WHO
Dale & Rob
WHERE
Morrinsville, Waikato
WHAT
Goat farming alongside the Piako River
WHO
Dale & Rob
WHERE
Morrinsville, Waikato
WHAT
Goat farming alongside the Piako River
WHY
A passion for farming alongside the environment, improving their piece of the river and setting an example for their kids
HOW
Starting small, working alongside Restore Native and getting involved with their local catchment community
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.
Classic situation here for Dale and Rob.
Five years ago, they weren’t setting out to transform huge areas of their farm. They simply started to appreciate the impact they could have by taking a few small actions.
A bit of planting turned into looking around the farm differently.
There were areas that weren’t particularly productive. There was land susceptible to flooding. And with the Piako River running straight through the property, there was an opportunity to do something pretty special alongside the waterway.
So they planted a little more. Asked a few questions. Got some help. And kept going.
That snowball effect has taken them from a relatively small amount of planting to creating some amazing biodiversity on the farm, becoming part of their local catchment group and helping encourage other farmers to get involved.
All in the space of about five years.
Here are three things we reckon they’re getting right.
1. Good restoration planting in the right place
There’s planting trees, and then there’s thinking about what those trees are actually there to achieve.
Along the Piako River, Dale and Rob have provided a good buffer between the farm and the river, focusing their restoration efforts on land where planting makes sense.
We’ve worked alongside them to make sure they’re using appropriate native species for the site, with the right preparation to give those plants the best possible chance of establishing.
It doesn’t have to mean planting every spare corner of the farm.
It’s about finding the right areas, putting the right plants in them and doing it well.
2. Keeping on top of the maintenance
Getting the plants in the ground is only the start.
Dale and Rob use stakes to clearly identify their young plants, which makes ongoing maintenance much easier.
The Restore Native team also undertakes hand releasing, proactively targeting the right time of year to get in and clear competing grass and weeds from around the plants.
A big part of making that work is pretty simple: we talk to each other.
We keep two-way communication going with Dale and Rob so we know what’s happening on the farm and can make sure we’re getting in there to release the plants when they actually need it.
That ongoing relationship is just as important as planting day.
3. Making it bigger than one farm
This is probably one of the coolest parts of the story.
What started on Dale and Rob’s property has become part of something much wider.
They’re involved with their local catchment group, working alongside other farmers and the wider community to improve the river and surrounding environment.
There’s pest control. Community involvement. School planting days. More neighbours getting interested as they see what’s happening down the road.
It becomes a collective effort rather than a single planting project.
And that’s when you start to see how a few relatively small actions on individual farms can add up to something pretty significant across a catchment.
Just good buggers doing good things
Dale and Rob are classic Kiwi good buggers.
They’re busy running a farm. There’s always plenty going on. But they looked at their property and decided they wanted to make a change.
So they reached out.
We were able to help them get started and support them along the way, but they’re the ones who have grabbed it and run with it.
Five years later, they’re creating awesome biodiversity on their farm, looking after their piece of the Piako River and helping bring other people along for the ride.
We’re bloody proud to be supporting them.
Got a patch on your farm that could be doing something better?
You don’t need a grand plan to get started.
Sometimes it’s just about identifying that first piece of land, figuring out what could work there and taking the first step.
Have a yarn with the Restore Native team about what could work on your place.
