The Briggs at Cona Creek

NSF Champion #2: Ra & Tina Briggs – Every Acre Counts at Cona Creek

Our second Natural Sequence Farming Champion story takes us to Cona Creek, west of Springsure in Queensland, where Ra and Tina Briggs are proving that every acre can count when you work with the landscape, not against it.

The Scale Question

Cona Creek is 46,000 acres. That's a big property by any measure. But as Ra explains in their story: "It's not about the scale. It's about the project you're working on that day. It's breaking the problem down into small bits, solving that problem, and then moving on to the next one."

This mindset shift — from being overwhelmed by the size of the challenge to focusing on the project at hand — is something many landholders will recognise.

Whether you're managing 46,000 acres or 46 acres, the principle holds: break the problem down, make a plan, and take it one project at a time.

The Journey to NSF

For years, Ra researched ways to improve their land. That search eventually led him to Natural Sequence Farming. After attending a Tarwyn Park Training course, Ra and Tina returned to Cona Creek and, as Tina describes it, "we were looking at the landscape with very different eyes from when we left."

But seeing the landscape differently and knowing where to start are two different things.

"We were still unsure of where to start," Ra admits. "And that's when your analysis paralysis sets in. But that's not an excuse for not starting."

This is the gap many landholders experience — the space between understanding and action. For Ra and Tina, the answer wasn't waiting for perfect conditions. It was making a decision and starting.

The Approach: Whole of System, Top to Bottom

Ra and Tina took a whole-of-system approach to their landscape work, beginning at the top of their watersheds and working down.

"It's really important that you have a plan," Tina explains. "So our plan was we started at the top, but everything that you do has a flow-on effect, and we are seeing that flow-on effect."

Ra has installed check banks throughout the property to slow water flow. The results?

These outcomes didn't happen by accident. They happened because Ra and Tina planned from the top down, understanding that everything in a landscape is connected.

Giving Back — and Gaining More

One of the most striking things Tina says in their story is this: "I say the words 'give something back,' but we're gaining much more than we're giving."

This captures something essential about Natural Sequence Farming: it's not about sacrifice. It's not about giving up productivity for environmental outcomes. It's about creating systems that work better for everyone — the land, the livestock, the people, and the future.

For Ra and Tina, Natural Sequence Farming has become their major drought reduction strategy. As Ra reflects: "I feel like I've discovered my life's work improving this place, and the results that we're seeing are amazing."

The Universal Patterns

One of the key insights Tina shares is this: "The patterns are all the same. It doesn't matter how big or small the place is, you're looking for the same patterns everywhere in Australia. Whether you're high rainfall or low rainfall, it's the same patterns, just a different landscape."

This is what makes Natural Sequence Farming scalable and applicable across the entire continent. The principles don't change based on property size or rainfall — you're reading the same patterns and working with the same natural processes.

Whether you're in high-rainfall coastal country or low-rainfall inland zones, the landscape is telling you the same story. You just need to learn how to read it.

Every Acre Counts

Ra's philosophy is clear: "By doing this, that's our way to make sure that every acre does count."

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when looking at a large property. It's easy to look at a challenging landscape and not know where to begin. But as Ra says, "It's very easy to get lost in the detail. So having a clear objective — make a decision and start."

Break the problem down. Make a plan. Start at the top. Take it one project at a time.

That's how every acre counts.

👉 Watch Ra and Tina's full story here: https://youtu.be/qsRREjGUC-0

Peter Andrews OAM spent his life trying to show people that there's a better way to work with the landscape. This documentary continues that mission — and it's proof that the work is happening, right now, all across Australia.

Let's Rehydrate Australia — together.

We'd love to hear your thoughts after you watch Ra and Tina's story. Comment below and let us know what resonates with you.

P.S. If you know someone who needs to see this — a farmer, a land manager, a council member, a friend who cares about the future of our landscapes — please share it with them. The more people who understand Natural Sequence Farming, the more landscapes we can help restore.

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🌏 Learn more: rehydrateaustralia.com