet, conversely when people see it in winter it's so hard to see how all that lush green and plentiful water could just disappear and everything dry up.
G'day guys. Just amazing how it all changes and looking at you standing there and saying that the water level was above your head, is just just hard to imagine when looking at it right there and then. Really keen to see how you tackle the water retention there and I have no doubt that you'll work it all out too. This is going to be great to follow. Keep safe out in that grass too. All the best. Daz.
It’s crazy huh? Even us looking at the comparison videos are 😳😳 I think it’s going to be a cumulative effort over time but this year we’ll get started earlier and plant more vegetation along those creek lines. Cheers Daz!! 👍
Gosh, your nervousness about snakes in that long grass made me nervous too! The seasonal change is as dramatic for us here in the east, certainly where we are in Central Victoria. I find the period from, say, December until we get decent autumn rains in April May very difficult. Just crisp, dry, brown. In 2018 we actually reverted to dirt, but that is rare. And, yep, we've got the snakes too - Eastern Browns, and plenty of them. Over the years though I've become less and less concerned (although I always wear jeans). As long as we aren't tip-toeing around the place they get out of the way, usually before we even notice them. Great video, keen to watch some more and happy I found the channel. :)
Brilliant video. I have SO MANY questions about this one I’m not sure I can remember them all. How long did the last of the water dry up? With the improvements you have made, did the water stay longer than previous years? Did you dig down into the dry sand at all to see how deep it went before there was moisture? How much longer did the grass stay greener in these areas v’s areas that had no extra water? Can you get in there and slash the dead grass and do large scale chop and drop to keep the soil covered, and help increase soil organic matter to increase the water holding capacity? Others in the comment section have mentioned clay. Is bringing in a bulk load of clay to add to the water catchment areas a viable option, and would it change the eco systems you have negatively? With everything drying out, has the biodiversity dropped much? Obviously there are no tadpoles having around, but your frogs are probably burrowing frogs to ride out the summer. How is the swale holding up and the plants you put on it?
Brilliant video. I have SO MANY questions about this one I’m not sure I can remember them all. Thankyou!! We thought our viewers would find it super interesting as we did. How long did the last of the water dry up? Maybe November/December. With the improvements you have made, did the water stay longer than previous years? Definitely in the beaver dam and leaky weir. I feel the dam stayed fuller longer this year also and it hasn’t been a particularly high rainfall year. Did you dig down into the dry sand at all to see how deep it went before there was moisture? No, but that’s a good idea. How much longer did the grass stay greener in these areas v’s areas that had no extra water? Didn’t check actually. The turning of green to brown happens shockingly fast. Can you get in there and slash the dead grass and do large scale chop and drop to keep the soil covered, and help increase soil organic matter to increase the water holding capacity? Nope. Not because of access but because of fire risk. Nothing that generates heat or creates a spark. Even a Scythe could hit a rock and create a spark. Others in the comment section have mentioned clay. Is bringing in a bulk load of clay to add to the water catchment areas a viable option, and would it change the eco systems you have negatively? I don’t think we would try clay in the existing dam because it’s a part of a waterway system. I’m sure that it wouldn’t be a dam we would be allowed to build in this day and age. Through the creek system we want to support that natural cycle of filling and emptying but just SLOW it down so it has a chance to go wider. Ultimately we want to widen that strip of creek and woodlands as much of it is remnant bush/woodlands so valuable on that respect. Everything we’ve read seems to say it’s easier to expand and regenerate existing remnants. We are thinking of finding a spot for a second dam/pond higher up in the landscape and we’ll be doing test dig holes to find out if there’s clay. However for something like that we would consider bringing in clay. Or there’s the bentonite clay protocol also. With everything drying out, has the biodiversity dropped much? It changes season to season. Even though we say it looks ‘dead’ this is a natural cycle for this climate so there is diversity but of a different sort and much of it isn’t out and about in the heat of the day. Lots of birds and reptiles this time of year. We see more of the bigger bird species during the summer months. The paddocks ae twinkling with spider eyes reflecting back at you at night and we see many more kangaroos during the hot months too. Obviously there are no tadpoles having around, but your frogs are probably burrowing frogs to ride out the summer. Yeah good point, don’t hear too many frogs this time of year. How is the swale holding up and the plants you put on it? Swale itself is holding up very well. Some of the plants have thrived even though they were somewhat neglected this summer and I’m pretty sure we’ve lost some. I think corey filmed a stand-alone swale update that I still need to edit
Observing the the difference on your land with your climate, I would think that when you have lush green active growth slashing to increase organic material in your soil. Because what you have now is totally useless for building organic matter. I would think it’s a very long process, unless you can bring in organic waste materials from outside to establish a toehold and get some canopy trees started to create some shade and block prevailing winds. Wish you guys well in your endeavour.
Wow definitely snake country. I see what you mean about being jealous of our green grass. What a huge difference. What ideas do you have for retaining the water? We are planning a dam, we have 3 seasonal creeks going through and still no spillway or dam built. Looking forward to hearing your plans. We hope you get some rain soon! Rob and Nic.
So far… more leaky weirs. Extend our 1st swale and build a 2nd. On a smaller scale we’re planning on a couple of little swales on our new veggie patch. And we’ll do some test digs to find a place with clay to dig a water retention dam
Wow guys, it’s so dry this time of year. The contrast between the seasons is massive. I bet you look forward to cooler/ wetter weather. I thought it was drying out here😳 You’re a brave man Corey walking through that grass. Have a great day guys.
Hi I have stumbled across your channel and have been enjoying watching your dilemma’s. I am from Melbourne but have watched other you tube content from which I believe could help your situation. Mainly India swales projects & WFO Africa Niger Sahara Green Belt. The Aussie guys you mention are also good. I am not in your position but I have always been amazed by the mismanagement of the Australian Landscape and wish the Government would do more to allow its citizens to green the landscape more back from the 70’s as a child visiting the Surrounding country in Melbourne Etc . Any way I hope this helps best regards Chris Ps have you done an aerial shot and topographic survey of your land to see the highest to lowest points so then you can trap capture you’re water and clay bottom your damns and swales
LOL, love the "fashion" statement Corey. Just found your channel. Got 50 Acres myself bit closer to Perth in Gidge. Waiting for the kids to finish high school in Perth before we build and move. Cant wait, im out there every weekend. So many things i want to do on it but with just a weekend to get anything done its a slow grind. Swales are a definite must but i dont have machinery skillz like you :) so think ill have to get someone in for this. Keep up the awesome vids, im loving them!!
Here's a link to Mark, from self-sufficient me, on how he fixed his small dam from leaking water... I hope that it helps... th-cam.com/video/S8XL2DvdV_8/w-d-xo.html
We’ve got a couple spots we’re planning to dig test holes to see if there’s clay. A couple more ponds or a dam higher up in the landscape is definitely on our list. We have approx 90m elevation change but it’s very rocky so 🤷♀️
![เป็นไปได้ไหม - WanMai [Performance Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Eh5hItD4Mr0/mqdefault.jpg)
At least ya got some water in ya dam, out dam is dry and the tanks are not much better... all around us they are in flood; north, west & south we had storms yesterday some places got 5 inches we got 8mill... but it don't look a dry as your place. It hasn't rained since the end of November and Summer is when we get rain... but hey, that's Oz for ya. We have 20 thousand gallons of tank water... we need 50 but that costs. we've lived here for 50 years off grid; fire is my greatest fear. I love building stuff; sheds and shacks, houses and boats, take a look at; ue&co I've only been going for a couple of month on TH-cam, big learning curve I'm enjoying it; new things to learn is good. I'm going to build an off grid hidden house for our youngest daughter this year, should be fun; 2 children 2 adults. I never knew we were/are homesteaders always have been; I don't like the word 'homestead' to American then again I don't like 'squatter'... I think 'off grid & do everything ourselves' describes us... we do hire dozers every 10 years or so, but that's it. Everything else I built myself, still building and love it... I recon if they could do it in the old days, we can do it today and better, ya just got to do it. The hardest thing I found was laying the first brick, once we got that in we've never looked back... now we live in paradise on the Sunny QLD
Fire has always been our greatest fear also. Homestead in Australia has traditionally been used to refer to the actual homestead building on a property but it has it's specific history in the US too. Agreed that this was just life for many aussies in rural areas, not necessarily something called "homesteading"
I just love the winter months here. It is so pretty! One of my favorite things to do in winter is to walk down the paddock along the creeks. Definitely not in the warmer months 😆 🐍
Wow! Huge seasonal changes. 😮 So fascinating to watch the changes when you don’t rely on the water, and such a challenge when you have livestock
It's going to need delicate management once we have our cattle that's for sure
Fantastic insight to the harsh and complex Australian seasons.
Brave walking through that grass
Nature Give, Nature Take.
Beautiful landscape either way, but holding onto that water as long as possible as you said is important. Good luck 🤞
This video perfectly illustrated the drastic changes in our seasons. I can tell you what season I prefer thats for sure 🤣 I was about to make a video like this, reminiscing about the greenery
Please do!!! At least we’ll know we are not alone 😂😂
Been reading up on that Vetiver grass and wonder if that wouldn't be a halfway decent solution for the big river. 90% of the issue there is just being able to make a weir that'd stand up to how much water is coming down the thing. Vetiver would have no problem drilling down to water so you could start planting now and have plenty of good growth before the heavy flows show up. Plus, it's cheap enough that you can install several strips all along the creek bed.
Fantastic video, glad i found your channel!
Heya!! Glad you joined us and glad you enjoyed the video. We thought the contrast was startling and it's so good to have footage to demonstrate it. Because when people see our property in summer they can't imagine it green and wet, conversely when people see it in winter it's so hard to see how all that lush green and plentiful water could just disappear and everything dry up.
G'day guys.
Just amazing how it all changes and looking at you standing there and saying that the water level was above your head, is just just hard to imagine when looking at it right there and then. Really keen to see how you tackle the water retention there and I have no doubt that you'll work it all out too.
This is going to be great to follow.
Keep safe out in that grass too.
All the best.
Daz.
It’s crazy huh? Even us looking at the comparison videos are 😳😳 I think it’s going to be a cumulative effort over time but this year we’ll get started earlier and plant more vegetation along those creek lines. Cheers Daz!! 👍
Gosh, your nervousness about snakes in that long grass made me nervous too! The seasonal change is as dramatic for us here in the east, certainly where we are in Central Victoria. I find the period from, say, December until we get decent autumn rains in April May very difficult. Just crisp, dry, brown. In 2018 we actually reverted to dirt, but that is rare. And, yep, we've got the snakes too - Eastern Browns, and plenty of them. Over the years though I've become less and less concerned (although I always wear jeans). As long as we aren't tip-toeing around the place they get out of the way, usually before we even notice them. Great video, keen to watch some more and happy I found the channel. :)
Yeah that long grass *heebyjeebies*
Brilliant video. I have SO MANY questions about this one I’m not sure I can remember them all.
How long did the last of the water dry up?
With the improvements you have made, did the water stay longer than previous years?
Did you dig down into the dry sand at all to see how deep it went before there was moisture?
How much longer did the grass stay greener in these areas v’s areas that had no extra water?
Can you get in there and slash the dead grass and do large scale chop and drop to keep the soil covered, and help increase soil organic matter to increase the water holding capacity?
Others in the comment section have mentioned clay. Is bringing in a bulk load of clay to add to the water catchment areas a viable option, and would it change the eco systems you have negatively?
With everything drying out, has the biodiversity dropped much? Obviously there are no tadpoles having around, but your frogs are probably burrowing frogs to ride out the summer.
How is the swale holding up and the plants you put on it?
Brilliant video. I have SO MANY questions about this one I’m not sure I can remember them all.
Thankyou!! We thought our viewers would find it super interesting as we did.
How long did the last of the water dry up?
Maybe November/December.
With the improvements you have made, did the water stay longer than previous years?
Definitely in the beaver dam and leaky weir. I feel the dam stayed fuller longer this year also and it hasn’t been a particularly high rainfall year.
Did you dig down into the dry sand at all to see how deep it went before there was moisture?
No, but that’s a good idea.
How much longer did the grass stay greener in these areas v’s areas that had no extra water?
Didn’t check actually. The turning of green to brown happens shockingly fast.
Can you get in there and slash the dead grass and do large scale chop and drop to keep the soil covered, and help increase soil organic matter to increase the water holding capacity?
Nope. Not because of access but because of fire risk. Nothing that generates heat or creates a spark. Even a Scythe could hit a rock and create a spark.
Others in the comment section have mentioned clay. Is bringing in a bulk load of clay to add to the water catchment areas a viable option, and would it change the eco systems you have negatively?
I don’t think we would try clay in the existing dam because it’s a part of a waterway system. I’m sure that it wouldn’t be a dam we would be allowed to build in this day and age. Through the creek system we want to support that natural cycle of filling and emptying but just SLOW it down so it has a chance to go wider. Ultimately we want to widen that strip of creek and woodlands as much of it is remnant bush/woodlands so valuable on that respect. Everything we’ve read seems to say it’s easier to expand and regenerate existing remnants.
We are thinking of finding a spot for a second dam/pond higher up in the landscape and we’ll be doing test dig holes to find out if there’s clay. However for something like that we would consider bringing in clay. Or there’s the bentonite clay protocol also.
With everything drying out, has the biodiversity dropped much?
It changes season to season. Even though we say it looks ‘dead’ this is a natural cycle for this climate so there is diversity but of a different sort and much of it isn’t out and about in the heat of the day. Lots of birds and reptiles this time of year. We see more of the bigger bird species during the summer months. The paddocks ae twinkling with spider eyes reflecting back at you at night and we see many more kangaroos during the hot months too.
Obviously there are no tadpoles having around, but your frogs are probably burrowing frogs to ride out the summer.
Yeah good point, don’t hear too many frogs this time of year.
How is the swale holding up and the plants you put on it?
Swale itself is holding up very well. Some of the plants have thrived even though they were somewhat neglected this summer and I’m pretty sure we’ve lost some. I think corey filmed a stand-alone swale update that I still need to edit
South West Australia is renowned for wet winters and dry summers.
You have to improve on nature to survive the harsh summers. All the best.
So true!
Observing the the difference on your land with your climate, I would think that when you have lush green active growth slashing to increase organic material in your soil. Because what you have now is totally useless for building organic matter. I would think it’s a very long process, unless you can bring in organic waste materials from outside to establish a toehold and get some canopy trees started to create some shade and block prevailing winds. Wish you guys well in your endeavour.
Cheers mate
I would be nervous bushwhacking through that grass too. Striking difference between the wet and dry.
It's a shocking contrast side by side 😳
Wow definitely snake country. I see what you mean about being jealous of our green grass. What a huge difference. What ideas do you have for retaining the water? We are planning a dam, we have 3 seasonal creeks going through and still no spillway or dam built. Looking forward to hearing your plans. We hope you get some rain soon! Rob and Nic.
So far… more leaky weirs. Extend our 1st swale and build a 2nd. On a smaller scale we’re planning on a couple of little swales on our new veggie patch. And we’ll do some test digs to find a place with clay to dig a water retention dam
Absolutely amazing so much things have changed here in wa
Big difference huh?!
Wow guys, it’s so dry this time of year.
The contrast between the seasons is massive.
I bet you look forward to cooler/ wetter weather.
I thought it was drying out here😳
You’re a brave man Corey walking through that grass.
Have a great day guys.
Just HANGING out for the first of the rains.... even though that usually means flooding however
Stuffing those pipes with woody debris will turn the driveway into a leaky weir 😉
It does that by itself a couple times a year 😂😂 and if it didn’t tend to wash out the drive in the process it’d be awesome
Have you considered installing floodgates to hold water on the upside longer?
I did this in Karnup and really helped recharge the paddock.
What would the floodgates be made of? We were thinking of maybe a rock barrage but up stream is not our property so need to work in with the neighbour
@@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead i used railway lines placed vertical and some sheet iron in between.
Just to hold back water from the 5 and 10mm rains..
The change is pretty amazing - nature is a hard task master. Great observations.
Mother nature can sure take us on a wild ride... sometimes you just need to do your best to hold on and deal with it.
Hi I have stumbled across your channel and have been enjoying watching your dilemma’s.
I am from Melbourne but have watched other you tube content from which I believe could help your situation.
Mainly India swales projects &
WFO Africa Niger Sahara Green Belt.
The Aussie guys you mention are also good.
I am not in your position but I have always been amazed by the mismanagement of the Australian Landscape and wish the Government would do more to allow its citizens to green the landscape more back from the 70’s as a child visiting the Surrounding country in Melbourne
Etc .
Any way I hope this helps best regards Chris
Ps have you done an aerial shot and topographic survey of your land to see the highest to lowest points so then you can trap capture you’re water and clay bottom your damns and swales
LOL, love the "fashion" statement Corey.
Just found your channel.
Got 50 Acres myself bit closer to Perth in Gidge.
Waiting for the kids to finish high school in Perth before we build and move.
Cant wait, im out there every weekend.
So many things i want to do on it but with just a weekend to get anything done its a slow grind.
Swales are a definite must but i dont have machinery skillz like you :) so think ill have to get someone in for this.
Keep up the awesome vids, im loving them!!
Cheers mate 👍👍
Wow! You guys have a really great channel 🔆
Thankyou!
More leaky weirs 😀👍.
Never have too many leaky weirs 🙌🙌
Have you looked at a Yeoman plough?
Sand damb at the bridge or before it. You would have water year round.
Should have left the beaver dam hey !!
Be nice, if only it wouldn’t have washed away our driveway!
Check out Geoff Lawson and Joel Salatin
Think you meant Geoff Lawton 👍
nice, looks like york region
Yeah mate 👍
@@ROCKPILEOffgridHomestead i could tell by the york gums, im in northam region, very similar landscape.
try to grow palm dates and u will have a fruit forest
Hi guys, where in wa is your farm?
Hey mate, we're in the wheatbelt
Here's a link to Mark, from self-sufficient me, on how he fixed his small dam from leaking water... I hope that it helps... th-cam.com/video/S8XL2DvdV_8/w-d-xo.html
Is there any way you could find clay on your property and create a dam to hold the water?
We’ve got a couple spots we’re planning to dig test holes to see if there’s clay. A couple more ponds or a dam higher up in the landscape is definitely on our list. We have approx 90m elevation change but it’s very rocky so 🤷♀️
there are beavers in Australia?
No. It is called that as it applies the same principles as beavers that dam up creeks and waterways 😉
As Lee said Ben, it's just the name of the 'method'. I don't Australia actually has any animals that do this naturally...?