Tag Archives: livestock management

More Pasture-Making

When you’re living on a small-scale homestead and raising pastured livestock for food, and when you’re getting along in years and have less energy than you used to (only a little less energy, mind…), but when that’s the situation, you may find it difficult to keep up with pasture rotation for the animals.

Awhile back we did a piece on “pasture-making”. That was for larger fields that weren’t seeded as yet. But at the same time we were seeding and scratching the larger plots, the grass in the orchards was going to waste…well, except for the geese, but they are very slow grazers. Can’t really count on the geese to keep your pasture mowed.

Long story short…we have added another pasture by fencing in each of the fruit trees individually in the front orchard. Now we can easily move the electric fence around each day to section off pasture plots for the goats, without worrying about the fruit trees. As long as you get the animals off the plot before they rip the grass roots out (that’s 1-2 days at the most) the grass will re-grow at the first rain.

As my Great-Aunt Mattie used to say…”You live and learn.” Isn’t that the truth.

Happy Homesteading,

T.

Pasture-Making

Well, I’ll be the first to admit that we don’t have the growing schedule exactly right yet for rotating our pastures. But just like everyone else, the Coronavirus has meant tightening our belts and finding new ways to cut feed costs.

Mrs. Roo

Free-ranging the chickens and water-fowl and pasturing the goats is very cost effective, along with fermenting and feeding kitchen and garden scrap…we know that. It’s just convincing yourself to step out into that 100 degree heat…yes, April and already 100 degrees… and seed, seed, seed takes real resolve!

This video shows one way to get off to a good start…

Pasture-making Bent Pine Farm – Spring (ha!) 2020

Those of us who are fortunate enough to have our own homestead, seem to be in better shape than some folks. We’re used to staying home, and we have most everything we need here. Like Wendell Berry says, “You truly have to love your farm to be a farmer.”

Uh-oh, gotta run…the TP delivery is here!

Happy Homesteading,

T.