Gill’s
BIBBARINGA
Gill Sanbrook has owned Bibbaringa north of Albury since 2007. Bibbaringa is 950 hectares and runs between 300 and 600 cattle on native and improved grasslands. Gill has been practicing Holistic Management and regenerative farming since 1994. The focus is on working with the natural environment and running a profitable rural business. Since purchasing Bibbaringa, extensive work has been undertaken to rebuild the landscape and infrastructure. Gill has managed to improve biodiversity, carbon in the soil and build resilience into the land and business.
By using practices like Planned Rotational Grazing with large mobs of cattle, planting over 60,000 trees, re-fencing the property, slowing the flow of water through the landscape by applying the principals of Natural Sequence Farming: building contours and leaky weirs and increasing paddocks from 23 to over 100. “I want to produce healthy nutrient rich beef from a healthy biodiverse landscape."
“I am aware of the importance of living within climatic and my means and looking after the environment we manage. During dry seasons I will completely de-stock the property to look after the diversity that is thriving. I am passionate about caring for the land and using the rules of nature as a guide.”
“The focus at Bibbaringa has been to build soil and have 100% ground cover throughout the year. To achieve these goals I have used the principals of Holistic Management. Grazing cattle is strategic and HM allows adequate recovery for plants with all its complexities.”
Gill is a keen seeker of alternative ideas; anything that will help build the resilience of her farm’s ecosystem. For example, she uses the knowledge of innovative principles of Natural Sequence Farming outlined by Australian farmer Peter Andrews. She is also working with Biodynamics and Quantum Physics. A Soil Carbon project is registered with the Clean Energy Regulator in 2024 to build and store carbon in the soil.
“My passion is Land management and working with nature. The rewards are enormous and the ability for nature to repair is astounding. I am constantly in awe of the synergy between managing the landscape, animals and climate variability. It is constantly changing and there is no recipe. Each season I access the climatic forecasts and current conditions, grass availability and market conditions and alter my stocking rates accordingly.”
The Bibbaringa cattle have grass constantly in front of them because of the grazing planning. Since 2019 Gill has used Maiagrazing software for recording stock moves. The cattle are 100% grass fed. The cattle are health and calm and managed according to the principals of Low Stress Stockmanship.
Gill says the greatest change has been the Holistic decision-making process. “I have learnt to understand how important my decisions are and how they can positively and adversely affect the land and animals I manage. From a financial and business decisions process I am making much better decisions. As a result, I have a happy life and I’m free to contribute to the greater community.”
Gill welcomes visitors to the farm. People who are keen to talk about natural farming practices and to learn more about Holistic Management and the relationship between art and Regenerative family. A company was set up to facilitate changing attitudes Earth Canvas (www.earthcanvas.com.au)
“I enjoy sharing my experiences of rebuilding Bibbaringa. I want people to understand the food chain from farm to end consumer. I want them to hear another perspective and understand the power of the food $dollar in encouraging good land management.”
Go to www.bibbaringa.com for more information on Gill’s beautiful property or if you want to contact her.
Gill is a passionate person who loves a balance of work and leisure. “I like to be around happy positive people who are contributing and doing no harm. My greatest pleasure on the farm is walking around. I love the sound of the birds and frogs and peace of where I live.