(GENTLE MUSIC)
SOPHIE: Just over 80 kilometres from Adelaide,
in the hills above Victor Harbour,
retired farmers Pat and Gerald Uphill
have turned what was a cow paddock
into a beautiful native garden
and bird habitat.
Now, this is just beautiful. How did it come about?
PAT: Well, it was a cow paddock
that we managed to get in 2003
and we've gone from there.
So when we got here, it was, you know, "Garden!"
The minute we walked in, we started gardening.
And a lot of decisions I made then were probably not the best decisions
'cause I just simply had to grow everything.
(SOPHIE LAUGHS)
In the end, I decided mainly to go native
because it fitted in with the environment that we had here already
with all these mature gums,
and native really had to be the way to go,
and that suited me fine, so...
So how big is the property?
It's just on two hectares.
Now, you've got these magnificent trees.
Did you have to lose any to build your house or the shed?
No, no. We're so very proud of that.
Not a single sapling.
Now, being farmers, you know how important good soil is.
Tell us about the soil here.
I don't actually know.
I've never tested it because I can see what it's like.
I can see that that corner's sandy.
I know it's a little bit clay-ey up there because I dig there.
I know that the bottom is beautiful soil because of its colour
and because of the quality of the vegetables it grows.
So, no, I've taken the soil much for granted, I'm afraid,
and never tested.
Just done it by instinct
and, you know, looking at it and digging in it.
Do you use fertilisers in the garden?
We do constantly renew surfaces with mulch.
Mm-hm.
And some of it, you know, all our bits and pieces
go into making up compost.
You've got a collection of banksias in this area.
Was that deliberately chosen?
Yes, I learnt over a few years that this is really sandy,
and that's what banksias love.
And so that's why I've gone for the banksias in this corner.
Now, that's a beautiful specimen there.
Yes, that one's integrifolia, the prostrate form,
from the eastern coast of Australia and...
Looks gorgeous. Yes, yes.
And you've got the tall one over there.
Coccinea, yes.
I'm really proud of that one
because apparently it's quite difficult to grow
and people are most envious of it.
So I'm very proud of that one.
(TRANQUIL MUSIC) (BIRDS TWEET)
So I love the bird noise here. Yes.
How many birds do you get... visit your garden?
Well, I've counted over 80 different species.
Wow!
They range from waterbirds,
because of the creek,
lots of honeyeaters,
lots of rosellas
and lorikeets,
finches.
Shrike-tits are one of my favourite.
And everyone loves the blue wrens.
Certain species,
in particular the wrens,
they come out to feed,
they follow you around as you're working.
In all the time we've been here, I've never seen a blue wren nest.
And yet we have dozens and dozens, so they're obviously breeding.
And they're breeding in the swamps because it's safe for them,
harder for the foxes to get them.
So, swamp is a really important breeding area.
Now, I haven't heard about a perched swamp before.
What is it?
Well, it's just as the name says.
It's perched right on the side of a hill,
as opposed to something, you know, down in a gully.
OK, is that because there's a spring there?
Yes, yes.
And it's moist all year round?
Yes, all right through summer. Oh, is it?
Mmm, so you can depend on these surviving
because they are swamp plants
and they've got water all year round.
And so is the tea tree an indicator of where a perched swamp is?
Yes, that lovely grey leptospermum
is...prefers swamps, yes, so...
So this is your productive patch. Yes.
And you've got your berries and strawberries and the veggies.
But this orchard looks amazing.
Yes, it is, isn't it?
I think we've got around about 22 trees in there.
Doubled up on most things, but, yeah.
Every one is quite productive.
And a great set-up with this cage to keep everything out.
Yes, yes. Well, it keeps nearly everything out.
Like, the little silvereyes
actually have the capacity to eat through there
and pop through the hole
and particularly like the cherries, of course.
How important do you think it is
to be able to grow your own fresh fruits and veggies?
Or how important to you is it?
Well, to me, it is freshness. Mmm.
You know, being able to pop down.
"Oops, I've forgotten to go to the shop."
Pop down. "Oh, I've got plenty of vegetables."
And you're eating them within an hour.
(BIRDS SQUAWK) (GENTLE MUSIC)
GERALD: There we go.
There's nearly 20 years of love and labour
in Pat and Gerald's garden.
They've been committed to regeneration
and rejoicing in the diversity
of Australian natives that they've planted,
and the result is gorgeous.