Testimonial: Wool production & biodiversity working together for Michele & Graeme Blackman - 'Pint Pot'

Abstract

Michele Blackman is a fourth-generation woolgrower, having grown up on 'Brookside', of which 'Pint Pot' was a part until 1990. Her husband, Graeme, grew up in Ballina on the NSW North Coast where he developed a life-long interest in conservation and environmental issues. 'Pint Pot', now owned by Michele and Graeme, was mostly cleared in the 40 years to 1990, although scattered trees and several small timber belts were left untouched. About 75% was sown to pasture, the last of those in 1985. Until 1990, the developed country was fertilised with a hundredweight to the acre of superphosphate every second year. With time, the sown pastures have reverted to natural pastures dominated largely by native species. Michele and Graeme are passionate about their property's native vegetation and its natural values. "It's basically all native species providing the feed, shelter and shade," says Graeme. "We need the native species of flora and fauna to run our grazing activities, so we try to work in harmony with nature to be sustainable well into the future." This testimonial describes Michele and Graeme's grazing operation and the way they have gone about protecting and working with their farm's biodiversity to sustain their farm business and lifestyle.