May 2006  serious and worsening erosion, and diminishing levels of topsoil.  pH of dams is acidic, as is soil.  Very low in fertility as demonstrated in soil test results.  Low microbial levels in soils as per SFI report.  Aerial photograph - description of erosion control banks and how they are not working.  Loss of topsoil along channel to neighbouring property. History of productivity - essentially 6 cows and 2 horses for many years, and none for the last 2 years.  neighbouring area not productive, with most landholders making incomes off-farm (mainly in the city). Consultation with Peter Andrews who highlighted the erroneous installation of erosion control banks (Point B in aerial photo)- they have been built to move the water flow away from the main gully (Points A and D ) around to the south, and down the right side of the property.  And of course, the erosion is now appearing in that minor gully (Point C).  He also pointed out the fallacy of so-called 'contour drains' - it is either a contour control, or it is a drain, it can't be both.  This photo shows the folly of creating drains - the problem with drains is that they ALWAYS drain water, even when water is in short supply.  And with the wash goes the topsoil, as evidenced by the stream of topsoil and fertility in the bottom of the photo (Point E) in photo - most of the farm's value is being washed away into the neighbours.  Peter's recommendation is to convert the control banks into countour leaky weir structures - these will stop the water as rain falls, and force it to dam up - this allows the water to reduce harmful and erosive velocity, allows it to settle any soils and organic matter that is suspended, and forces water to move laterally and upwards to irrigate the otherwise dry and unproductive parts of the farm. His next recommendation was to place drain pipes through the control banks, so that discharge of the water can be controlled.  Then, apply large volumes of high nutrient value organic material at the base of the control structure, such that when the drain pipes are opened, the water will percolate through the organic material and transport fertility along the watercourse to the next leaky weir - where the water will again be banked up (irrigating the surrounding area, including lateral areas) but this time it will be full of organic nutrients. June 2006 Commenced construction of first leaky weir using fallen tree branches, rocks and organic material provided by Eco Organics' food recycling systems.