weekender21
Well-Known Member
Things are looking great!
Foodplotting In The Mountains...The Sequel
- Thread starter dogghr
- Start date
Weasel
Well-Known Member
Love all that green in the mountains against those blue skies. Everything is looking great Dogghr.
Any moto trips planned for the summer? I’m riding down to visit a buddy in Texas then dipping down into Mexico for a few days at the end of the month.
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Any moto trips planned for the summer? I’m riding down to visit a buddy in Texas then dipping down into Mexico for a few days at the end of the month.
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
Well just got back from 4 day 1400 mile trip down into the country strip of Nashville w a side trip to see Natives place and then changing directions from our I intended ND to dodge rains. Great ride. Stop by on way to Texas and maybe I can do Texas again. More on the wk when I get some time this wk. thanks for reading.
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Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Glad you made it home safely, and sure was fun getting to meet you in person!!!
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Well did get a few thing done at Farm. Sprayed trees w Sevin. I’m not one to baby my trees after the first 2 years. If they can’t make it on their own then honestly o don’t want them. New 2yo trees produced apples but I plucked them off. Too early for that.
Four feet of growth on pears with a drought in 17. I love these guys.
My poor loan Persimmon female. I hope to give her a mate soon. Did have blooms tho in her second year.
Chestnuts loving this spot. Saw some at Walmart for 14$ I plan to get this wk. And an Arkansas Black Apple at Lowe’s for 10$. Wasn’t gonna plant this year but dang can’t turn those down.
Hazelnuts and Silkies are exploding from their tubes. Been a good yr for trees thus far. And why mow when the alfalfa , chicories and clovers are knee deep? They are shaded from the drying heat and soil is being improved. And by fall will be a great plot lasting many years. All a throw and mow planting. I like. Prepare for the feast/rains and the famine/ drought before either happens and your plots will do well.
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Four feet of growth on pears with a drought in 17. I love these guys.
My poor loan Persimmon female. I hope to give her a mate soon. Did have blooms tho in her second year.
Chestnuts loving this spot. Saw some at Walmart for 14$ I plan to get this wk. And an Arkansas Black Apple at Lowe’s for 10$. Wasn’t gonna plant this year but dang can’t turn those down.
Hazelnuts and Silkies are exploding from their tubes. Been a good yr for trees thus far. And why mow when the alfalfa , chicories and clovers are knee deep? They are shaded from the drying heat and soil is being improved. And by fall will be a great plot lasting many years. All a throw and mow planting. I like. Prepare for the feast/rains and the famine/ drought before either happens and your plots will do well.
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
Well the slacker has been roaming the country for a week with a little farm work thrown in. As you might have seen on Native's thread, my buddy and I rode up from a stop in Nashville and the Opry to steal ideas from him. What an amazing place. A literal jungle in places with more tree plantings of every type one could imagine. And like myself, didn't depend a lot on over treatment of plots and limited use of chemical and no use of fire. We have a lot in common. Great soil, and great land managed by a very energetic young man. I came home and fired the worthless manager of my farm/me. And not only is he is Native great at what he does, certainly is a supreme character in person. Very envious and I might sneak by one late Nov night to harvest a buck or three. Hey it is KY and there is/was a feud rumor has it.
So as said, instead of leaving his place and heading toward North Dakota as planned on the bikes, storms forced us south trying to dodge them. Didn't always succeed but had a great time. A bitter sweet trip as will probably be my buddies last ride do to a health issue. We've traveled I think 44 states and Canada in the last 10 years. And with no major breakdowns ( well there was that bad tank of gas for me in Muskegon) we been real lucky. Like your foodplots, you have to take care of equipment.
After a 4 day ride, I came back and traveled north part of state to hike into a wilderness area. A bit aggravated as outsiders with the help of a new 4 lane, are beginning to crowd the place. This area is the epitomy of how nature can overcome obstacles. No manipulation by man after his logging and fire of the early 1900s. Yet it is a variety of multiple species of plants, thickets too dense to walk, and food for a variety of animals. A lot to learn for a foodplotter and land manager that thinks they must manipulate every aspect for the land and animal to succeed. Yet in this foodplotters desert, I would seeon this trip the Fisher, deer, bear, mink,eagles, hawks, variety of songbirds, and more. All living in a harsh environment without the fingers of man correcting their preconceived notions of what a landscape requires.
The mountain laurel and elderberry were in nearly full bloom. Quite the sight. These will give way to the blueberry and cranberry as summer slides to an end. Northern Spruce/hardwood mix forming windbreaks for the low growing plants. Man what a teaching picture of how to manage our landscape.
Pollinators...
Bogs covered with Peat that is 3-6 feet deep, topped with this Sphagnum mosses and other rootless plants that absorb water directly. Step into this and you sink to your knees in what looks to be just much turf. Water management at its finest for the wettest and dryest times. Does your clover go dormant during the hottest of days? Why would that be?
One of my favorite bog plants. Sundew is a sticky leafed carnivorous plant. And who planted and maintained this growth? Tell me.
Heath barrens covered by a multitude of laurel, cranberry, blueberry, chokeberry, teaberry, and on and on. Food for large and the small.
Well the crazy mountain man will cease his ramblings but I hope as I'm always saying, observe and let her teach. You will learn more adaptations for your uses than any book written by an expert, if you give it a chance. Peace.
So as said, instead of leaving his place and heading toward North Dakota as planned on the bikes, storms forced us south trying to dodge them. Didn't always succeed but had a great time. A bitter sweet trip as will probably be my buddies last ride do to a health issue. We've traveled I think 44 states and Canada in the last 10 years. And with no major breakdowns ( well there was that bad tank of gas for me in Muskegon) we been real lucky. Like your foodplots, you have to take care of equipment.
After a 4 day ride, I came back and traveled north part of state to hike into a wilderness area. A bit aggravated as outsiders with the help of a new 4 lane, are beginning to crowd the place. This area is the epitomy of how nature can overcome obstacles. No manipulation by man after his logging and fire of the early 1900s. Yet it is a variety of multiple species of plants, thickets too dense to walk, and food for a variety of animals. A lot to learn for a foodplotter and land manager that thinks they must manipulate every aspect for the land and animal to succeed. Yet in this foodplotters desert, I would seeon this trip the Fisher, deer, bear, mink,eagles, hawks, variety of songbirds, and more. All living in a harsh environment without the fingers of man correcting their preconceived notions of what a landscape requires.
The mountain laurel and elderberry were in nearly full bloom. Quite the sight. These will give way to the blueberry and cranberry as summer slides to an end. Northern Spruce/hardwood mix forming windbreaks for the low growing plants. Man what a teaching picture of how to manage our landscape.
Pollinators...
Bogs covered with Peat that is 3-6 feet deep, topped with this Sphagnum mosses and other rootless plants that absorb water directly. Step into this and you sink to your knees in what looks to be just much turf. Water management at its finest for the wettest and dryest times. Does your clover go dormant during the hottest of days? Why would that be?
One of my favorite bog plants. Sundew is a sticky leafed carnivorous plant. And who planted and maintained this growth? Tell me.
Heath barrens covered by a multitude of laurel, cranberry, blueberry, chokeberry, teaberry, and on and on. Food for large and the small.
Well the crazy mountain man will cease his ramblings but I hope as I'm always saying, observe and let her teach. You will learn more adaptations for your uses than any book written by an expert, if you give it a chance. Peace.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
If you don't find that persimmon a mate, I'm going to sneak out there some night and transplant it - to my farm.....
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Lak, It was a treat for me to get to meet him and Pete too. I noticed quickly how much they loved being out on their bikes and just having good old fun. They kept me laughing the whole time, and it was a very enjoyable day indeed.
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone for reading. Trust me its just a little payback for all I've learned from everyone on this and the previous forum. Certainly has shortened my learning curve immensely and even changed some, just some, of my hard headed methods. As they say, my pleasure.
And Native and others, this is exactly why one weekend there will be a great gathering of all who want at my place. These Keyboards are great but nothing like a face to face. There we can share, and even maybe argue some
about various aspects of land management and life in general. Maybe a can of beer or glass of milk, grilled steaks and venison, maybe some fresh trout, and we'll trample the best of my clover plots with random recklessness. I'm excited. Again thanks.
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Not much to show in dead of summer. My bucks don’t roll in for another month but have several fawn pics. Deer pop up this yr for sure. Roadkill everywhere.
As shown on another thread , cut a black walnut and red oak to mill for fireplace mantel and shelves on new house in near future. For kicks I wanted cut logs w crosscut saw just because. Two buddies jumped on idea and it happened. Yea we get a bit bored in these hills. This is cutting red oak.
And the black walnut.
Also should show how I do clover anymore. Pretty ugly by most standards but really makes no diff to deer and saves on chemicals , time , and money. I will spray cleth some yrs and prob will this fall if I have time. This was mid June.
But see the clover is living jst fine, perhaps even better than in a grassless weedless plot. Worry of more important things.
Silky Dogwood continue to amaze me on growth. Best trees I’ve planted n growth. Deer do browse them some. Fallow junk n background is some more of my lazy foodplotting. Mow every 2 yrs in May and all kinds of deer food pops up.
Been a very dry month so when rain was forecast for the wk I jumped on chance to get my brassica in the ground. I had mowed the dead WR and WW a foot high about 2 wks ago.
Simply broadcast 3#PTT 3# DER and 5# Jackhammer forage radish. My rates were a little higher w no tillage. I haven’t used any tillage for 3 + yrs now. I spread 19-19-19 and urea just to give it a kick even tho my soil tests are VH in all categories. No mowing no rolling. The mulch and plants will provide the substrate. Much the result of proper plot rotations thru the years. Not difficult. If I can do it on these soils most anyone can. Don’t worry so much of your additives and chemicals and fancy seeds. Do it right and your soil and deer will thank you. Each plot about half an acre. I will overseed them w WR/WW/RC. in late Oct.
Aug is my planting month for brassica and Labor Day is date for rye/ clover /oats /AWP rotation.
If you will spend time looking at nature’s inner workings at a on your knees level, and follow her lead, many of your frustrations of weeds , drought, and monsoon will cease to become constant issues. Enjoy your land and use it for your enjoyment and freedom. It isn’t all about the deer. They will come. Peace
“Land then, is not merely soils;
It is a fountain of energy flowing thru a circuit of soils , plants , and animals. - - - Aldo Leopold ... A Sand County Almanac
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As shown on another thread , cut a black walnut and red oak to mill for fireplace mantel and shelves on new house in near future. For kicks I wanted cut logs w crosscut saw just because. Two buddies jumped on idea and it happened. Yea we get a bit bored in these hills. This is cutting red oak.
And the black walnut.
Also should show how I do clover anymore. Pretty ugly by most standards but really makes no diff to deer and saves on chemicals , time , and money. I will spray cleth some yrs and prob will this fall if I have time. This was mid June.
But see the clover is living jst fine, perhaps even better than in a grassless weedless plot. Worry of more important things.
Silky Dogwood continue to amaze me on growth. Best trees I’ve planted n growth. Deer do browse them some. Fallow junk n background is some more of my lazy foodplotting. Mow every 2 yrs in May and all kinds of deer food pops up.
Been a very dry month so when rain was forecast for the wk I jumped on chance to get my brassica in the ground. I had mowed the dead WR and WW a foot high about 2 wks ago.
Simply broadcast 3#PTT 3# DER and 5# Jackhammer forage radish. My rates were a little higher w no tillage. I haven’t used any tillage for 3 + yrs now. I spread 19-19-19 and urea just to give it a kick even tho my soil tests are VH in all categories. No mowing no rolling. The mulch and plants will provide the substrate. Much the result of proper plot rotations thru the years. Not difficult. If I can do it on these soils most anyone can. Don’t worry so much of your additives and chemicals and fancy seeds. Do it right and your soil and deer will thank you. Each plot about half an acre. I will overseed them w WR/WW/RC. in late Oct.
Aug is my planting month for brassica and Labor Day is date for rye/ clover /oats /AWP rotation.
If you will spend time looking at nature’s inner workings at a on your knees level, and follow her lead, many of your frustrations of weeds , drought, and monsoon will cease to become constant issues. Enjoy your land and use it for your enjoyment and freedom. It isn’t all about the deer. They will come. Peace
“Land then, is not merely soils;
It is a fountain of energy flowing thru a circuit of soils , plants , and animals. - - - Aldo Leopold ... A Sand County Almanac
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
dogghr
Well-Known Member
I'm glad you had a great trip to the farm. But I am glad I don't have feral hogs to deal with. Thanks for reading the ramblings.
Cedar Ridge
Active Member
I have to second the potty thought. Wasn’t sure where we were headed for a minute.
weekender21
Well-Known Member
I love the broadcast and enjoy approach. I'm planning to start a few plots in late August or early September, my work schedule will determine the date. I'm broadcasting WR/WW, a few clover varieties and possibly chicory. I have no idea how this first attempt will go but I'll enjoy the process and embrace the weeds if that's the result.
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
You guys gave me a great laugh. Oddly as I was trying to do all that down load on my phone, I almost deleted that pic because I also thot it looked like a shitter. Kinda appropriate don't you think since I pretty much am full of it most times. But a new challenge is coming to mind....I have to second the potty thought. Wasn’t sure where we were headed for a minute.
Good luck and if possible try to guess the rains coming in, certainly a big help. I'm ready to kill the weather girl as our week long rain has been a few showers for a couple days. The perils of farming.
One of the first plots I did was a spray and throw before I had heard such a thing. I ran over it with my jeep to try to get seed/soil contact. I thot it turned to be a failure back then, but stupid me didn't rally know what plants to look for, it was a decent success looking back. Maybe not as good as my bedspring clover plot, but decent. Good luck with your experimentations.
