The origins of the word ‘radical’ come from the Latin ‘radox’, which means to get to the root of things.
Sustainability requires radicalism, in its true meaning, to ensure that the way we live and go about living is indeed regenerative and renewable over time.
David Pollock and Frances Jones are two such radicals, who have committed to nurse their property back to health.
Eight years ago, at age 27, Mr Pollock inherited the family’s pastoral lease. Having observed the property’s decline due to drought and decades of over-grazing, he took the radical move of de-stocking all cattle from the station. Intent on “nursing the property back to health”, he also turned off all man-made watering points to reduce kangaroo and wild goat populations, and built infrastructure and earthworks to replicate natural ecosystems.
Six months into his experiment Ms Jones, then aged 18, arrived at Wooleen Station for a two-week stay during her “gap year”. She fell in love with both the property and Mr Pollock.
Ms Jones and Mr Pollock are now partners in undertaking one of the most ambitious land rehabilitation experiments in the country.
“It is nice to know we’re not alone in this. Hopefully what we’re doing inspires ~ I wouldn’t say pastoralists necessarily because they’re already pretty inspired ~ but it inspires the support for pastoralists so that pastoralists could also do what we’re doing,” Mr Pollock said. “Pastoralists that I know all want to look after the land, that’s why they’re there, they love the land. They just need a little backup to be able to do more of it.”
Farmers from across Australia who are working towards the same goals have begun an ideas exchange with the couple.
Re-post ~ Pastoralists inundated with support for radical experiment | ABC News
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