Phil Kinghorn and I sprayed the proposed direct seeding site using BRT's new spray unit. This usually water-covered, swampy area during winter was at last dry enough for vehicle access. Juncus reeds are thriving here as are woolly tea-tree and blackwood that we have planted on the edges. Phil remarked that the site would seem ideal for water ribbons and other wetland species.  

Phil has fixed a spray boom on the back of his ute, which allows spraying of the rows from the comfort of the ute. We worked from the northernmost steel monitoring post, back and forth across all rows to the fence, except the very last row.   The spray mix used was glyphosate and simazine with a wetting agent.  

It’s great to have the flexibility to spray opportunistically whenever the weather is suitable instead of being dependent on the whims of contractors.  

Eight people turned up on a sunny Sunday to plant by hiko some 2,200 plants - mostly to plug gaps on the north site.
Three planters came from afar – Mark  Feltrin, who is the new President of AFG's FFORNE branch in NE Vic and a carbon credit officer. He reckons we should examine gaining carbon credits for the ImLal site. 
Also, Anthony Dufty  the  co-ordinator of the newly-formed Moorabool Landcare Network, who, by yet another amazing coincidence, is one of the founders of analogue forestry (AF) in Australia. Ian Penna quotes him in the intro to Recreating the Country. We had never met Anthony until the planting day and only recently learnt he had a farm nearby at Bacchus Marsh – it's indeed a small world! 

Watch this space for collaborative ventures in the AF field between BRT and the Moorabool Landcare Network.
Anthony brought a WOOFER, Nicky, along who would have enjoyed herself more if she hadn't been plagued by mozzie bites.