Aerial photograph of Winona and surrounds taken in May 1964. The lighter areas in the image are gullies (eroded drainage lines). Bald Hill is bottom centre, flanked by sandstone ridges.

An early-maturing variety of barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a key component of this particular multi-species crop. However, Col prefers using oats (Avena sativa) due to their capacity to grow well in marginal soils and to contribute root exudates which contribute carbon to the soil.

Full groundcover protecting the soil surface.

Sunset at Winona.

Winona produces superfine (18 microns) merino wool.

Shauny the Kelpie awaits instructions. Kelpies are trained by Colin and Nick and are shipped throughout the world. The dogs are trained to respond to tone rather than language so they can work in places as diverse as Texas and Norway. Shauny, a Winona bred Kelpie, taking direction from Colin.

Winona breeds merino sheep for fine and medium wool.

Harvested native grass seed – in this case Redgrass (Bothriochloa macra). Small quantities are mailed direct to customers. Larger quantities (circa 1 tonne) are bought by a wholesaler and onsold for restoration and other work.

The Winona landscape is one of rolling hills, lower slopes and flats. The soils have either formed in situ on sedimentary (e.g. sandstones and shales) or volcanic (e.g. granites and basalts) parent materials, or on colluvial materials derived from these.

A notable feature of the landscape is Bald Hill, believed to be a basalt diatreme (volcanic pipe). This image shows Bald Hill with luxuriant growth of perennial grasses in the foreground.

Shauny the Kelpie awaits instructions. Kelpies are trained by Colin and Nick and are shipped throughout the world. The dogs are trained to respond to tone rather than language so they can work in places as diverse as Texas and Norway.

Merino sheep grazing a pasture cropping paddock. Bald Hill is in the background. A fine example of pasture cropping.

There are some nasty weeds in the sheep camp. This one is thornapple (Datura sp.)

Colin sampling topsoil for microbial biomass. Lab results showed the microbes are abundant and overall, balanced.

Col Seis observing a soil in 30 Acres paddock. This soil has developed on sedimentary parent materials and/or colluvial material derived from sedimentary parent materials.

View of the sandstone ridge with a forest of Slaty Gum (Eucalyptus dawsonii). The bright green patch is a mass of annual weeds at a sheep camp. However, the dense growth of perennial grasses in the foreground (and elsewhere on the property) ensures that these weeds aren’t a problem.

Pasture cropping paddock recovering from grazing. Note the height and abundance of groundcover protecting the soil surface.

An early-maturing variety of barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a key component of this particular multi-species crop. However, Col prefers using oats (Avena sativa) due to their capacity to grow well in marginal soils and to contribute root exudates which contribute carbon to the soil.

The multi-species mix includes Tillage Radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus), also known as Daikon Radish, Forage Radish or Oilseed Radish, which is characterised by fast-growing leaves and a long tap root. Tap root systems can penetrate denser soil layers, including compacted layers such hardpans, thus improving soil structure and aeration. This image also shows the clover (present before the crop was planted) and the barley stalks.

Sheep have a plentiful supply of winter feed from the multi-species pasture crop.

The multi-species mix includes Tillage Radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus), also known as Daikon Radish, Forage Radish or Oilseed Radish, which is characterised by fast-growing leaves and a long tap root. Tap root systems can penetrate denser soil layers, including compacted layers such hardpans, thus improving soil structure and aeration. This image also shows the clover (present before the crop was planted) and the barley stalks.

The soils on Winona are inherently fragile and susceptible to erosion, particularly in the absence of ground cover. This farm track is one of the few locations with little ground cover due to frequent stock and vehicle traffic. The track has been impacted by sheet and rill erosion. Left unchecked, subsoil is under threat of more severe erosion.