Jillamatong is a property of 450 hectares at Braidwood, NSW, where the median rainfall is a low 660 ml p.a. At Jillamatong we practice regenerative farming, a set of practices that produce healthy soil and clean water in a landscape with diverse biology. This creates nutrient-dense produce.
We holistically manage cattle and prime lamb, as well as truffles, yabbies, garlic, timber and native grass seeds. Ecologically sound land management practices mean healthy, happy animals and fully flavoured, tender meat.
Regenerative farming is about working with nature to repair and rebuild the landscape. By understanding how nutrients are recycled we can speed up the repair process. Jillamatong used to have a large erosion gully which has been returned to a chain of ponds that flow through the driest seasons and rehydrate the flood plain. See more on our gully regeneration here.
Keeping 100% ground cover is paramount. Our pastures are a diverse swath of native perennials, introduced grasses and herbs of over sixty species, while weeds are viewed as repair plants. This diversity allows sheep and cattle to self-medicate, balancing their gut flora and reducing worm burdens. Livestock are moved every few days to fresh pasture, with trace minerals or other nutrients available on a free choice basis.
Grazing management feeds the soil with valuable nutrients, building soil carbon and moving fertility up the slopes. We are passionate about planting trees and shrubs for the benefit of birds, insects and animals, leading to a broad range of nuts, fruit and fungi.
Our aims at Jillamatong are to:
"Acknowledging past practices and using a framework to work with nature is the first step in regenerative agriculture" – Martin Royds
We holistically manage cattle and prime lamb, as well as truffles, yabbies, garlic, timber and native grass seeds. Ecologically sound land management practices mean healthy, happy animals and fully flavoured, tender meat.
Regenerative farming is about working with nature to repair and rebuild the landscape. By understanding how nutrients are recycled we can speed up the repair process. Jillamatong used to have a large erosion gully which has been returned to a chain of ponds that flow through the driest seasons and rehydrate the flood plain. See more on our gully regeneration here.
Keeping 100% ground cover is paramount. Our pastures are a diverse swath of native perennials, introduced grasses and herbs of over sixty species, while weeds are viewed as repair plants. This diversity allows sheep and cattle to self-medicate, balancing their gut flora and reducing worm burdens. Livestock are moved every few days to fresh pasture, with trace minerals or other nutrients available on a free choice basis.
Grazing management feeds the soil with valuable nutrients, building soil carbon and moving fertility up the slopes. We are passionate about planting trees and shrubs for the benefit of birds, insects and animals, leading to a broad range of nuts, fruit and fungi.
Our aims at Jillamatong are to:
- Share knowledge and continue learning with the whole community
- Adaptively manage climate variability, reduce costs and increase production
- Sequester carbon and produce nutrient-dense food and clean fibre
- Increase biodiversity in soil, plants and products, with 100% ground cover
- Produce fully pasture-fed meat with balanced Omega 3 and 6 and micro-nutrients
- Increase health and diversity of microbiome to reduce weeds, pests and disease
- Be carbon-positive in operation and reduce reliance on non-renewable energy
"Acknowledging past practices and using a framework to work with nature is the first step in regenerative agriculture" – Martin Royds