Darren built out vineyard blocks that employ traditional key line geometry, as well as “straight key line geometry” based on the geography of the site, i.e. its contours, ridges and valleys. Darren remarked that straight keylines enable closer between-row spacing while facilitating ease of planting and machinery access for growers. Note that the vineyard rows pictured follow the “gradient of fall” towards ridges, optimizing rainfall distribution through improved surface and sub-surface water flow.

Ridges also inform the farm’s arterial road system, which he created using the line tool and include traditional paved roads (pink, above) and grassy access roads (yellow, below) that accommodate harvesting machinery.

Other regenerative practices employed include intra-row cover cropping, vernal ponds, and biodiverse shelterbelts, which follow the farm’s arterial roads and are laid out according to traditional windbreak guidance from Dr. Rod Bird of Queensland (e.g. their length equals 10x tree height to ensure adequate protection in the wind shadow.