Salt Tolerant Garden

The dramatic landscapes of the Flinders Ranges remind us of how parts of South Australia's North have looked for hundreds of thousands of years. In the past 150 years much outback land has been degraded - but this man - retired sheep station Manager Brian Powell is helping restore it. Brian and wife Fay live on a property 5 minutes north of Quorn. When they moved in, the place had been derelict for 30 years - now 25-hundred trees later - it's an oasis. Most people wouldn't bother trying to grow anything in sandy soil with water ten times saltier than the Murray River. But Brian set to work - adding dripper systems, using natural leaf mulch to stave off the sub-zero nights and century plus days and planting a 30 acre eden beneath the 300 year old river red gums. A hedge of old man salt bush reduces the wind and the virtual eradication of feral cats and foxes has led to a return of ring tailed possums, marsupial mice and goannas. One section of the salt tolerant garden is for endangered species such as the "Arkaroola Wattle" and this tiny acacia. Brian doesn't hide his knowledge - he voluntarily averages 60 thousand kilometres a year helping others to green their part of the outback. Recent jobs have been at Wilpena, the Nullarbor and Coober Pedy.

"Well I know a lot of the people in the outback, seeing the results is the reward and we need rewards like these to preserve our great land." When it comes to the care of South Australia, this 72 year old is a hero. You can visit Brian's salt tolerant garden for free - it's just north of Quorn on Endillce Road. There's a self guided tour and nearby is Brian's other passion - outback orchards of olives, pistachios, grapefruits and quandongs. A new visitor centre opens next month. For more information email info@postcards-sa.com.au