Author Archives: Nathan

Bum Hay

It was coarse and looked more like straw than hay. I accepted delivery, and paid for it. That was a mistake. The animals won’t eat it because it has no food value for them. I was worried about being out of feed, and fear is a poor reason for making decisions!
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Soil Test Results

We are low on Calcium, Sulphur, & Boron. The soil is also acidic.
The phosphorus came out excellent–which was a huge surprise, and a big change from our previous soil sample from 2006. It was virtually zero back then. All the poultry manure & compost spreading has paid off.
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Keep it simple Worm Composting — Vermiculture

The compost was still composting at about the same rate, but my system had changed for the better. I now have a host of worms working through my compost.

I no longer create large heaps of hot compost, and I no longer have to turn the piles.
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Is it a Honey Bee or a Wasp?

Yellow jackets, wasps & hornets are much more aggressive than honey bees, and will come out in force if you happen to disturb their nest. Unlike honey bees, they can sting repeatedly. (They especially don’t like it if you blow a breath of air into their front door) Continue reading

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Permaculture tour at the Bullock Homestead

The Bullock homestead & nursery has been there for 30 years, and it is an excellent example of a “mature” permaculture system. The main area of the homestead is densely packed as a perennial “food forest”. The 3 hour tour started at 1 PM, and I could tell that we were just getting a taste of the thought, detail and purpose that was behind everything there. Continue reading

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Cougar Event & 2 Goats Lost

Some weeks are more eventful than others.

Here is my description of how a cougar killed two of our goats.
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Chickens & Cows on the Pasture

A cow pie is money, and I like to get it back in the soil “bank” as soon as possible. Of course, I’d rather not spend my time following around the cow with a rake to spread the manure out as soon as it hits the ground. I’ve got chickens lined up to do that job for me. Continue reading

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How much organic material can your car haul?

I combine as many errands as I can on my drive to and from my cubicle job, and one of these is a daily stop at our neighborhood produce stand. They save their discarded greens for me each day, and I take them home to feed the animals. The challenge is when my little car and I show up at the market when I really needed my pickup. Monday was one of those days. Continue reading

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Pasture Brix

The threshold of 12° Bx marks the point when insects stop eating the plants. The theory goes that if an aphid or caterpillar eats sap sweeter than that, it ferments into alcohol and kills the bug. Continue reading

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Maureen the cow has joined the milking routine

We have a once-a-day milking routine at our place. The kid goats and the now the calf get penned up at night and are given back to their moms after milking is finished in the morning. The little bit of milk production we lose is made up for with the health of the young animals, and the easier chore routine. Continue reading

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