Grass is our main crop here at the new Bountywoods Farm in Annapolis Valley. By managing the animals on the pastures we’re turning grass into tasty, nutritious meat products. The grass is growing splendidly now, especially in some areas such as around the barn, where the previous owner apparently spread a lot of the manure.
In some outlying areas of the pasture the grass stand is a bit thin and has quickly “headed out” or formed seed heads. Once this happens the stems get a little tough so the cows turn up their noses when they know they can get more tender grass. If we can get our newly acquired haying equipment in shape we hope to cut some grass for hay soon.
We will also need to save (“stockpile”) some of the surplus grass for when the pastures slow down in the dry mid-summer season.
We’re systematically moving the poultry over the areas that need a nitrogen boost; and that along with the hoof action and fertilizing of the cows will quickly improve the poorer areas so they will be lush and productive by next year.
I really enjoy watching the cows ripping off big chunks of luscious grass right after we move them to a new paddock. They search out the clovers and dandelions first, and then they settle down to graze on the grasses—dessert first then the meat and potatoes. They leave the yellow buttercups and the pink Ragged Robins to beautify the scene for the neighbors driving by.
The pigs are happily working at renovating the part of the woods that the previous owners had heavily logged. We are planning to have them manage it at the right amount of disturbance so that we will have a productive savanna; regularly spaced trees with enough space that the sun can get in and keep the grass growing. The pigs’ rooting helps to encourage hardwood species to grow, to replace the mostly spruce and fir that is growing there now. After the pigs have planted annual crops in an area (from their feed), we go over it with a hand operated grass seed broadcaster and add some perennial grasses and legumes. After that, the cows and pigs will alternately graze the area which will keep it looking like a park.
Today’s rain is giving our garden a boost again. Some crops haven’t been germinating the best, but we expect to have the soil in better shape by this time next year; as well as a bigger microbial work force to feed the plants. This will allow the soil to hold more moisture and will also boost the germinating seeds.
Selema and Daniel hauled a lot of wood chip mulch for the fruit and berry trees and bushes. We bought loads of wood chips from arborists, and also made some chips from brush using our new tractor powered chipper.
Adoniram decided he wanted to help too. He really enjoyed himself as he tried to prove that he could keep up with his siblings… almost.
Jesse is experimenting with fermenting whole grains this year for both the poultry and the pigs. It seems to be working very well and they need less of the expensive organic grain when it’s fermented. We do have to make up for the grain savings with a little extra labor for the extra handling and soaking. The chickens and the poultry are doing well with this program though, so it seems to be worth it.
We’re almost keeping up with the many extra tasks that need to be done to get everything in shape on this new place. We tore down the old “tumbledown shed” that was in the middle of the barnyard, and we are working at digging out that area and re-grading it so spring runoff water can drain better. We will also be installing a new metal roof on the leaky barn in a couple of weeks. That will keep us busy for a little while. Besides that, we’ve hired a friend to dig in a waterline to the woods so we can easily get water for the pigs all winter.
But we’ll get there yet. The younger boys just went to pick a few haskap berries for supper, and I think I should go out to the cows to see if they’re ready for their daily move to fresh pasture. I can’t wait to hear them ripping off those first bites.