Trying to learn something through trial and error is a tough way to go, you know it? Especially if it's something that can only be observed seasonally, like pasture. When we first bought the place it was very overgrown and we knew we'd have to work on establishing pasture/forage areas. Then I learned we'd have to maintain them as well; forage areas deteriorate over the years and must be tended to if they are to continue in their intended purpose.
There is a principle in permaculture called succession. Basically this means that no ecosystem stays the same, it continually changes over time. There are theories about this, and arguments over theories, none of which I subscribe to because none of them fits what I observe on our own homestead. No matter. Simply knowing that things change on their own means I'm not necessarily doing anything wrong. That's a relief. It also defines my place in the scheme of things; my job is to work with the principles of nature to maintain an ecological balance on our homestead. Easier said than done!
The biggest challenge to doing this is that it is impossible to simply read a how-to book, follow the steps, and get the same results as the author. There are just too many variables: soil type and content, local climate, and weather, for example. Add to that personal goals, the type and number of animals one wishes to keep and what they prefer to eat, the type of plants one wishes to grow, plus local availability of these things, and each homesteader is basically starting from scratch no matter how successful others have been. It's tough.
Pasture and forage have been at the top of our list of important things to do; almost all our critters depend on it: goats, chickens, pigs. My goal is to have year-round forage; our climate is mild enough that we should be able to do that.
We knew our soil was poor so after reading
Hands-On Agronomy, we set about to have our soil tested one forage area at a time, remineralize it, and then plant a mix of grasses, legumes, herbs, and vegetables. The following posts chronicle that:
The first year we had beautiful pasture:
but then the challenges began. I had done my homework regarding warm and cool weather grasses and legumes,
and planted accordingly. Last winter, however, was exceptionally cold and everything went dormant, including the cool weather forage. We bought and fed a lot of hay. About the only thing that seemed to survive and grow the following spring was the clover and chicory. Early this spring I spot seeded with a pasture mix. Then we faced two months of high temperatures and no rain. Only the ground ivy didn't mind and took the opportunity to take over.
Even if the weather cooperates, another challenge is that even perennial forage plants don't last more than several years. Of course, other things begin to grow from seeds dropped by birds or blown in on the wind, plus tree seeds dropped at pasture perimeters. But standard pasture forage seems to simply poop out after several years, whether it's perennial plants or reseeding from annual grasses. Eventually it simply isn't there anymore. Weather has it's effect as does what the animals choose to eat.
Having to buy pasture seed every couple of years doesn't fit in with our sustainability goals, not to mention that my local choices are limited. In spring, Tractor Supply begins to stock pasture seed mixes but upon examining the labels, I discovered that recommended planting time was autumn. Plus not everything in the mix is recommended for our area. I eventually found a warm season deer forage mix and used that. Also I have since learned that one of our local feed stores stocks pasture/forage seed in season and will sell by the pound. That means I won't have to mail order it.
Even though purchasing seed is not my preferred option, I'm willing to do it for our critters' sake. I have a stewardship responsibility toward them. I haven't yet found a lot of information on sustainable pasture, however, so I've been doing some experimenting.
The gist of this experiment is to spread the goat barn litter over pasture areas. I usually compost this and seed inevitably ends up in it, as evidenced by where I spread my compost in the garden. Why not spread it out on the pasture itself? I chose a pasture being rested from the goats and did just that. And it worked. Next time we'll use a better quality hay, which I think will improve results. Eventually, I hope we can do with with only our own hay, and simply return our own seed, manure, and straw waste to our soil. That's the goal.
Rainfall at the end of July was a welcome relief, but our pasture areas haven't recovered as I hoped. Nothing grew during the dry spell and what was there got eaten down. I'm tempted to think that all of this makes my pastures a fail, but then I remind myself that the soil is certainly better than it was several years ago. The investment of the minerals is a long term one. Currently I've been thinning our goat numbers, with a view to learning how many our land can support. That varies depending on the season and the weather! Soon I'll be looking at planting for winter pasture again. Perhaps I need to look at what tolerates dry versus wet conditions and plant both! It's all a learning process.