Yan Yan Gurt West Farm

Yan Yan Gurt West Farm is a leading example of sustainable production, balancing environmental management with agricultural production.
We have been running farm tours for 20 years for a range of groups and organizations including; primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions, farmer groups, landcare and international groups. Tours can be customized and tailored to suit curriculum objectives.

The 230 ha property is nestled in the northeastern foothills of the Otway Ranges in southern Victoria and travel time from Melbourne is 1 hour 35 minutes. The property grazes sheep and produces various tree products from integrated, multi-purpose agroforestry plantings.

Our family has been on the land for five generations. Changes to the landscape started with our grandfather, who recognized the farm had been unnecessarily cleared and began re-vegetating in the 1960’s. The next 2 generations followed in his footsteps, embarking upon a journey of agricultural regeneration and landscape diversification.

A whole farm plan was developed in 1991 to address erosion, exposure, waterlogging, salinity and ecological decline. Fencing and
re-vegetation has occurred along land class boundaries, creeks and drainage lines to provide shelter for livestock and soil.

Wildlife corridors meander throughout the property flanked by commercial timber trees, which improve water quality and increase carbon sequestration.

We have now re-vegetated 17% of the property with no reduction in stocking rates. Planting more than 40,000 trees and shrubs has attracted 106 species of birds and other wildlife whilst providing opportunities for diversified products from agroforestry. A cob studio is currently being built using agroforestry timber and other farm resources.

Yan Yan Gurt West Farm has a strong philosophy of supporting agricultural production whilst addressing climate change and environmental issues.