tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post4922626567571420294..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Hope For the Pasture?Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-88356544796448908902017-01-01T06:57:20.964-05:002017-01-01T06:57:20.964-05:00I agree, although it doesn't always recover as...I agree, although it doesn't always recover as we'd like or even in a predictable way. <br /><br />Chickens are really hard on the ground! Useful sometimes, but I agree their yards always look so barren. We do rotate the pasturing of ours, assuming they cooperate. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-9113290265073576712017-01-01T06:54:18.886-05:002017-01-01T06:54:18.886-05:00We're getting a nice bit of rain right now so ...We're getting a nice bit of rain right now so we'll see if the borax works! Most sites say it will kill the ground ivy but not the grass. I hope that's the case!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-23183542503656169692016-12-31T19:29:45.260-05:002016-12-31T19:29:45.260-05:00I really believe that nature recovers in almost al...I really believe that nature recovers in almost all situations, and that even a serious drought won't keep those seeds from coming up :) I've worried about my chicken yard. They have cleared it down to dirt. I do wonder if it will every come back -- but some of that new greenery is seeds that blow in and germinate. Good news for all of us!M.K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09205619221345704689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-79186986066536696362016-12-30T13:38:39.004-05:002016-12-30T13:38:39.004-05:00I miss my goats so much, they are such funny littl...I miss my goats so much, they are such funny little critters. *big smile* Thank you for sharing about the grass seed you selected as well as the borax at work for being a weed killer. I appreciate it. In our new place, we have a lot of goats heads - weeds with very pokey seeds. They are dreadful! I will have to try to use the borax in the rod beds that are already here and maybe plant a new back yard in the spring. We have three dogs and two growing blessings ages eleven and nine who use the back yard a lot then the pokey seeds come in on the carpet and hurts our feet in the evenings. Have a great day. Sincerely, Mommy of two growing blessings & so much more!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-50005128971056024592016-12-30T05:16:45.376-05:002016-12-30T05:16:45.376-05:00Do you have the scientific name for it? I can get ...Do you have the scientific name for it? I can get three strains (that I know of): Symphytum officinale, Bocking 4, or Bocking 14. I planted true in my hedgerow and will have to wait and see if it survived. I originally started out with 25 Bocking 4 crowns, 25 more the following year, but have had trouble keeping them alive. :(Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-90769745945432809782016-12-30T03:17:59.658-05:002016-12-30T03:17:59.658-05:00The is a type delevoped for drier conditions as we...The is a type delevoped for drier conditions as well not sure where you'd get it though.Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-84104830399461485582016-12-29T05:20:32.554-05:002016-12-29T05:20:32.554-05:00Lynda, your tomatoes are amazing, especially your ...Lynda, your tomatoes are amazing, especially your wall! And it's interesting how weeds can vary so much, isn't it? My dad actually likes the ground ivy because when it takes over the lawn he doesn't have to mow it, LOL. Actually, I think it's an attractive little plant and if the goats would eat it I'd be happy to have it. It's supposed to curdle milk as a vegetable rennet, so I need to try that next year.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-42345966227584083942016-12-29T05:17:54.918-05:002016-12-29T05:17:54.918-05:00Kev, that sounds like a great idea. I will be watc...Kev, that sounds like a great idea. I will be watching to see how it works! Sadly, I think I lost all my comfrey last summer. It really doesn't like our heat and I couldn't keep everything watered well enough so I know I'll have a lot of losses next year. :(Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-80941981501338156482016-12-29T05:16:11.478-05:002016-12-29T05:16:11.478-05:00Thanks! I tried hot water but not boiling water. S...Thanks! I tried hot water but not boiling water. Spray would certainly get it on the target weeds better than a sprinkle. It's not a huge concern because as I said, we're boron deficient. OTOH, I don't want areas of accumulation!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-88571170102589753182016-12-29T05:14:52.605-05:002016-12-29T05:14:52.605-05:00Only until summer hits, LOL.
We're still try...Only until summer hits, LOL. <br /><br />We're still trying to manage our five acres in a way that we feel is productive and nurturing to the land, but it's a struggle. That's one of the reasons Dan can't wait to get the house done - it takes a lot of time to do the repairs and upgrades. They are necessary, but it's always a balancing act and the scales always seem to be tipped one way or another. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-56908564803369008982016-12-29T05:12:52.012-05:002016-12-29T05:12:52.012-05:00Mark, good to hear from you! I used to love to go ...Mark, good to hear from you! I used to love to go sledding! Ice skating too, but we never get to do that. Your grandkids will love it!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-34145820252249918552016-12-29T05:12:12.388-05:002016-12-29T05:12:12.388-05:00Around here they advertising 60 lb as "large....Around here they advertising 60 lb as "large." LOL And most of what is on offer is somebody just baling a weedy neglected field and then calling it cow quality hay. But this is not a truly agricultural area. Most jobs are in manufacturing, and their farming sense seems to have long been laid aside. Several times I've gotten hay so bad the goats wouldn't touch it. Mostly what is available is fescue or bermuda. Alfalfa is imported and runs about $17 a square bale. Now sellers are tending to want to sell a minimum amount, which makes me all the more reluctant to buy. <br /><br />I go for the big round bales rather than the small squares. I don't have a feeder for the rounds, I just tear them down. The tight ones are a bit of work but the price savings is huge: $10 for a 60 lb square versus $65 for an 800 lb round. Trouble is, we can only get one round on Dan's pick-up. Until the Little Barn we had no place to keep more than one round at a time, anyway. We made a large enough hay storage to hold six rounds, although we have no way to transport that many!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-61025257722131391422016-12-29T00:55:22.481-05:002016-12-29T00:55:22.481-05:00I have been buying my hay in large amounts for a l...I have been buying my hay in large amounts for a long time. One find someone you can trust who grows and knows their stuff. Find someone who will load on site. I know it is very different in all regions of the country but I think some things are just important no matter where. I try to buy hay twice or three times a year in the Spring (prefer second cutting or first) then again around late summer. If need be late fall. This is alfalfa which I know not everyone can get elsewhere. And it is large bales 120 lb. When I had a large herd 50+ animals my hay guy would deliver retriever loads and I would have him set it on pallets and we tarped. Then we moved twice and had a hay barn in both places. Ask me how much I HATE tarping hay.Goatldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07222031369656684797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51396228773206564372016-12-28T17:56:29.090-05:002016-12-28T17:56:29.090-05:00I dont have any intelligent advice or experience s...I dont have any intelligent advice or experience so i'll just say you have a lovely covering of mulch. Well Done. I have hundreds of tomato plants coming up everywhere at the moment, my weeds look a little different to yours. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12605358521258969537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-71613557057637266192016-12-28T15:53:58.111-05:002016-12-28T15:53:58.111-05:00Grass takes some killing, It can be wet here for m...Grass takes some killing, It can be wet here for months but it still comes back! <br />I'm planning on trying to stop weeds creeping into certain areas next year and I think I'm going to do it with a band of comfrey around my plot. I'm thinking 4ft wide will stop anything trying to grow accross it and I'll be able to use it for mulch and making comfrey tea in the veg garden. thats the plan anyhow!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51255496474519575062016-12-28T13:22:24.937-05:002016-12-28T13:22:24.937-05:00Boron will dissolve in boiling water. It will sta...Boron will dissolve in boiling water. It will stay in solution for a few hours. That way you have better control, by spraying the weeds, and reducing 'drift.' I live in a boron rich area of CA so I attack the same weeds with vinegar. Regards, Sandy L Love your blog.Saundrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00022337477187448272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-44484980927897842782016-12-28T12:59:17.723-05:002016-12-28T12:59:17.723-05:00You're so lucky to live in a climate where you...You're so lucky to live in a climate where you can grow & manage all year round.... <br />Our growing season can be quite short, and winters are bitter - pasture management is a bit more tricky when 5 months has them frozen, a month or two under water for the melt, then summer hits. <br />I am amazed & impressed with what you're able to do on 5 acres - Good on you!! <br />So happy to have found your blog this year (have become a regular reader)!Mrs Shoeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02636736944375337989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-7734668866740300612016-12-28T10:05:22.790-05:002016-12-28T10:05:22.790-05:00It's wonderful that you can get some indicatio...It's wonderful that you can get some indication of growth of December! We warmed up just enough to get rid the snow we had, so now it's clear frozen ground. The chickens, at least, appreciate that. More snow on the way tomorrow, which is also good since we'll have the granddaughters Thursday-Saturday and they love to go sledding with Papa.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08343134852881572900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-78824326101283129052016-12-28T06:03:02.171-05:002016-12-28T06:03:02.171-05:00Oh Donna, I hope you write some good blog posts on...Oh Donna, I hope you write some good blog posts on this topic! I hate to think that it will take us that long, so any tips to help get us there will be appreciated!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-45260769274381611482016-12-28T06:02:08.824-05:002016-12-28T06:02:08.824-05:00Sounds like you need goats! LOL They'll bring ...Sounds like you need goats! LOL They'll bring that stuff under control in a hurry. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-76346264613329601072016-12-28T06:01:29.739-05:002016-12-28T06:01:29.739-05:00"Spamalot," oh no! LOL"Spamalot," oh no! LOL Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-90241187514028266232016-12-28T06:01:00.293-05:002016-12-28T06:01:00.293-05:00Being able to get oat and barley hay is great, Dan...Being able to get oat and barley hay is great, Dani! Dan and I were discussing hay last night, and we may need to rent a moving truck and make a trek to get a huge load of hay. It's worth it to have good quality hay (something I have a hard time finding around here).Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-68811842855003730822016-12-28T05:59:10.474-05:002016-12-28T05:59:10.474-05:00The prices! I know! I need to find some good ID so...The prices! I know! I need to find some good ID sources and start looking around to collect my own seed. One of the sources did say that our wiregrass is a native. The only one I have and the very invasive thing I'm trying to get rid of! If the goats loved it that would be one thing, but they aren't fans. An occasional bite here and there is okay, but anytime I give them wiregrass hay they look at me as if to say, "Is that all you've got?"Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-25726137097177995692016-12-27T20:54:36.222-05:002016-12-27T20:54:36.222-05:00Wow the prices. We have what grows on its own. No ...Wow the prices. We have what grows on its own. No seeding needed. However our property is part of a very large acreage cattle ranch from the late 1800's. And we are surrounded by thousands of existing acres of free range cattle. So we have the advantage of "self seeding and fertilizing " as it was. I wonder if you couldID the grasses as they may come up as your place greens up? Goatldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07222031369656684797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75498918976349872142016-12-27T19:54:55.460-05:002016-12-27T19:54:55.460-05:00Exciting stuff Leigh! Our pastures were in horribl...Exciting stuff Leigh! Our pastures were in horrible shape and now after having livestock on them, rotating livestock, seeding, etc etc we hope to see results this spring. it's hard work to grow decent pastures, took us twenty years to get right on the old place, hopefully our learning curve here will be less steep.Donna OShaughnessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com