Our Method of Energy Efficient Biomass Farming
Janahn Forest Permaculture Farm
An Evergreen Food Fuel & Fibre Biomass System
Forest Orchard Gardens - Grazing Heathlands - Timber - Integrated Species Selection
Our Method of Energy Efficient Biomass Farming
Contact the Farm Operator Permaculture Design Institute
PHOTO: Sheep in a guild grazing between establishing grapes on the left and a new hedge of saltbush on the right. In the centre is a contoured cutting known as a swale that passively harvests rainfall runoff with overflow directed to the dam. Additional tree crop species are planned for inclusion in this guild.
"Janahn Forest" a farm of 100 acres (40 hectares) on a Western Spur of the Great Divide, about 150 km directly inland (west) from Brisbane, was purchased in 2005 to develop as a demonstration farm for the Permaculture Design Institute. "Janahn Forest" is being developed as an "integrated gardening orchard grazing system" to function as one complete, highly productive farming system. It is a system designed to function without combustion machinery, artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. Cultivation by hand is limited to small intensive vegetable gardens. These garden beds are then maintained by rotating chickens through them that till the soil with their scratching. This land use system is an analogy of a natural eco-system.
Energy from the Sun, Earth, Water and Atmosphere is utilized by design to its maximum natural potential.
As "Janahn Forest" evolves it is constantly self building its bio-mass of plants and animals and subsequent carbon stores. It is always growing. The soil is always alive. First by design, then through interventions, or time and growth management, a highly productive diverse species system is evolving. Mechanical methods
of annual cultivation are replaced perennial plants and grazing animals. It is ideally suited for poultry, small mammals, bees along with productive vine and tree crops planted into areas of concentrated moisture.
It is in a state of constant production. An evergreen evergrowing system.
"energy is save and production increases"
This
hardy pitaya cactus, native to South America yields a soft edible fruit.
Once mature it will be used as a bio-trellis to support vine crops
Photo taken 2006: a good indicator of the condition of the country when purchased.
It also reveals one aspect of pioneer design work, namely restoring water penetration.
Previously, 300mm of summer rain over 3 months could only penetrate 150mm.
Rainfall either ran off or very quickly evaporated in shallow topsoil. The trenches above were cut on the high
side of a
swale that is seen here with a line of tree guards in the background.
Constructed banks in front of the swale also
capture runoff.
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