Devonviolet Acres

[Devonviolet]

DH & I went out to move the leaves from the front yard to back behind the goat pasture, so we can throw them over the fence for the goats.

When we got back there, I took a look at the fenceline, that I had mowed last Spring, so we would have access to the property line, should we have the energy to clear it to run fence along the property line. All I could see was 4 foot high Sumac!

So, I convinced DH to go get the yard tractor, so I could mow the property line, before it got away from us, like it did last year - with 7-8' weeds!

One thing led to another, and we had the big, ratcheting pruners and the bow saw, back there, first so we could cut back overhanging branches, that I'm tired of having to duck, to get past.

Then, we started using the bow saw, to cut down 1-2"x8' trees, so I can use the tractor to mow back more of the undergrowth. And before anyone says to let the goats do that . . . I tried taking Falina back there, to let her have at it, and she turned around & headed back to the pasture.

So, while I was at it, I started backing the tractor into the mass of bramble and honeysuckle. One thing led to another and I managed to mow back an area about 30x10', before we both got dehydrated & exhausted, and it was time to call it a day.

So here are a few pics I took from the tractor.

Shortly after I took these pics, DH had reached his limit, so we went in and took a shower. DH laid down & is napping.

 

[Baymule]

Another small victory. Another small patch cleared. Then trudge in the house, chug a gallon of iced tea, shower, eat, collapse. Done.

 

[Baymule]

You need to go find hay NOW. Our hay guy told us to go find hay because they normally would have made their second cutting and normally would have PLENTY of hay, but they have only made one cutting. They don't even have enough hay for their own cows. We found 30 round bales and bought them. They hauled them for us and put in their barn. We are truly blessed with such good friends. I talked to a lady today who is looking for 100 round bales and she isn't finding any. The same guy we got our 30 bales from told her that he wasn't holding hay for anyone, first come, first serve. He had people lining up for it. The same lady told me she gets hay from a guy in Pickton who rolls several thousand bales a year, he has only made one cutting, it sold out before he was done baling and he has no more to bale.

There are still lots of square bales on Craigs List at reasonable prices. Start calling right away and go get all you can as soon as you can. It is already at critical point. If you wait, the price will double, triple, and that's if you can find any.

 

[Bruce]

I am the boot shaped area, and the green around it is Nat Forest...about 160,000 acres of it.

I bet you never have problems with the neighbors being too loud at night.

I tried taking Falina back there, to let her have at it, and she turned around & headed back to the pasture.

"You want me to eat ALL of that????"

Too overwhelming, she was going back for a nap.

 

[Mini Horses]

I think you and the lawn tractor did a Great job! You & DH deserve a shower & nap.

 

[Devonviolet]

You need to go find hay NOW.

I just talked to our hay guy the other day. He said basically the same thing about not getting much hay from his fields, and not sure how much he will get for the rest of this year. His guy that does the baling, ended up with a small one, at the end. It is approximately 1/2 bale. The bales ended up a bit bigger than usual. So, he is charging us $40 each for the full bales and $15 for the half bale. Not bad, eh???

Last year, we used 1-1/2 of his 4x5 round bales. We still have about 1/2 bale left. So we ordered 2-1/2 of his 4-1/2 x 5 round bales. That will give us the equivalent to 3 full bales, to last to next year, which is twice what we used in the past year. So, that should get us through until next year, when hopefully we will have enough rain, to make nice hay again.

He is going out of town until Father’s Day. So, we scheduled to pick our hay up the following Tuesday.

He had one guy try to buy all the hay he could bale, but he wouldn't do that until he talked to his regular customers. When we talked, he promised to keep the best two (+) bales for us. He’s a good Christian man, and has always been good to us, that way. So, I trust that he will do what he says.

As I’m sure you know, it’s good to develop good working relationships with people. You never know when you are going to need them!!!!

 

[Bruce]

Glad your hay guy has good morals.

Hope you all get enough hay!

 

[CntryBoy777]

Y'all sure have been doing the work over there and glad that ya are able to get so much done in this heat.....my goats are not crazy about sumac, will eat a little and move on to other things....we have to watch Star eating too much of it because it will bloat her and have to give her baking soda to help her with it. They survey what is around them and eat the most nutrious available first, so this may explain why she didn't eat much of it.....

 

[Devonviolet]

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Y'all sure have been doing the work over there and glad that ya are able to get so much done in this heat.....my goats are not crazy about sumac, will eat a little and move on to other things....we have to watch Star eating too much of it because it will bloat her and have to give her baking soda to help her with it. They survey what is around them and eat the most nutrious available first, so this may explain why she didn't eat much of it.....

She does sniff all the plants & takes a bite here and there. We are talking some of her favorites . . . bramble, honeysuckle & poison ivy. But then she stops, looks around & then heads for home.

I tried again last night, out where we opened up more of the woods, and she did the same thing.

 

[farmerjan]

Sorry to hear of the hay "shortage" already there. We just got started making hay this past week. Cut some real weedy stuff that is going to be put into grain sorghum for silage so had to get it off the field, about 5 acres. Cut about 6-8 acres of orchard grass that was planted last fall, that turned out nice if a little mature and then did another 10 acre field of established orchard grass.
All hay should have been cut 2 weeks ago when we were getting all the rain after 10 straight days of no rain, temps in the 80's plus, and drought like conditions. It had been real short and we were getting a little worried....then all the rain, and everything grew by "feet" instead of inches in the 2 weeks.
We have just gotten started; have another 10 acres of established orchard grass, then alot of just "grass hay" at the various places we rent and some are given to us. Have people wanting the hay cut right now, and you try to tell them that you have to have at least a 4 day window to make it as dry hay....and that their place isn't the only one we cut.
We carried over a good amount, even with it being so cold so long and the pastures/grasses were slow to grow at first. Now everything is headed out. Feast or Famine every year it seems like.
We are glad to have given up/lost 2 big hay fields last year, as fertilizer has gone up, diesel to run the equipment keeps going up, and then the hauling back to the barn/feeding areas. And you get tired of having to please all these people who buy a 20 acre "estate", want the agriculture tax break, but aren't gonna sweat to make their own hay, and want the place to look like a park. We are continually trying to do more "rotational grazing" on places where there is water and fences, but many have neither so they have to be cut. This whole next week is calling for showers and storms every afternoon, 40 to 80% chance for the next 5 days so no hay making.....