30 years of See Saw Land Stewardship
In 1991, we (Pip and Justin) purchased our first property in Orange, NSW, guided by a simple but powerful philosophy borrowed from Chief Seattle: ‘We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children’. This was not just a motto; it became the foundation of every decision we made.
By 2005, we had assembled three properties totalling 400 hectares, growing grapes and running sheep across the Orange region. In 2007, we certified our first vineyard organic, not because it was trendy, but because it aligned with our long-term vision for stewardship. By 2014, we had started the See Saw wine brand to value-add our grapes, and now operate a 600-tonne winery. Today, all our wines are certified organic. But we have always believed that true sustainability goes beyond this certification. It is about leaving the land better than we found it. What has this looked like for us:
– Since 1991, we have planted over 10,000 trees and native flora, establishing protected biodiversity areas on each property that now host echidnas, wombats, superb parrots, and more.
– We have transformed soil organic matter from less than 1% to an average of 4% through composting, multi-species cover crops, and cell grazing systems.
– We target 6% organic carbon through annual compost applications (assessed via drone technology for variable rates), multi-species mid-row plantings, and cell grazing systems that integrate our sheep into the vineyard ecosystem.
– We are pioneering under-vine plant diversity, allowing beneficial species to co-exist with vines rather than using herbicides or physical removal. This increases worm activity, fungal networks, aeration, and water-holding capacity while reducing erosion and nutrient loss.
– Water management focuses on efficiency and retention. Our under-vine planting reduces soil temperature and water run-off, minimizing erosion while decreasing irrigation needs.
– Emissions reduction involves 10kW solar systems on each property, purchasing certified renewable electricity, and transitioning to electric vehicles and equipment where viable. We’ve completed comprehensive carbon audits and developed a roadmap toward carbon neutrality.
Our journey into what is now considered regenerative viticulture or agriculture has been shaped by diverse knowledge sources, personal experience, and a deep commitment to creating healthy working environments. Our formal education laid the groundwork. We both studied Agriculture at university, where we learned a systems approach rooted in biological management rather than chemical management. This foundational understanding of soil health and ecological relationships shaped every decision that followed.
What inspires us is the intersection of environmental regeneration, economic viability, and social responsibility. We are not just growing grape, we are fostering ecosystems, building a culture of care among our team, and proving that farming in harmony with nature is not idealistic, it is practical. Our greatest motivation is knowing we are creating something that will nourish both people and
planet for generations to come.
