How to transform a steep, challenging slope into a thriving, productive food forest
In short: Hannah Moloney spent a decade turning a steep, thirty-degree Tasmanian slope into a flourishing food forest. By using terraces, swales, and strategic animal integration, she managed to stabilize the soil and create a self-sustaining ecosystem that nourishes both her family and the wider community through thoughtful, nature-mimicking design.
When Hannah Moloney and her partner Anton moved to their property in 2013, they faced a daunting landscape. The site featured slopes reaching up to thirty degrees, making every task more labor-intensive and costly than on flat ground. However, Moloney viewed these constraints as a creative opportunity. By 2019, she began sharing her progress with the Gardening Australia team, demonstrating how a decade of dedicated work can transform a challenging terrain into a productive, layered ecosystem modeled on a natural food forest.
The layout was dictated by the landscape itself. To manage water runoff and ensure soil stability, Moloney implemented a series of terraces. Initially, she used heat-treated pallets embedded directly into the slope to create planting pockets. Over time, these pallets have composted in situ, replaced by the roots of established trees and herbaceous plants that now hold the earth in place. Because the site is exposed to strong winds, she also planted windbreaks, such as a hedge of Dodonaea viscosa, to protect the garden’s more vulnerable areas.
Water management is critical in Hobart’s cool, dry climate. Moloney utilized swales—traditionally ditches on contour—but adjusted them slightly off-contour to safely divert excess water away from vegetable beds during long, wet winters. Rain infiltration is further improved by the terracing system, supplemented by on-site water tanks and a grey water irrigation system. To extend the short growing season, she employs a cold frame, allowing crops to ripen more effectively.
The garden’s fertility is maintained through a closed-loop system involving chickens, goats, and ducks. Their manure is collected and composted in bays for approximately six months before being returned to the soil. For Moloney, the project is never truly finished, but it has achieved its primary goal: nourishing herself and her community. By mimicking natural layers and niches, she has created a space that is both ecologically resilient and deeply rewarding.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Hannah Moloney's progress creating her steep terrace garden | Garden Design | Gardening Australia
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