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Meet the EcoGrowers

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Geoff Hardy

Region: Adelaide Hills
1.  Tell us about your experience in grape growing?
I have been involved in grape growing since 1978, including consulting to and owning vineyards in McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Langhorne Creek, and the Limestone Coast.
Our Adelaide Hills vineyard ‘K1’ was the first significant planting in the Kuitpo region and currently has a large variety of grapevine varieties.

2. What prompted you to want to be involved in the EcoVineyards project?
We have been interested in joining the project since first hearing about Mary Retallack’s fabulous research and through this program it has been great to learn more about species endemic to our area and how they can have supportive effects on grape growing.

3. What do you hope to achieve from your involvement in the EcoVineyards project?
We have a particular issue with scale in our Pinot Noir 777 block so are interested to see if we can do anything here. We are trialling myporum and ruby saltbush undervine to offer a harbouring site for beneficials.
 
We plan to increase beneficial plants on the property to improve soil health and valuable biological diversity to support vine health, fruit health with the added benefit of increasing carbon drawdown.

4. Have you tried to increase biodiversity on your property before undertaking this project? If so, how?
Yes, we are always looking at ways to support our biodiversity. Our K1 property has 80 acres of native remnant scrub and in addition to this we have revegetated the riparian zones of the property with about 500 indigenous trees and shrubs. We use a recycling spray cart and carefully select our spray materials to ensure no negative impacts on the environment. We hope to further reduce the need for pest and disease control by developing a better mix of micro-elements to naturally aid us in this task.

5. Why do you think it is so important for growers to try and build natural resilience on their property?
To reduce the need for artificial controls that may impact negatively on the environment.
 
Conscientious stewardship of land and natural resource is an important task and through supporting the natural environment it can have economic (less inputs), environmental (support biodiversity above and below the ground) and social benefits (less chemical use).
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6. Looking to the future, what do you see as a new 'normal' for grape growers on their properties?
We see the aesthetics of vineyards changing with the use of more natural growing techniques like the use of mainly native plants undervine to benefit soil, supress weeds and improve the microenvironment for our vines. (i.e., Mary’s suggested strainer post ‘rose bush’ replacement by Christmas bush [Bursaria spinosa] to increase the local numbers of beneficial insects).
In improving our soils and biodiversity we strongly believe we will be rewarded with healthier plants and higher quality grapes.

Project Partners

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This project is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, through funding from Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
​This project is funded by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board through the NRM levy.


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  • Home
  • About
    • Our People >
      • Adrian Hoffmann
      • Troy van Dulken
      • Nick Price
      • Ben Pridham
      • Lachlan Allen
      • Jenny Venus
      • Helen Strickland
    • Strategic Direction
    • Industry Organisations
  • REGIONS
  • Grower Resources
    • SA Assistance Guide
    • Guide For Vineyard Removal & Waste Management
    • Code of Conduct Forum
    • Legal Services Partnership
    • Broadacre Burn-off Smoke Management Guidelines
    • AGW Factsheet for Growers
    • Personal Property Security Register
    • Grape Purchase Agreements >
      • Guide to selling wine grapes
      • Wine Industry Code of Conduct
      • Tips to recover payments
    • Transport Legislation
    • Despatch Docket Books
    • Licensing and Compliance Guide
    • Grower Guide to the Label Integrity Program
    • AWRI Fact Sheets
    • Video Library >
      • FIT4WORK
      • Grower Interviews
      • 2017 Wine Grape Grower Summit
      • WGCSA Councillor Interviews
  • GrowStrong 2025
    • GrowStrong Business Fundamentals
    • GrowStrong Events
    • GrowStrong Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Options
    • GrowStrong Pilot Program
  • Reports & Analysis
    • SA Crush & Pricing Report
    • Grape profitability by region
    • Global Market Analysis
  • PODCAST- Series 1
    • Episode 01- Tom Keelan
    • Episode 02- Ashley Keegan
    • Episode 03- Dr Ian Zajac
    • Episode 04- Lachlan Allen
    • Episode 05- Trudie Stanley
    • Episode 06- Adrian Hoffmann
    • Episode 07- Brett Smith & Ashley Keegan
    • Episode 08- Brad Case & Nicole Clark
    • Episode 09- Mary O'Brien
    • Episode 10- Ashley Ratcliff
  • PODCAST- Series 2
    • Episode 01- Anita Goode
    • Episode 02- Richard Leask
    • Episode 03- Matt Dorman, Callen Bubner
    • Episode 04- Kerri Thompson, Marnie Roberts
    • Episode 05- Simon Tolley
    • Episode 06- Steve Schiller, Rebecca Weatherill
    • Episode 07- Sheridan Alm
    • Episode 08- Nigel Blieschke, Tom Bartholomaeus
    • Episode 09- Roger, Greg and Tim Follett
  • News & Events
  • SHOP
  • EcoVineyards