Growing Resilience in Geraldine - Kim Northcott

The design intent was to split the 177ha identified in the design study phase into 4ha blocks in order to spread the risk of crop failures or disease over many small blocks, and to give the opportunity for experimentation with minimal risk. The blocks were allocated a farming style, and mixed up so that visitors transition to a new style of farming as they move from one block to the next, helping to make a diverse experience and rich learning opportunities

A sewerage treatment plant at the top of the site cleans waste water and sewage from the town for use as fertiliser and irrigation water on the farm, recycling nutrients to keep the soil rich without requiring the use of fertilisers.

Wide stream buffers protect water quality in the streams running through the site, and a peripheral circulation system of mown grass paths runs through the stream buffers. Each individual block will have its own internal circulation system which will also connect it to the next block and to the peripheral circulation system. Grass paths can be difficult for mobility impaired or the elderly to navigate, so wide footpaths run along both sides of the main road the full length of the site.

The speed limit on the state highway is reduced to 50kph and the road is narrowed to calm traffic flow. This also give road traffic the opportunity to see that this is a different farm landscape to the ones they are used to and stop for a look.

Navigation towers are spread throughout the site to help visitors locate a specific farm or farm style that is of interest, and to help orient visitors. The towers are colour coded to the style of farm they represent (biodynamic is red, permaculture is blue, and traditional farming is yellow.)