We left Melbourne almost ten years ago and moved back to the country heading west. I’d always lived in the east of Victoria, our farm was in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range east of Melbourne so that had always been my local stomping ground. I knew it pretty well, the wet temperate rain forests of Powelltown and Nooje, the lush rolling green hills of Jindervick. But the west of the state was totally foreign to me.
One thing I noticed soon after moving here was the amount of established pine plantations. Pine is an introduced species offering minimal ecological benefit to native flora and fauna species. I hated pines. So much Australian hardwood forests had been cleared and replaced with extensive pine plantations. Over the years I’ve realised that it’s a necessary evil, and actually a relatively sustainable resource that can be harvested and replanted over and over again. A few years ago some friends introduced me to their love of Pine mushrooms and thus sparked my love affair with this Autumn culinary delight, with that developed a deep appreciation of pine forests.
This time of year I love nothing better than taking the Jeep into the forest, just me a foraging basket or two and a knife. The peace is outstanding.
Some parts of the forest are truly sublime. Nettles blanket the forest floor, small birds wizz in and around branches, Cockatoo’s feed on the pine cones and deer and rabbit hustle when approached. Then there’s the wind, it sounds a rawkus chorus as it filters between each needle and each branch like a wood wind instrument on ecstasy, creating howling operas to make your hair stand on end. Then there is the loggers tracks, only accessible with a 4WD this time of year. Some tracks look like they haven’t been visited for years, I fell unique like making the first morning footsteps at a sandy beach. The mushrooms are what brings me to the pines, and variety is the order of the day. Just when I think the season is coming to a close, new species that thrive in the colder wetter conditions take their turn to dot the forest floor. The luminescence of some varieties are worth closer inspection, even though they have no culinary value.
I pick what I need and reluctantly leave, returning to the synthetic world surrounded by a population largely intent on acquiring material possessions, social inequality, TV that makes little sense and people that have no idea what their missing.
i am not a celebrity said:
Beautiful post, though I do love that you talk about peace and your next couple of photos sport a 4×4. It’s a bit like that scene in The Castle. Feel the serenity, Ro. :)
L4leather said:
I have been in and around those pine forests where there are pockets of native bush, so trust me you need a 4×4 and a high clearance one at that to get to the best places… huge logging trucks which use those tracks ensure that there is a real challenge getting through. Awesome views and experiences make it all worthwhile though. We would arrive after a slow steady sometimes sliding struggle through these tracks to a magical beauty of a spot where birds and nature reigned and it was eerily wonderful. Can’t wait to go again Ro…loved the pictures although they don’t do justice to the real thing.
Phill said:
Having just spent a week visting Ballarat, Bendigo, Echuca and all parts in between, I can officially say it is one of my favourite regions in the world. The history, the beauty and, as you say, the serenity is outstanding. I originally went for the American Dreams exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery (which was brilliant) but decided to spend the week exploring the region.
I was alone this time but will be heading back for a family camp at Mt Franklin.
Beautiful part of the world.
kaaryogard@gmail.com said:
I write to you from Sacramento, CA…and just want to thank you whole heartedly for sharing such a beautiful documentation of your & your family’s awe inspiring life. I recently came upon your blog & you’ve captured my (amongst other’s with whom I’ve shared) attention! My Partner & I are actively working toward attaining a life outside of the City…each day we are nearer that dream. In the meantime, we cultivate our dream on a smaller scale but with the same heart & soul. “To The Ecstatic Naturalists!” Absolutely wonderful!
daybookexchange said:
Thaks a heap for those lovely comments!
It’s totally do-able. It was a bit scary to begin with, but once we had our feet firmly planted with work and a regular basic income everything else just fell into place. I can honestly say that I could never live in a large city ever again. I just couldn’t think of anything worse. We want to move even further out of town now and get our own land and really make a go of being self sufficient. It’s a real pleasure hearing from other people that have a similar outlook.
cara said:
oh wow, these photos are beautiful! love the victorian country!
dave said:
where is this?
i need to film at a location exactly like this… can someone give me the hot tip for finding this location?? especially that photo second from the top?? need to know asap.. we can pay a location fee..
cheers,
d
WholeLarderLove said:
Creswick, Vic