Bull Pen, Mandy Hollow and Cari's Corner

[Chainsaw]

Enjoyed the updates. Your lake is nice and clear for swimming. And your before and after pictures are very interesting. The difference is incredible. The deer must love it.
I get the same thing this time of year when brush hogging with the ford tractor mostly. The screen not only fills up but also the radiator fins get clogged. It cleans up easy though with the hose.

Growing your own vegetables and teaching kids to do it as well is a joy that can't be put into words. My wife and I are still laughing about the guy checking the tomatoes pictures. With the lake up thirty-one inches (down to twenty-seven now), we can relate to that.

 

[OkieKubota]

Yes, spray from the fan side out on the radiator. Spraying from the front packs it in like concrete...

Looking good Milt!

 

[lakngolf]

Yes, spray from the fan side out on the radiator. Spraying from the front packs it in like concrete...

Looking good Milt!

Thanks, Okie

 

[dogghr]

When I began habitat work on Mandy Hollow, one of the challenges was to "close off" some wide open spaces. The area had been used for hay field and grazing pasture so thickness of brush, trees and shrubs were not the order of the day. I needed to provide some screening and security within the old pasture. I documented some of that process on the old forum, but thought it would be interesting to show some before and after pictures here. Three areas are shown below

(1)
before

after

(2)
before

after

(3)
before

after

That's quite a change. Did you basically just let it do its own stuff? Mowed fields are pretty but deer…. they just love the junk. Always enjoy your updates. Thanks.

 

[lakngolf]

That's quite a change. Did you basically just let it do its own stuff? Mowed fields are pretty but deer…. they just love the junk. Always enjoy your updates. Thanks.

On the old forum I had a thread about using my little tractor and boxblade to create mound rows in the area that I wanted screening. Basically all that top soil piled up has "done its own stuff".. Small pine trees, poke salad, dog fennel, and a few raccoon planted persimmon trees have added their touch. I am pleased with the result.

Some of you up north may not know how hard it is to keep tomatoes producing down our way when the July/August temps burn everything out. Well, this year I purposely waited and waited about planting several tomatoes so I would have some in prime production during this time. So far so good....these should ripen in 10 - 14 days.

Also, it seems that everyones food plot does so much better when yall put your hat in the plot. I decided to try that with my chufa plot. Works great with boot too! Yes, this stuff is that high.

 

[dogghr]

That's neat how it planted itself.
A little worried about the hat and boot? What else did you remove and no don't tell me? You naked in a field of chufa should make Turkey Weekly centerfold.

 

[lakngolf]

As many of you know I am in my second year of a garden completely encapsulated with roofing tin and two strands of hot wire (except over the water, no hot wire).

That has worked well to keep the squirrels out of my tomatoes, and the raccoons away from my sweet corn (both critters have enjoyed a lot over the years). Well, I was working in the garden recently and noticed some droppings, large enough for raccoon, and it was the color of Butternut Squash. (some of you will remember what I thought was yellow squash turned out to be butternut this year). I looked around, and more poop. Near the door I noticed digging where some creature had tried to get out.

So, I concluded that a raccoon had gotten in the garden (thru an open door I hope, and not thru my ft. know barricade) and could not get out. I set a trap (with butternut squash as bait) and found this the next morning.

There was enough sign that I thought there might be another critter. Sure enough I set the trap the next night and got the same result. How many more are there? I will not be home for a few days so I could not leave the trap set.

At least some of the Butternut squash was eaten!!

 

[Merle Hawggard]

Who knew you could get that fat off squash?

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[lakngolf]

Who knew you could get that fat off squash?

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I am so tempted to show poop pics!

 

[lakngolf]

Update on 10 acre Clear Cut

Two years ago I had about 10 acres cleared so that I could let it grow back up as a jungle. I kept a small area free of debris and bush hogged it periodically for a future food plot. Here is an arial of the clear cut and surroundings. The green area is the new food plot.

The jungle has filled in nicely, with vines tree stump growth, dog fennel and sweet gum. Maybe there is something useful in there somewhere. My goal was to provide a hiding place for the deer.

We got a decent rain a couple days back so I decided today was a good chance to hook up the chisel plow and see what the foodplot soil was made of. I was pleased with the results. Not only did it break the soil but collected roots and stumps that I could just drive to the side and discard.

I liked it so well that I ran the chisel plow over all the plots. Gotta love that Spring Tooth Chisel Plow (just keep checking those bolts for loose nuts)

 

[dogghr]

Are you replanting the plots or just running the chisel to break up soil. Regrowth is amazing, prob no better kind of deer management. BTW glad you kept your clothes on for this group of pics!

 

[George]

Good stuff, LNG (Milt).

G

 

[lakngolf]

Are you replanting the plots or just running the chisel to break up soil. Regrowth is amazing, prob no better kind of deer management. BTW glad you kept your clothes on for this group of pics!

I will not plant until well into September, and hope for rain. I was just breaking the soil a bit. The bahai, Bermuda and fescue continues to thrive year after year. This will make for a better job with the tiller. I do plan to hit the plots lightly again with chisel, after tiller. No hats or boots.

 

[lakngolf]

I just wanted to post this picture again. It is home and means a lot to me. We have applied to move Mother to a nursing home. Once there she may never see the old barn again, but it and all the joy of farming, gardening, flowering, tractoring and loving the land will be with her forever!

 

[lakngolf]

This dear lady went peacefully to be with her Saviour last evening. In her last days she often reminded us of His "Amazing Grace". Mother was a special soul, loved by so many!

 

[dogghr]

Sorry for your loss good friend. Lots of mixed emotions when this happens. I can see the gentleness in her eyes. She raised a fine young man. Prayers to you.

 

[Merle Hawggard]

Sorry to hear this Lak. Thoughts and prayers with you and yours.

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[buckhunter10]

So sorry about your mom! She's resting with Jesus now.

 

[Paradise725]

So sorry for your loss. May she Rest In Peace with the Lord.


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[Triple C]

So sorry for your loss lak. I know from so many of your posts she spread lots of love and grace. Thoughts and prayers are with you.