About grow a gum

How it started

Grow a gum started as part of a school project focussed on community service. I chose to plant some trees out at my uncle’s farm, Palmerston, in Tasmania’s northern midlands. I spent the day there planting native trees and learning about the importance of revegetation and the positive benefits it has. I decided to make a website for farmers to show them the importance of planting native trees on their land and the benefits it has on farming.

I want to encourage farmers to plant native trees to help revegetate and restore land that has been damaged through clearing and farming practices. Planting trees has many lasting benefits for farmers and requires very little maintenance. The trees provide a windbreak for animals, to prevent death rates of lambs and calves. Native birds will have a habitat and will eat the harmful bugs that destroy pasture, and the tree roots help to stop erosion along riverbanks. Another benefit is the lasting legacy that planting trees provides, to be enjoyed by future generations.

Spending the day with my uncle at his farm taught me a lot about the importance of revegetation and planting native trees.

Planting native trees at Palmerston.

I spent a day with my uncle at his property near Poatina. Our work consisted of planting native trees on the property. The trees had been propagated from seeds into sapling until they were ready to be planted. The native trees consisted of she oak, Eucalyptus ovata, Eucalyptus Viminalis.

  • Eucalyptus ovata (Black gum)

  • Casuarina (She oak)

  • Acacia dealbata (silver wattle)

Casuarina (she oak)

The Casuarina, also known as she-oak is a genus of flowering plants in the family Casuarinaceae, and is native to Australia.

Acacia dealbata (silver wattle)

Acacia dealbata, commonly known as silver wattle, blue wattle or mimosa, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family.

Eucalyptus ovata (black gum)

Eucalyptus ovata, commonly known as swamp gum or black gum, is a small to medium-sized tree. It has green flower buds in groups of seven which blossom white.

Spending the day with my uncle at his farm taught me a lot about the importance of revegetation and planting native trees.