map of catchment
Update on the water project
When we bought the land, we knew that this would not be the easiest block of land to work with, but our intention was (and still is) to give back to Life by working in harmony with nature in regenerating and restoring the environment we live in.
After having been grazed for the last 100 years, the land was exhausted, all the undergrowth was gone along with the top soil and most of the trees. The soil had become hard as a rock and hydrophobic, so any rainfall rushed down the hill and was gone.
Living in a low rainfall area it was obvious to bring water, growth and fertility back to the soil and landscape would be an ongoing labour of love for many years.
We destocked for over twelve years allowing the cycle of annual weeds to do their magic, the wild oats laying down mulch, protecting the earth, making an absorbent sponge and creating top soil while the wild radish’s deep penetrating roots were busy breaking up the hard pan. Meanwhile we planted trees, filled in the head of the erosion gullies, put in two small dams to harvest the runoff from the road and installed a tank to store water for irrigating gardens over summer, catching our drinking water off the roofs in another tank.
Unfortunately, as the climate changes, we have observed over the years, that the effect of sunlight is more severe. Dryness is not only from lack of rain but also from intensity of Sun light and increased dry winds, making our work here more challenging.
Luckily five years ago, Metta, a dear friend in support of our vision, initiated the “Water Project Sacha Boodja”, a fundraising project to install a bore and a solar pump and pipe to pump the water uphill into the tank.
In spite of having mixed feelings about having a bore, (the best place for water is in the ground), we decided to get one as a back up for times when it is needed. Thankfully, having an extra water supply gave us a bit more water security and has enabled us to continue living here.
We have a deep respect for the land and ensure all uses of water are carefully considered and that enough water will return through the land back to replenish underground supplies.
In 2024 another helping Angel came along.
Claire Vanderplank, who has been offering Nature quests in Sacha Boodja for 7 years and introduced amazing human beings to the land, many of whom return regularly and love SB as we do, but also recently Claire added to her dedication to be a “voice for the Life Blood of our planet: WATER.”
She asked us whether we would agree to be an experimental, demonstration and education site for the work she learned how to restore natural water ways.
For more information about the work she studied go to www.waterstories.com
A very beautiful documentary about natural water restoration you find here:
https://www.waterstories.com/story/reviving-rivers
trailer for the documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PMsiXkAmFk&t=49s
In her own words it is about;
“showing how human intervention can help restore the small water cycles by slowing water down and allowing it to be received by the landscape for the benefits of all beings – humans, crops, stock, native plants, animals fungi and biodiversity in general.
These interventions help prevent drought, fire and flood, recharging ground water and allowing life in the biosphere to thrive. The small water cycle has a significant impact on local heat dynamics, enabling resilience to climate change.”
We were honoured, touched and very open for her request and entered with this opportunity into the second phase of our water project.
Developing dams, holding water long enough for it to slowly absorb into the land, rehydrating for storing water in a natural way. Over time, we most probably will have more water available to support everything that is needed to build up a self-sufficient little community.
However, In the grand scheme, the vision does not stop at the fence line. It is a vision for whole catchments.
Sacha Boodja is situated on the border of two river catchments, rain falling on our northern slopes finds its way into the Avon whilst that falling on our western slopes to the Hotham.
A third catchment that of the Blackwood is not far to the south. The combined area of these three upper catchments being approximately 145,000 sq kms.
https://rivers.dwer.wa.gov.au/catchment/avon-river/
This vast area of largely denuded, dehydrated and salted agricultural land plays a big role in determining the health of three main river systems in southwest W.A., the Swan, the Murray and the Blackwood and all of the numerous tributaries and creeks that feed them.
A common strategy in dealing with the salt “problem” in the wheatbelt is to install diversion drains to lower the water table (furthering the drying out of soil) and diverting runoff, delivering a cocktail of salt and agricultural chemicals into lakes and creeks (many of which once held freshwater) affecting the quality of life for everything downstream in the thousands of kilometres of waterways on its journey to the ocean.
What is done here has far reaching consequences.
Water is the most precious resource we have and the restoration of landscapes is vital to our continued existence.
We, here at Sacha Boodja enthusiastically embrace caring for land and are excited to embark upon becoming a demonstration site for the important work of restoring the water cycle.
Already there is interest within the community and we can see the possibility for neighbours and the larger community, becoming involved, implementing strategies to rehydrate, restore the catchments and benefit everyone downstream.
Our way of Life has always included a deep reverence for water (and indeed all of life) and we have had ceremony for every step that has brought water here. We are aware of the sacredness of water not only as replenisher and nurturer for all that lives but also as conductor and transmitter of deepest, most ancient memory, and holder of prayer and intention.
May water flow abundantly from the highest point possible in Sacha Boodja, to bring back the awareness of Spirit, abundant Nature, Wisdom, Love and Sacredness into every cell of the Wheatbelt area, and may this inspire many Human Beings to follow the flow of these times and get engaged in caring lovingly and compassionately in every possible way that is required, SWAHA🙇🏻♀️
Find out more about Claire and her work on her website.
Specially the Water alliance go to:
https://www.clairevanderplank.com/wawateralliance
And if you want to support this particular project with donation please go to:
All our Love and ongoing prayers,
Rumi and Mandakini
sachaboodja.com 