The Native Iowan

My favourite month is near its end for the year 2025. Only one day left and we waltz into September. The year is all down hill from there.

Too, winter’s end is upon us here in the land of Aus.

It is blustery, chilly, and sunshiny outside. A southerly is bringing freezing winds to much of the land.

The old house is complaining. Making a lot of noise.

When we first moved here I told the grandkids the house was haunted. All the sounds, and rattles and moaning, it sure sounded like it was haunted.

In QLD houses are less insulated, less wind proof, much less so than a house built in Iowa… No double glazing here. The Windows rattle, the house moans in the hearty gusts.

Iowa builds to withstand subzero temps and snow-loads on the roof. Galvanised roofing material is reserved for sheds. Houses get built thick, strong, heavy … Nothing like the sub-tropical design of houses here in Aus.

So I sit inside. Was out a while ago but its simply too windy to get much done… I’d like to do some weed spraying, but it’s way, way too windy.

I know some folks out there will think that the use of herbicides like “Round-Up” is evil, bad, wrong.

I say this: Folks that believe such know little or nothing about land management.

I know I’ll get challenged for my statement, but the fact remains that passive control of invasive weeds does little to no real good in managing the spreading of such. Key invasive weed species in Queensland include common culprits like Lantana, Parthenium weed, Camphor Laurel, Giant Rat’s Tail Grass, and various water weeds such as Water Hyacinth and Alligator Weed. These plants crowd out natives, impacting grazing lands, and reducing water quality.

I know a few “Organic” farmers that think land management excludes the use of herbicides.

These self same farmers live on land overrun by weeds. And once the weeds get ahead of you, it’s a costly exercise to claw control of the land back. A couple of my neighbours have let their property go wild. In the 8 years we’ve been here we have had professionals come and spray 3 times. It is a constant, never ending story that some folks dont want to hear.

I use a combination of slashing/ mowing and herbicides. I can manage most of my front-20 with mowing. I spray the ditches and fence rows. Mow the rest, when its dry enough.

Right now, in my back-80, I have lots to do… I have left it way too long… The floods of recent times have removed my roads, my crossings over the steam that runs the length of my property. I need the roads to put my machines to use.

I last rebuilt the main crossing 18 months ago. We did a good job. Ended up with a great result, only to watch the floods wipe it out and carry the expensive culverts down stream…

I was very proud of that crossing… I’d designed it so the “road” acted like a diving platform… I’d dug a nice deep pool on the downward side of the stream. Layered the culverts so in low-flow times all was cool, and in high-flow times things were cool too… Was planning to put steps in and out of the pool for the kids. The 1st pict above is me testing the swimming hole out. The second is the same location showing the result, only a few weeks later, of hydrostatic forces not being friendly.

A week ago it was dry enough to take the digger back and create a little weir/ crossing. As soon as the winds die down I’ll get back there, nuke the weeds.

This past week I have been clearing the many drains on my property…

The idea is to allow the water to drain away, to not build up too much pressure on the in-flow side of the drains. Another one of those never ending stories…

I am like a kid in his sandbox playing with his toys…

And the beat goes on… marching tot he end of 08 and the beginning of 09-25.

And life is good.

More later