Working with Nature in our Drylands
Welcome to Our Farm
Julie, Founding Member and chickens checking out our Apple Cactii. Photo: J. Barber, 2007 © Drylands Foundation.
Working with Nature in our Drylands
About Us
Located in Geraldton, in the Midwest of Western Australia we demonstrate the practical application of Drylands Permaculture and environmental sustainability. We operate as a not-for-profit environmental organisation – The Drylands Foundation.
Our enterprises that fund our work in conservation and sustainability include:
- Permaculture Nursery – locally grown plants suited to Geraldton and our Midwest
- Garden Honey – harvested by hand from our own on-farm bee hives
- Yilgarn Seeds – an endemic and heirloom seeds business for dryland climates.
We offer environmental education and sustainability training as Permaculture practitioners, and are hosts for ‘Willing Workers On Organic Farms’ (WWOOF) and HelpX.
Tours of our farm and volunteering opportunities are available for individuals and organisations interested in learning more about Permaculture and sustainability in drylands environments.
Follow Us on Facebook
Simply shape the soil and reduce the need for wetting agents. For those that live on non-wetting sands, a trick to forcing them to take water is to create a planting basin around each plant. Make these big enough to hold at least 5 litres of water. Once the soil is wet, it is easy to keep wet. If you have the time to regularly hand water, we find our plants like this better than dripper or sprinkler irrigation. If your plants are local natives, they only require watering once a week in their first year to thrive. If we have good rainfall and a mild summer then it is possible to plant them without irrigation, however you are likely to have some losses. A planting basin will still be important if you don't irrigate as it catches rainfall and streams it towards the plant roots.
Nursery Open Hours
Thursday to Monday, 10.00am-5.00pm.
333 David Road, Waggrakine. 08 99381628.
Local plants, local people, local wisdom
June 25th, 8:30 am
We are feeling good as we've finally had a decent rain! For those that missed out at the beginning of the year, we have them back in stock. Red flowering Gums, (Eucalyptus Leucoxylon rosea). An absolute bargain at $3.30 each in our tall tubes.
This South Australian small gum grows up to 6m around Geraldton. It is one of the super plants around Geraldton area as it grows well across all soil types. It drips in flowers throughout summer and early winter. It is small enough to use around urban gardens and casts a good shade for carparks and makes an ideal garden centre piece or paddock tree. It is wind tolerant and able to grow without irrigation after the first year. They are sun and wind hardened and ready to plant directly into the ground or a good size to be potted on. We sell bags for this.
Nursery Open Hours
Thursday to Monday, 10.00am-5.00pm.
333 David Road, Waggrakine. 08 99381628.
Local plants, local people, local wisdom
June 23rd, 8:05 pm
The two we bought from you a month ago are galloping along, thanks Julie 🙂
Lets head out there tomorrow and get some more Kelly??
Coastal wildflowers, who said they were boring?
Last year our Cockie's Tongues put on a spectacular show.
These grow wonderfully on the alkaline sands up and down the WA coast so if you think you have got boring beach sands to grow in, think about brightening them up with these local native fellas. Ask about the rare yellow flowering form we have in stock this year.
Nursery Open Hours
Thursday to Monday, 10.00am-5.00pm.
333 David Road, Waggrakine. 08 99381628.
Local plants, local people, local wisdom
June 16th, 7:32 pm
Love this plant. Got a tube stock from Julie a couple of years ago and it flowered last year....absolutely glorious. I'm waiting to see it bloom again this year. 🌸🌺
Brendon this is what it should look like 🤗
Sandra these would look gorgeous at ur place
Barry George for the entry?
Contact Details
Drylands Foundation
333 David Rd (North), Waggrakine
Geraldton,Western Australia 6530
Tel. (08) 9938 1628
Email. info@drylands.org.au
Seasonal Opening Times
April-October: Thursday to Monday
November-March: Friday to Sunday
10am to 5pm. Closed Public Holidays.
The Drylands Foundation
The Drylands Permaculture Farm, is managed by the Drylands Foundation, a not-for-profit environmental organisation.
The Foundation utilises the Farm, to promote and demonstrate environmental sustainability through social enterprise.
Our mission is to inspire and empower local communities with the practical knowledge to implement ecologically sustainable development in dryland environments.
Photo: Flamefruit Cactus © J. Firth 2006
Comment on Facebook