tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post4200319871672469001..comments2024-03-18T22:33:57.339-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Pasture Improvement Phase 1: Preparing the LandLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-87789064244102974542012-03-07T08:59:14.344-05:002012-03-07T08:59:14.344-05:00Teresa, thanks! You will really enjoy having goats...Teresa, thanks! You will really enjoy having goats. They add a lot to the homestead.<br /><br />Samantha, thank you! I honestly just love to share what we've learned and hope maybe others can avoid some of our mistakes. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-1463669714775939572012-03-06T14:30:46.868-05:002012-03-06T14:30:46.868-05:00Love it! There is just so much to learn out there...Love it! There is just so much to learn out there! I truely appreciete all the time it takes to blog for us (esp. us newbies to farming)! I learn something new every visit!<br /><br />And from one fiber lover to another I love your blog!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Samantha (Woodland Woolens)Wild Maple Woolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12951385089192465051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-62073624507085248692012-03-06T09:47:50.365-05:002012-03-06T09:47:50.365-05:00Love your blog. We are in hopes of getting a few g...Love your blog. We are in hopes of getting a few goats too before long. I love seeing all your photos from your farm. Blessings!Mamawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10140452472659478596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-45867378017353178952012-03-06T08:01:06.023-05:002012-03-06T08:01:06.023-05:00Richard, good to hear from you! I confess I'm ...Richard, good to hear from you! I confess I'm always behind on my blog visiting as well. <br /><br />Rea, thanks. Another problem I've had, is not being able to find much literature on how to do this. Our cooperative extension promotes grass hays I'm really not interested in (fescue and bermuda), so that's been another hold up. Have you blogged about your experience with this?<br /><br />Bettina, I'm heard good things about those little Mantis tillers. Perfect for small spots. I have to admit Dan scoffed when he first saw them. But, I said, it would be a good size for me!<br /><br />Jaime, I'm hoping all of the pastures are part of our establishment phase in homesteading. Once they're improved, we should have less work and only maintenance! That's my hope at least. :)<br /><br />Heather, thanks! Ah yes, the weather. It's always a farmers worry.<br /><br />Sam, oh, what a shame you had to sell that 20 acres. Sometimes life does get in the way of our dreams though, doesn't it. So glad you're back on track. I know there's a perfect little place for you out there somewhere. <br /><br />Jocelyn, good questions. For seed, I found a pasture mix at Tractor Supply. I'm pretty much going to follow the advice from Fias Co Farm (who has a pasture seed recipe - <a href="http://fiascofarm.com/goats/feeding.htm#pasture" rel="nofollow">here</a>) and going for a blend of whatever grows well in our part of the country. Some of it, like alfalfa, is questionable because of our hot dry summers, but I'll include some in my mix anyway. I'm also adding herb seeds to that mix, to give my goats a good nutritious blend of grazing and hay. I'll post updates about our progress.<br /><br />For chickens, we're going to have a wing clipping session right before we plant!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-85839880728020839172012-03-05T17:24:09.531-05:002012-03-05T17:24:09.531-05:00I am going to do some of this too! Would you mind...I am going to do some of this too! Would you mind sharing what type of seed you put down and (most importantly) how you are going to keep the chickens from eating it? That's my biggest problem, and I'd love any ideas you have.<br /><br />Thanks!Jocelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14823007336688773304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-35047192755155147832012-03-05T15:42:54.513-05:002012-03-05T15:42:54.513-05:00I fell behind reading your blog and I have to catc...I fell behind reading your blog and I have to catch up! i learn so much from you so hopefully when I get my acreage I will know a few things already. I had a farmette at one time...about 20 acres but I was working full time and had plans for it when I retired...well....things changed and I had to sell but I'm back on my feet now, retired and hoping it's not too late if I could just sell this place now! You keep me hoping! Thanks for sharing it all.Sam I Am......https://www.blogger.com/profile/17358633233189452832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-73207267155406597002012-03-05T14:45:00.921-05:002012-03-05T14:45:00.921-05:00All this work is going to be so fantastic for you!...All this work is going to be so fantastic for you! Great idea to use the skid for doing the work. Here's hoping for the weather to cooperate.The Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15070310346205563561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-20428700679043810212012-03-05T13:42:42.822-05:002012-03-05T13:42:42.822-05:00Whew! Again you two have great stamina to keep on ...Whew! Again you two have great stamina to keep on doing what's necessary to enjoy your lifestyle to the fullest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51971088508279282782012-03-05T10:27:57.599-05:002012-03-05T10:27:57.599-05:00Wow - what a project! Very inspiring. We have two ...Wow - what a project! Very inspiring. We have two fields that we rotate the goats through to keep vegetation down. One of these days I'd like to annex a small part of their pasture for a wheat field :) <br />-JaimeNgo Family Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15484243776589015749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-35165664973776106912012-03-05T09:44:31.189-05:002012-03-05T09:44:31.189-05:00we.ve had similar problems on a smaller scale. no ...we.ve had similar problems on a smaller scale. no big machinery would fit into the garden without destroying all our plantings - and smaller ones could only be bought, not rented:( or at least not in our area. we've finally bought a small Mantis 4-stroke, but of course that would be far too small for your acreage. and it's not for digging; we still have to do all that by hand....Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-20598133921660874122012-03-05T09:25:32.001-05:002012-03-05T09:25:32.001-05:00You all are doing a great job there. I know rewor...You all are doing a great job there. I know reworking my front pasture was one of the hardest things I did too. Basically because what do you dow with the animals until that pasture is ready. You're doing well to have all that work done in three years. Thanks for sharing pictures of all the work you all are doing.Reahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11270395388562519251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-78483801039878857862012-03-05T09:21:25.626-05:002012-03-05T09:21:25.626-05:00Sorry ive been away for a while with my comments, ...Sorry ive been away for a while with my comments, and i hope to follow your home progress much better. Richardtrumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14379869475899318079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-26482959385678263332012-03-05T08:39:00.518-05:002012-03-05T08:39:00.518-05:00Clint that is so true. With sheep, I'm told th...Clint that is so true. With sheep, I'm told the Shetlands are the best browsers. Other breeds seem to prefer to graze. <br /><br />Theresa, it was a very fun read. That's very true about farm tractors and really, they should be thought of as an investment. We still would like one; if we can ever manage the right machine with the right funds at the same time. ;)<br /><br />Dani, I hope you find a good one! <br /><br />Stephanie, here's hoping. I'm learning though, to not count my chickens before they're hatched. :) Still, I'll be happy with what comes up and we can spot amend as needed.<br /><br />Judy, we struggle with the same thing and then have to remind ourselves that it's a process. We generally have one outdoor project and one indoor project going on. More than that and Dan gets frustrated with too many loose ends. <br /><br />Claudia, I'd be out there with a rake! Actually, I did find I could rake down quite a few of the ruts. Fortunately our neighbor's tiller will deal with most of that. <br /><br />Sunnybrook, we thought about that but since this is going to be a permanent pasture, decided to just go ahead an plant it. As much as I like green manures, we don't have the equipment to turn under a half acre of anything! What you say about goats is true too. I reckon it depends on whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-11685942384186878632012-03-05T08:28:38.753-05:002012-03-05T08:28:38.753-05:00It will just take time and if it works in your are...It will just take time and if it works in your area, growing winter crops and turning them under. The farmers here stopped doing that and the ground is getting really hard packed. We had goats for a few years but I found that they were very destructive to any tree in sight and wouldn't eat the brush and weeds that needed to be eaten. The amount of money I spent on fencing and time wasted on them wasn't worth the trouble in the end. They were fun animals at times but so destructive.Sunnybrook Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18135224259672444423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-86201128847751850902012-03-05T08:22:21.471-05:002012-03-05T08:22:21.471-05:00We just had a new leach field put in in front of o...We just had a new leach field put in in front of our house - the old one was filled with roots from our Weeping Willow (which had to be taken down) We don't have equipment and I find myself looking at a sea of mud and ruts and wondering how I'm going to even it all out and reseed!Claudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16691249261693845371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-61635352399896840902012-03-05T08:08:54.715-05:002012-03-05T08:08:54.715-05:00You have been busy. Like you, we have been tackli...You have been busy. Like you, we have been tackling things piecemeal. But I'm impatient. I want it all NOW and it's hard sometimes that we can't do it all at once.<br />JudyJudy Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01121300109427407095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-79370408436942194962012-03-05T07:09:15.152-05:002012-03-05T07:09:15.152-05:00Looks like you are well on your way to some gorgeo...Looks like you are well on your way to some gorgeous and yummy pasture for your critters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-8834191889139744522012-03-05T07:07:53.753-05:002012-03-05T07:07:53.753-05:00Looks like we're both on the lookout for a tra...Looks like we're both on the lookout for a tractor :)<br /><br />Seems you've done a good job in that area so far. Well done.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-48692957146225197112012-03-05T06:48:41.709-05:002012-03-05T06:48:41.709-05:00A good cost saving alternative. Wasn't 50 Acre...A good cost saving alternative. Wasn't 50 Acres and a Poodle a fun read?<br />It is amazing how tractors hold their value, esp. these days with tight credit and people holding onto used equipment longer. I hope Dan finds his tractor some day, they are awfully handy ( and fun) to have around.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09574936988046982209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51249173081366795832012-03-05T06:15:39.804-05:002012-03-05T06:15:39.804-05:00Goats will make quick work out of the brush! Sheep...Goats will make quick work out of the brush! Sheep will as well.Clint Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12125748678345517185noreply@blogger.com