In this part of the Country, it is possible to receive half of our average annual rainfall one night, or to only receive half our average annual rainfall in one year.

We have 4 distinctive soil types at Janahn Forest.

Sandstone ridge of forest country still intact, and open cleared country of sand, red loam, gravel, and black alluvial soil. All have heavy clay sub-soils.

The open country of Janahn Forest was cleared in the 60's and 70's. The humus rich scrub soil produce crops for about 20 years. When depleted from erosion and overploughing, it was converted to grassland for cattle. When the soil was so compacted and devoid of humus that grass could not grow it was sold. Purchased in 2005, a process of soil amelioration was initiated which is still underway today.

Our local average annual rainfall is 600mm p.a. over the last 100 years. We measure our rainfall by the season. Records from 1st June '07 are:

Winter/07 196mm,  Spring/07 170mm,
Summer/07 & 08 347mm,  Autumn/08 28mm
Winter/08 94mm,  Spring/08 254mm
Summer/08 & 09 186mm,  Autumn/09 127mm
Winter/09 44 mm,  Spring/09 88mm
Summer/09 & 10 125mm to date as of 20/02/10

Evaporation from our dam is about 2.5m per annum most of which occurs from September to April. Good Autumn rainfall will have a noticeable in Spring. The effect of extreme summer heat is a challenge, and our winters may plummet to -10 degrees C.

Run-off for the swales and dam has reduced significantly since the property was de-stocked and the soil has regained it structure. On any country that wasn't ripped or dug, rainfall penetration beyond 150mm was not possible. After 4 years it is now going in about 300mm on good rain.

The property has an incline of about 3 - 7 %, ideal for water harvesting. When dry, we need up to 100mm of overnight rain before any run-off escapes the property. All waterflow it directed via a series of swales to the main dam. Within selected areas of concentrated moisture we are developing "forest orchard gardens". The balance of the country is designated grazing.

Our unique blend of soil and climate and a desire to create a highly productive yet energy efficient land use system, has by necessity, employed a diverse range of strategies that are constantly being assessed and altered to suit our evolving biomass system.

The most noticeable change now is how the country is able to "spring into life" after rain. Grasses that took over 3 years to recover may be heavily grazed and returned to full cover in less than 3 months after good rain.

Intensive garden beds produce abundant crops on bio-char activated soils, while long term vines and tree crops acclimatize and and take advantage of deep store moisture in the swales.

Clay from a cut out for our house site


The scalded gravel soil here is the last uncovered soil
after 4 years of destocking.

Turmeric with a hedge of leucaena on right.