Kath Raulings' Native Grasslands: Australia's Hidden Treasures

0:00Here's more Adelaide news for February 27th. Catheraulings, an 82-year-old conservationist, has poured decades into saving Australia's vanishing native grasslands. She grew 27 varieties of native grasses and flowering plants right in her suburban Melbourne backyard to create precise pencil illustrations. For her new book Endangered Grasslands, it highlights the fragile ecosystems of South Eastern Australia that are now protected but still under threat. Across southern Australia, less than half a percent of these original grasslands remain in places like Western Victoria's volcanic plains. Intensive farming, grazing, and city growth have wiped out most since Europeans arrived. Small patches hang on in unexpected spots, such as cemeteries, railway edges, and even next to factories in Melbourne's west. These survivors offer a window into the pre-settlement landscape and support rare wildlife like the critically endangered plains wanderer. Native grasses thrive in tough conditions, needing no fertilizers, resisting drought

1:03better than imported kinds, and providing nutritious feed for. Livestock, old farmers' new their value, comparing them favorably to irrigated pastures. Now, businesses like native seeds in Northeast Victoria are scaling up production on 40 hectares, growing 50 grass types and wildflowers. They've developed special machines to harvest the tiny tricky seeds for uses in vineyards, grazing, cropping, and roadside plantings, which proved. Less fire prone during recent Victorian bushfires. Demand is surging for conservation projects, farms, and even home lawns. Experts see natives replacing thirsty exotic grasses and suburbs, holding soil, boosting insects, and cutting mowing needs. It's a push to match these plants perfectly, to Australia's soils and climate. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible. A pillow that plays your podcasts, music, or white noise privately, no earbuds required. S-O-L-L-I-SOLIPILO.COM