Demonstration Site Summary: Vineyard abundance border

Overview

Updated April 2026

Georgina Harrison manages a mixed vineyard enterprise in Kaloorup, integrating year-round sheep grazing for pasture management and nutrient cycling. The property is exploring regenerative planting systems that build biodiversity, strengthen ecological function, and create beneficial plant–soil–insect interactions around vineyard boundaries.

The demonstration involves establishing an ‘abundance border’ along key vineyard boundaries – an intentionally diverse planting of nitrogen-fixing trees, fruit and nut species, roses, natives, pollinator-attracting shrubs, and moisture/nutrient-holding species such as elderflower.

During Year 1, mulch was spread in winter 2024 to enable enough decomposition to minimise nitrogen drawdown. Clovers and RegenMix from Bell Pasture Seeds were sown during this breakdown period, helping to introduce groundcover species and support early biological activity.

A mixed planting approach followed – seeds, tube stock and larger potted plants (10–20L) including natives, bush tucker species, elderflower, olives, nuts, flowering ash, geisha girls and grapevine companion species.

The abundance border will continue to be replanted and reinforced over coming years until a resilient, self-sustaining bush strip is fully established.

Key findings so far…

• Seed germination was unsuccessful, and ~50% of tube stock survived the hot summer despite watering.
• Prostanthera incisaand Olearia axillaris thrived with minimal water and negligible browsing.
• Geisha girl flowers attracted large numbers of blue-banded bees, confirming the value of diverse flowering colours and timings.
• No planted species have competed with vines.