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The Brink #1
Back From the Brink : How Australia's Landscape Can Be Saved
Peter Andrews is a racehorse breeder and farmer credited with remarkable success in converting degraded, salt-ravaged properties into fertile, drought-resistant pastures. His methods are so at odds with conventional scientific wisdom that for 30 years he has been dismissed and ridiculed as a madman. He has faced bankruptcy and family break-up. But now, on the brink of ecological disaster, leading politicians, international scientists and businessmen are beating a path to his door as they grapple with how best to alleviate the affects of drought on the Australian landscape.
Described as a man who reads and understands the Australian landscape better than most scientists, supporters of Peter Andrews claim he has done what no scientist ever thought to do — he has restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. The startling results of his natural sequence farming are said to have been achieved very cheaply, simply and quickly.
Described as a man who reads and understands the Australian landscape better than most scientists, supporters of Peter Andrews claim he has done what no scientist ever thought to do — he has restored streams and wetlands to the way they were before European settlement interfered with them. The startling results of his natural sequence farming are said to have been achieved very cheaply, simply and quickly.
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
24 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Peter Andrews
58 books9 followersPeter Andrews is an Australian race horse breeder and grazier from Bylong in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
He is the inventor of the Natural Sequence Farming method. He is acknowledged as having converted his degraded high-salinity land at Tarwyn Park into a fertile, drought-resistant estate. His techniques run counter to prevailing accepted practices. Peter Andrews is also the author of a best selling book on his methods, entitled Back from the Brink: How Australia's Landscape can be Saved.He also has written a book called "Beyond the Brink" that further explains his theories about water movement in the Australian landscape with the additional subjects of global warming and GMO usage and how this effects soil and the environment.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_An...
He is the inventor of the Natural Sequence Farming method. He is acknowledged as having converted his degraded high-salinity land at Tarwyn Park into a fertile, drought-resistant estate. His techniques run counter to prevailing accepted practices. Peter Andrews is also the author of a best selling book on his methods, entitled Back from the Brink: How Australia's Landscape can be Saved.He also has written a book called "Beyond the Brink" that further explains his theories about water movement in the Australian landscape with the additional subjects of global warming and GMO usage and how this effects soil and the environment.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_An...
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 17, 2013
This is a book that should be read by every rural land holder and farmer in Australia, or the world actually. Against the opinions of mainstream folk Peter regenerates land that is practically useless due to poor farming practices. His methods have been questioned by many but I believe his results speak for themselves. He has made some amazing transformations. Owning 220 acres of rural property we have adapted many of his practices and seen the benefit. For example a paddock that was barren due to growing consecutive crops of corn and over grazing has been transformed by resting it, deep ripping, slashing and mulching and letting this decompose back into the soil. The paddock is now a lush sweet paddock full of a mixture of pasture grasses - none of these were planted they all generated naturally. I continue to look back through this book and his other book and use them as reference books.
February 26, 2011
This book should be read by every rural landholder in Australia. In it, Peter Andrews details how the Australian landscape has been degraded since the continent's settlement by man - by Aboriginal use of fire and by white man's obsession with clearing vegetation. The removal of vegetation has impacted on water storage and movement resulting in the removal of fertility from the soil.
Peter's theories are controversial but make sense if one examines the rural llandscape and look at land usage. I'm not sure that I can really cherish weeds though..
Peter is not a scientist and the book suffers because of that. While his theories still have to be scientifically tested on a number of properties and so can't be referenced, he could have used some references when he quotes from documents.
Peter's theories are controversial but make sense if one examines the rural llandscape and look at land usage. I'm not sure that I can really cherish weeds though..
Peter is not a scientist and the book suffers because of that. While his theories still have to be scientifically tested on a number of properties and so can't be referenced, he could have used some references when he quotes from documents.
July 23, 2025
It's enormously impressive what Peter has observed and learned about the Australian landscape and it's hydrology and everyone who lives here should read it!
June 2, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone owning rural land.
Clearly written by a practitioner rather than a desk jockey the book details how one can harness available plant life, including weeds, to promote fertility via mulching. When coupled with mechanical repairs of degraded land structures regenerate so called dead land into fertile pastures and forests.
Whilst there is some repetition in the book this appears to stem from passion as opposed to limited writing ability. Also included is a historical narrative on Australia's land degradation which runs counter to the accepted revised history that the Australian Aboriginals were custodians of the land.
The methods described in the book form what was later named Peter Andrews 'Natural Sequence Farming'.
Clearly written by a practitioner rather than a desk jockey the book details how one can harness available plant life, including weeds, to promote fertility via mulching. When coupled with mechanical repairs of degraded land structures regenerate so called dead land into fertile pastures and forests.
Whilst there is some repetition in the book this appears to stem from passion as opposed to limited writing ability. Also included is a historical narrative on Australia's land degradation which runs counter to the accepted revised history that the Australian Aboriginals were custodians of the land.
The methods described in the book form what was later named Peter Andrews 'Natural Sequence Farming'.
November 23, 2011
Peter offers a left of field alternative for looking at the way we could try managing land to counter the effects of land degradation. You can apply his practical knowledge to large land holdings, all the way down to small lot developments. Whilst I don’t agree entirely with Peters skepticism over the direct causes of global warming, I do agree that the interference of the balance between land, vegetation and their relationship with water are part of the mix of human induced causes in our planet’s rapidly changing climate.
September 17, 2012
I could not put this book down. It is amazing how Peter turned land degrade by 200 years of farming and salinity beyond what most said was irreparable. Today it is the best property in the region.
I bought 255 acres of badly farmed land in Victoria to do something similar to Peter but the family moved to China. When I get back I'll give it a go.
I bought 255 acres of badly farmed land in Victoria to do something similar to Peter but the family moved to China. When I get back I'll give it a go.
March 14, 2013
Glad to have seen Peter on 'Australian Story' and followed up with buying his book. Partial quote "like many prophets, Peter Andrews was not initially welcomed in his own land - but is seems that many people are now asking why we didn't listen to him earlier." Hon John Anderson MP
Worth a read to folk interested in Natural Sequence Farming.
Worth a read to folk interested in Natural Sequence Farming.
July 6, 2009
This was an easy reading book clearly written by a practitioner not a scientist. Really interesting and lots of ideas to think about. I think it applies to just about anywhere that uses irrigation or where the landscape is/has been changed to fit in with human activity.
May 6, 2010
Loved it, can't wait to get some land and get to work. Awesome book!
I Highly recommend it to anyone who is optimistic that degraded farmland can be recovered back to a nutrient rich and productive state naturally - this is the guide book for how to do it.
I Highly recommend it to anyone who is optimistic that degraded farmland can be recovered back to a nutrient rich and productive state naturally - this is the guide book for how to do it.
February 3, 2009
GREAT READ!!! Really makes me look at the weeds in my paddocks, and even in my house yard for that matter, in a whole new light...
August 11, 2011
A must read for any Australian who would like the Australian landscape to prosper once again, and survive the drought.
October 11, 2012
This book should be studied in schools, If we were really worried about the environment we would be following and supporting this Australia genius.
March 11, 2016
Just read it and thank me later. Enough said.
August 28, 2020
A great book. Very inspiring and insightful into the vast knowledge of the Australian landscape that Peter Andrew holds.
It covers all areas that land owners should manage their properties to develop strong, sustainable and rich in biodiversity landscapes.
A very ‘radical’ viewpoint towards land management, many may say. But it’s how the land should be looked after, it’s sustainable and is the ‘Natural Sequence’. I’d argue by the end of the book modern farmers are the ‘radical farmers’, as Peter Andrews just demonstrates the simple logic behind allowing nature to run its own way and managing it.
Overall I think most Australians should read this book whether farmer or not, to learn just how this country’s land functions.
It covers all areas that land owners should manage their properties to develop strong, sustainable and rich in biodiversity landscapes.
A very ‘radical’ viewpoint towards land management, many may say. But it’s how the land should be looked after, it’s sustainable and is the ‘Natural Sequence’. I’d argue by the end of the book modern farmers are the ‘radical farmers’, as Peter Andrews just demonstrates the simple logic behind allowing nature to run its own way and managing it.
Overall I think most Australians should read this book whether farmer or not, to learn just how this country’s land functions.
March 15, 2024
This is an interesting book, with a few keys ideas that are thoroughly developed. These are clearly explained and come from many years of observation from an knowledgeable man, no doubts about that !
But.
I personally feel that it’s a shame that his experience isn’t backed by any other data than his observations. That lack combined to the authoritarian, patronizing tone gave me mixed feelings. Indeed, that’s worth a try - and experiments will talk by themselves !
But.
I personally feel that it’s a shame that his experience isn’t backed by any other data than his observations. That lack combined to the authoritarian, patronizing tone gave me mixed feelings. Indeed, that’s worth a try - and experiments will talk by themselves !
June 19, 2022
A great asset! 5/5 would read again.
I am not based in Australia, however; this book is a great asset in reading land that has drought and flood cycles. I have been looking for a way of reducing capital and running cost of managing land in a productive manner and this booked answered a few those questions for me.
I am not based in Australia, however; this book is a great asset in reading land that has drought and flood cycles. I have been looking for a way of reducing capital and running cost of managing land in a productive manner and this booked answered a few those questions for me.
April 28, 2019
A book every Australian should read to understand the widespread degradation of our once fruitful continent. Read this book and you will have a basic understanding of the Australian landscape, and farmers could make a killing by following Andrews' principles.
Read
February 2, 2020A real page-turner, I couldn't put it down!
December 31, 2020
very important contribution to environmental science and land management; draws on historical information as well as experience on the land; every Australian should read
April 26, 2020
This book is an essential book to use when entering into the theories of regenerative agriculture. The concepts could be written with technical, but Peter breaks them down into stories, that relate to his experience.
May 19, 2014
Relates valuable experiences of rehabilitating degraded land. The book itself is poorly structured and repetitive and the author lacks academic scientific knowledge, however this may actually have contributed to his fresh and original perspective. What is really important is that his methods of farming work.
May 14, 2011
I don't agree with his idea that alteration of the hydrology of Queensland is the only thing responsible for the death of coral on the Great Barrier Reef, and that global warming and climate change plays no part.... but otherwise what he's saying makes sense.
January 19, 2024
It’s so obvious. Andrews’ farm is a green oasis in a vast landscape of parched brown. Another genius vilified, ostracised and forgotten by munchkins
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews