April 2025 Field Day with BMV @ Casella Family Brands - Maslin Creek Swamp

BMV’s April Field Day

When: 9.00 am Sunday 6 April

Where: Maslin Creek Crossing, California Rd, Tatachilla

What: Terminating weeds, with extreme prejudice

Dear Biodiversiteers,

Isn’t it great to live south of the Onkaparinga! Coz otherwise I’d have to be mad about a whole lot of things this month and by now I’d be sick and tired of being sick and tired.

But instead, we’re just going to get swamped, in the Maslin Creek Reed Swamp, almost up to our armpits or, in my case, my knees.

In a world first for BMV, we’ll be on a Casella vineyard, cementing a new and, we hope, long term relationship with the Casella Family, which is already supporting our Maslin Creek Revive project. A big thank you to them. Hip hip hooray.…

The date is Sunday 6 April and, as always, we’ll fire up at 9.00 bells.

The site is at the Maslin Creek crossing on the western side of California Rd, a few hundred metres north of Malpas Rd. You can’t miss it. The creek is at the bottom of the valley. And there’ll be a ‘uge yellow banner flapping languidly in the morning breeze to proclaim our presence.

And the task for the morning is to Clean the Swamp.

At least we don’t have to drain the swamp, because one of the great things about there not having been any rain in living memory is that when you walk out into the swamp, there’s only dust and hard-core carbon sequestration to deal with. And woody weeds. So, there’ll be no reason to get at all soggy as we wade in and lay waste to the FOREIGN CRIMINAL SCUM WEEDS THAT DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE IN OUR BEAUTIFUL SWAMPS. WE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SWAMPS IN THE WORLD. SWAMPS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES WANT, BAD COUNTRIES, BUT THEY CAN’T HAVE THEM BECAUSE THEY’RE ALL MINE. AND I’M GOING TO PUT A TARRIF ON SWAMPS, TO MAKE THEM EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL…

I’m sorry, I got side-tracked…

Anyway, as I said, we’ll be killing woody weeds. There’ll be easy weeds to get to, suitable for families of all ages, and jungle weeds, lurking in the thicket of tea-tree, which are going to provide great adventure for our most intrepid operators. And there’ll a burn pile to build. Fun for everyone, and then, when all is drilled and done, there’ll a giant barbeque and a moment of modest imbibement before we all head on our happy way.

A few details if I can have your attention for just a moment more:

• please park carefully on California Rd - make sure you are off the road as its a bit of a roller coaster along that section of the road;

• dress as you would for a hunting expedition out on the great grey box woodland, only more swamp-like. A pith helmet would look simply spiffing. Otherwise, a bucket hat will do; and

• don’t forget to hit the “Too bloody right I’ll be there I wouldn’t miss it for quids” button below so we know to order enough mustard.

See you there. I can’t hardly wait!

Respectfully,

Geoff H

PS Thanks always to our partners: 

Koomilya Vineyard - Steve Pannell

Mollydooker Wines - Sarah and Holly Marquis

Lower Tintara Vineyard - John Hardy

Slate Creek Vineyard - John and Di Harvey

Ring Tree Bend - Cherise Valley and Darren Williams

CoNexa - Willunga Basin Water

Peats Soils

DJ's Growers

Casella Family Brands

Winegrapes Australia

OcLoc

Bendigo Bank

Croplands

McLaren Vale Community Sustainability Company

...... And the every growing list of Landscape Partners!

PPS Bob’s back on tour…