tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post6335562359060448432..comments2024-03-28T14:37:45.575-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Pasture Soil Building UpdateLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-63570220134355299552020-03-24T12:41:17.838-04:002020-03-24T12:41:17.838-04:00Rain, when you move to your new place, take lots o...Rain, when you move to your new place, take lots of pictures and document, document, document! Won't be long before you'll be sharing your own amazing stories too!<br /><br />Chris, without animals, there is no ecosystem. Without animals, the same results are very difficult to accomplish. <br /><br />I admit that my wildly varying seasons make getting the right rotations correct. But the better the soil biology, the better the moisture retention, the better the results. <br /><br />Fiona, thank you! We need to encourage one another. I'm thrilled with these results, and encouraged not to give up but to keep on with renewed enthusiasm.<br /><br />Amy G, no! Soil microorganisms transport the nutrients and adjust the pH. You just plant the seeds and supply a source of carbon (my straw mulch, for example). I <i>highly</i> recommend John Stika's <a href="https://amzn.to/33FSz7G" rel="nofollow"><i>A Soil Owner's Manual</i></a>. He does an excellent job of explaining how it works and how to do it.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-48350131295024200142020-03-24T12:22:15.470-04:002020-03-24T12:22:15.470-04:00This is really encouraging. Did you do anything to...This is really encouraging. Did you do anything to change the soil ph in order for this regeneration to occur?Amy Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15498229793893197384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-23174537142029229502020-03-24T03:20:47.244-04:002020-03-24T03:20:47.244-04:00Those are amazing changes...proof what careful res...Those are amazing changes...proof what careful research and hardwork can acheive. We are noticing changes here but still have a lot of work ahead. You are such an inspiration as to what can be done👍👍Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05348495575211204989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-27138629531421174132020-03-24T00:31:15.189-04:002020-03-24T00:31:15.189-04:00Lovely green pasture is always a sight to behold. ...Lovely green pasture is always a sight to behold. Well done for all your hard work. Green things grow, much better, when animals are incorporated. It's the original blueprint of one follows the other. As long as we get the timing for rotations right. Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-57944092423116737862020-03-23T21:27:14.025-04:002020-03-23T21:27:14.025-04:00Amazing! And what an improvement Leigh...and a rem...Amazing! And what an improvement Leigh...and a reminder of how time flies!Rain https://www.blogger.com/profile/14377719049819222133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-17498727341106388842020-03-23T20:11:56.668-04:002020-03-23T20:11:56.668-04:00Wyomingheart, we see the most difference in purcha...Wyomingheart, we see the most difference in purchased feed consumption in summer. Winter less so, especially if it's a cold one for us. The improvements in the forage promise higher nutrient density, which should decrease the need for feed even more. Ruminants eat until they are nutritionally satisfied, so the better the forage and hay quality, the less it takes to satisfy them. <br /><br />Annie, well, I can empathize! Hot and dry spells have caused setbacks for us as well. I'm heartened to know, however, that as the soil biology improves, so will moisture retention. We aren't there yet, but I'm encouraged now, and that gives me a boost of energy to get out and cover more bare spots!<br /><br />Nancy, thanks!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-20386705314281865782020-03-23T17:16:26.534-04:002020-03-23T17:16:26.534-04:00Looks great!!!Looks great!!!Nancy In Boisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03749272217529362089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-55237987556222366562020-03-23T17:06:39.390-04:002020-03-23T17:06:39.390-04:00Great to see your progress! It is encouraging for ...Great to see your progress! It is encouraging for sure. The pics tell the story. I'm doing similar on the Bahia / bremuda grass here... Getting some deer plot mix to plant every fall... Here it's so frustrating the fall an spring are our dry times... An in a drought now with less than 2" this year an around 4-5" total since sept. The Bahia is green and slowly growing. The mix I planted in oct is burning up now.... I just thinned the herd to lessen the pressure on what's growing an what I have to buy. And then... When the rains come often it's a deluge that washes a lot of fertility down the hill.... And things... like the weeds the goats don't like... grow like crazy!! And I know I'm preaching to the choir there! Lol! Thanks so much for the update.... It definitely helps keep me focused on pressing on. Especially now. Although I have been putting the barn cleanings, old hay, composted leaves, ashes/charcoal bits an stuff on the land for a long time.... Just last spring I done some cross fencing an attempting the rotational grazing thing....Annie in Ocalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10486670441823152903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-76499509100232067492020-03-23T15:25:00.787-04:002020-03-23T15:25:00.787-04:00Unknown, thanks!
RT, it's a shame that the or...Unknown, thanks!<br /><br />RT, it's a shame that the original science was so wrong about soil. We did a lot of damage through scientific chemicals, which have turned out to be very destructive. Trouble is, a lot of people still buy into the old science. The science of soil biology is only a couple of decades old, with exciting discoveries still being made. But here's the proof!<br /><br />Wyomingheart, I have to admit that there were times I was discouraged. On the other hand, I knew our original way of doing things definitely wasn't working. In his book, <i>Soil Owner's Manual</i>, John Sitka says it takes 3 - 5 years to start to see results. So hang in there! You're heading in the right direction!<br /><br />Mama Pea, oh yes! And I'm so glad I've been keeping this blog as a journal. It's true we forget, but the reminder is invaluable and a good record of the changes. <br /><br />Renee, lol. We still want to get pigs again some day. Once we can deal with trees falling on fences. :)<br /><br />Kelly, yes, those were our pigs. They're American Guinea Hogs. It's true pigs can naturally till a plot of ground in no time! We really like the breed but had to get rid of them when we lost a lot of fences due to falling trees. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-82050294982470808962020-03-23T15:14:53.820-04:002020-03-23T15:14:53.820-04:00Wow! That's a major difference! Looking at t...Wow! That's a major difference! Looking at those pigs.... do you (or did you) raise them? We have such a feral hog problem around here, I always cringe a little when I see anything that oinks. They can tear up a pasture lickity split!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859017153454691633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-76432686661924033802020-03-23T12:09:33.956-04:002020-03-23T12:09:33.956-04:00I miss your piggy adventures!I miss your piggy adventures!Renee Nefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167893445846427824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-29075836634663061432020-03-23T12:07:56.211-04:002020-03-23T12:07:56.211-04:00Isn't it wonderful (and also super-encouraging...Isn't it wonderful (and also super-encouraging!) when you can see the results of your efforts? To my mind, having pictures to supplement record keeping is invaluable. Because we quickly let slip from our memories the image of what once was.Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-13517361021550058322020-03-23T10:05:10.999-04:002020-03-23T10:05:10.999-04:00Wow, Leigh! Seeing is believing, for sure! You h...Wow, Leigh! Seeing is believing, for sure! You have done a wonderful job, of not only rebuilding your pastures, but of chronicling the history. Can you see a difference in the animals from the past to now, on vet bills, or consumption of purchased feed? Well done! We are using those methods for our hay pastures, which were previously used to grow gmo soybeans and winter wheat. I know it will take a few years, but we are hoping to turn those fields around to good horse hay. Thanks so much for the encouragement! It really helps us to believe it can happen here as well!wyominghearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11866831359786301254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-66473934278237967592020-03-23T09:54:34.180-04:002020-03-23T09:54:34.180-04:00Wow. There really is a major difference. Persist...Wow. There really is a major difference. Persistence! And science. Works.Retired Knitterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13662288640032813770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-59665496472720257142020-03-22T23:09:34.824-04:002020-03-22T23:09:34.824-04:00it looks great!it looks great!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11557297851411274089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-66456587023724655012020-03-22T20:51:21.899-04:002020-03-22T20:51:21.899-04:00Jo, it does, indeed. For awhile, I admit it was pr...Jo, it does, indeed. For awhile, I admit it was pretty discouraging. But I trusted the process and new that eventually the soil would respond. Here's hoping we can keep on keeping on and see even better improvement in the years to come.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-80630625513109757352020-03-22T18:37:44.771-04:002020-03-22T18:37:44.771-04:00Doing things the organic way takes time. But the o...Doing things the organic way takes time. But the overall benefits is worth it.Cockeyed Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107151148843311635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-50024387056979860392020-03-22T14:30:29.975-04:002020-03-22T14:30:29.975-04:00TB, very encouraging. For a long time I saw no cha...TB, very encouraging. For a long time I saw no change! I continued because I believed it would work.<br /><br />Mike, it's a relief, really. :)<br /><br />Ed, seeing is believing. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-91437578766144356362020-03-22T12:47:48.488-04:002020-03-22T12:47:48.488-04:00Intensive grazing techniques play a really big par...Intensive grazing techniques play a really big part in pastures looking like yours. When our neighbors started doing that, I remember seeing big differences in early spring pasture appearances. Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-50786707753763772352020-03-22T12:07:33.065-04:002020-03-22T12:07:33.065-04:00Certainly worth the effort! The critters are going...Certainly worth the effort! The critters are going to love it! :-)Mike Yukonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07615350717597229013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-65756490244306969662020-03-22T09:59:33.451-04:002020-03-22T09:59:33.451-04:00Wow Leigh! Fantastic visual evidence of how impro...Wow Leigh! Fantastic visual evidence of how improvements actually work. Very encouraging!Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.com