Bambra Agroforestry Farm

19/06/2026

David Holmgren reviews Heartwood:

"For those applying permaculture ethics and principles to growing trees for timber, Heartwood is one of the most inspiring and informative books about the subject"

"Although we have known of each other’s work from early days, our paths have rarely crossed. I found myself in heartfelt and at time furious agreement with most of Rowan’s stories and lessons, especially his examples of sustainable management of regrowth native forest by innovative land holders. His learnings in choosing native and exotic species at Bambra reinforced my own experience and observations, especially with Coast Redwood. I also had many a-ha moments as Rowan explains how trees grow and the effects of different management."

Thanks David. Yes, let's get together with Jason. You're welcome to visit.

New updated paperback edition available now in bookshops or from Rowan at www.agroforestry.net.au

https://holmgren.com.au/writing/david-reviews-heartwood-by-rowan-reid/

Heartwood by Rowan Reid is a heartfelt story by one of the pioneers of blending forestry and farming in this country over the last 30 years. His story is told through chapters focused on tree species planted on his farm at Bambra in the Otway Ranges of Victoria. While this is a personal story focuse...

18/06/2026

https://www.woodreview.com.au/news/best-selling-tree-growing-book-now-available-in-second-edition

An Australian book about growing trees on your own land is an acknowledged best seller that’s now available in paperback.

17/06/2026

That's me, flat out growing good wood as fast as I can.

We planted this row of English Oak (Quercus robur) along a fenceline in 1994 (photo below). Today I sat under one that is 50cm in diameter and pruned to more than 5m.

In my book Heartwood I use indicative log prices for Oak in the UK (from before Covid and Brexit) to illustrate the impact of diameter on log value.

Firstly, increasing diameter increases log volume exponentially because volume is a function of the square of diameter.

But, increasing diameter also increases value per unit volume because larger logs allow sawmillers to recover greater value at lower costs. Think wide quartersawn boards clear of knots.

So, at 50cm diameter this log is increasing in value faster than at any time in its past.

We don't bother growing small logs - it is simply not worth it. We prune to improve wood quality and thin any malformed or competing trees to waste to ensure the best trees have the space they need to grow quality wood on fat trunks.

And it works.

Once you've done the work the best thing you can do is find a good book and just wait; you're making money while you sit in the shade and enjoy the birds.

New updated paperback edition of "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" now available in bookshops or you can get a signed copy from our website: www.agroforestry.net.au

Rowan Reid
Forest Scientist and tree grower

$39.95 plus postage
Postage:
Australia: $10
New Zealand: AUS$25
UK, Europe, USA etc AUS$40

17/06/2026

I'm working flat out, growing good wood as fast as I can.

We planted this row of English Oak (Quercus robur) along a fenceline in 1994 (photo below). Today I sat under one that is 50cm in diameter and pruned to more than 5m.

In my book Heartwood I use indicative log prices for Oak in the UK (from before Covid and Brexit) to illustrate the impact of diameter on log value.

Firstly, increasing diameter increases log volume exponentially because volume is a function of the square of diameter.

But, increasing diameter also increases value per unit volume because larger logs allow sawmillers to recover greater value at lower costs. Think wide quartersawn boards clear of knots.

So, at 50cm diameter this log is increasing in value faster than at any time in its past.

It's the same for all timber species: size and quality matter.
So why do most foresters grow dense plantations of skinny trees?
I don't know.

We don't bother growing small logs - it is simply not worth it. We prune to improve wood quality and thin any malformed or competing trees to waste to ensure the best trees have the space they need to grow quality wood on fat trunks.

And it works.

Once you've done the work the best thing you can do is find a good book and just wait; you're making money while you sit in the shade and enjoy the birds.

New updated paperback edition of "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" now available in bookshops or you can get a signed copy from our website: www.agroforestry.net.au

$39.95 plus postage
Postage:
Australia: $10
New Zealand: AUS$25
UK, Europe, USA etc AUS$40

I love learning from Oak sawmillers like: Whitney Sawmills and Vastern Timber UK

16/06/2026

This guy can't prune!

You're right, for almost every species we grow i prune back to the branch collar so there is no stub you could hang your hat on.

But, this species is different.

In this case I prune just below the first bud on the branch leaving a long stub. Within a year the stub ejects cleanly leaving a perfect, rot-free, wound.

What's the species?
See the comments below

09/06/2026

Every tree every year until it is pruned to the desired sawlog height.

Silky Oak, Grevillea robusta using electric secateurs on a telescopic pole.

Note spacing, I grow timber in parklands not plantations because trees need space and a I don't need to prune as many trees.

More at www.agroforestry.net.au
Go to " Practical info." For pruning guidelines:
When to prune
How to prune
Tools: go to "Shop"
And more.

03/06/2026

Some great photos from an MTG day on our Bambra Agroforestry Farm last week.

We ran the first Master TreeGrower Program in 1996 with the Otway Agroforestry Network. 30 years later this is the 134th program in Australia.

It's been an extraordinary journey. Thanks to all our participants and supporters over the years.
How can we ensure it continues?

Rowan

31/05/2026

Extract from the preface of the new paperback edition of "Heartwood - the art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit" by Rowan Reid.

"Our largest trees have added ten years of growth since I wrote Heartwood. In the intervening years, we have also built a new farmhouse. It took five years, although you might say 38 years if you count the time it took to grow the trees.

"Nearly all the solid timber for the new house– including the concrete formwork, frame, cladding, lining, stairs, cabinets and floors–came from fifty-five trees we’d planted ourselves: The structural frame is made up of our eucalypts and American Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata). For their fire resistance and natural durability, we used our Australian Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) for decking, and American Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) for the shed doors. The exterior Southern Blue Gum (E. globulus) cladding has an air-dried wood density well over the 750 kilograms per cubic metre required by the bushfire attack level rating (BAL 19).

"Inside there are more of our Victorian eucalypts including Mountain Ash (E. regnans), Shining Gum (E. nitens) and Messmate (E. obliqua), plus some English Oak (Quercus robur) and Australian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon). We felled the trees, milled the logs on our portable bandsaw mill and dried the boards in our solar kiln. The only loads of solid timber that came in through the front gate were boards that I’d taken out myself; either eucalypt to be steam reconditioned, re-dried and profiled at a local timber processor, or some of the Radiata Pine to be pressure treated.

"Working with our own wood and overseeing every step from log to our finished home deepened my understanding of our trees, how we could harvest and process them, and the quality of their timber. While the full story deserves its own telling, I can at least say this: our approach, as described in Heartwood, worked:

"Almost forty years ago (in 1987), we began planting trees for conservation, shelter, beautification, and profit. Without sacrificing the forest, we have gained a home, the fuel to keep it warm, and a lasting supply of high-quality timber for our family or for sale."

Heartwood is available now in bookshops or signed copies from our website: www.agroforestry.net.au

Cover: Rowan measuring one of our high-pruned Redwoods.