rachels.haven's Journal

[rachels.haven]

I’m considering planting it in pecan trees. Far off plans……. Son wants to buy a PTO driven well drilling rig and put a couple of ag wells on my place and on his land. I could run irrigation to each tree for these bodacious droughts we have. It wouldn’t make money in my lifetime but it would in his and my daughter’s.

Maybe not, but I'd imagine it would be really pretty and so, so satisfying to see each morning. (And you could have sheep graze around those trees when old enough, right? Infact, it might be critical, plus it would be even more satisfying )

 

[farmerjan]

Not to burst any bubbles... and I have never raised any.... but it is my understanding that pecan trees require alot of water compared to some.... @SageHill have any insight on them????

 

[Baymule]

Not to burst any bubbles... and I have never raised any.... but it is my understanding that pecan trees require alot of water compared to some.... @SageHill have any insight on them????

That’s why the Ag well and irrigation pipe run to each tree.

Maybe not, but I'd imagine it would be really pretty and so, so satisfying to see each morning. (And you could have sheep graze around those trees when old enough, right? Infact, it might be critical, plus it would be even more satisfying )

That’s what I’m thinking!

My great aunt in Tallulah Louisiana had an 80 acre pecan grove. I was always so impressed with it. I was 30 when she died and it all was sold. Her and her husband farmed, had over 1,000 acres leased for crops and cattle. Plus they owned other parcels of land. But I always loved the pecan grove the most, especially with Hereford cattle grazing in it. Beautiful. And profitable.

 

[SageHill]

For groves around here each tree has either a drip irrigation or an in ground pipe riser irrigation "sprinkler". Drips are prone to coyotes chewing on them, but cheaper to put in. That's the only way we can do it. When NAFTA allowed Mexico to ship avocados in we took a HUGE hit. A lot of groves were let go as water prices increased. The big push to "Save Water" actually forced water prices higher and higher because less water was used yet the infrastructure of the water systems and companies lost money because of people cutting back. They absolutely had to raise the water rates because they couldn't make ends meet. It's a vicious circle - cut back, pay more, cut back because the bills get sooo high (talking $1k or more / cycle, obviously dependent on usage), rates go up again, repeat, repeat repeat. And Ag - CA doesn't care.

 

[fuzzi]

Regardless, I know livestock is often a money pit...but they make me happy.

That's what is most important.

 

[rachels.haven]

DH did something totally out of character and made an acquaintance with a guy at home Depot trying to become his own contractor instead of an underpaid skilled laborer working for a guy and he hired him for what the man asked for to do our basement and in 3 days he arrived early, worked nonstop, and it's almost all done and back to finished. The bathroom didn't dry fast enough so he still has to paint a 2x2ish square by the floor and re-hang a bathroom door and he'll do that Monday.

And then Thursday DH went to PA to give a presentation to his dad's college class...but he took BabyShaun with him to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa....So today I had no three year old ball and chain or tiny dictator (sorry BabyShaun) so today I slept without being sardined by a sneaky determined to co-sleeping child, I moved fences so the goats can still use the shelter in the front of pasture B but graze pasture A and not have access to B's grass so we could rest it. Then I did dishes and started a cheese. And tomorrow morning DH and BabyShaun will drive back.

The school kids were bummed they couldn't go but they're enjoying take out. Our deal is if Dad's out of town the first day or two we get takeout (then it devolves into grocery delivery because I don't like that much salt and the boys take a day or two but feel similar)

The lady selling me my buck in Oregon connected me with a friend in MD with me and she's buying Pete and is coming tomorrow. Pete has been a boundaries pusher lately but he's got a scur coming loose and it's painful when bumped so one tap and he's suddenly respectful again. He's so tall he can look me in the eye flat footed so respectful and not courting me is GOOD. I'll teach her about the scur and she can have his amazing genes. I still think Liv, Pete's dam is one of the best Lucky*Star's does alive right now but he can't keep breeding his daughters for me and I don't want to keep a whole (um, well grown) buck for just three does that aren't his kids.

Starting a four day weekend now.

 

[rachels.haven]

oh, and a neighbor who is a contractor offered to help me with our structures (for $, of course). When income is larger than expenses again we'll probably take him up on it.

 

[rachels.haven]

Grouchy.
This morning the last ND came into heat so I bred her to Oberon. She's a cute one. I hope she does well.

Snowflake the mini Saanen was also in heat after being bred last time to Oberon (the time before that it was the little white buck, Beaul). After kidding this year she had what looked like a lady bits infection that I had to clear up with anti-biotics (first she was cleaning, then I tried anti-fungals before switching to antibiotics because it looked like a yeast infection so there was a delay to the right treatment there...goats don't usually get yeast infections). I'm wondering if she's got something going on and just won't take. Or if she's big enough that the ND aren't reaching, so I tried to catch one of my skittish mini bucks. As usual, they would not be caught and I couldn't corner and tackle them this time either. It appears they remember from last time. So I went ahead and listed them on Cragislist for $75 each because if I can't catch them for breeding I can't use them so why are they here? They will probably go for meat, and we'll have to have multiple people involved to snag them.

I almost bred Snowflake's 140lbs self to a standard buck again just to see if she'd take rather than the alternative, but I don't have lute this time to end the pregnancy at day 145 to protect against large kids.That and I don't really want any more 90% standard grade kids.

So it's looking like Snowflake with her Saanen tasting milk might be open this year and she might not be able to be bred at all so I may consider shipping her. I might reconsider after church and get lucky and catch a mini or give Oberon one more shot before adding her to my list, but it's not looking great for her. Two misses with two different bucks who have settled other does this year. I think traditionally it's three strikes and she's out.

I've got to go deal with the effects of daylight savings on my moody, temperamental oldest so I've got to go.

 

[Baymule]

A mini vacation from the tiny dictator! But back to normal. Too bad about Snowflake. If you try again, I wish you luck.

 

[rachels.haven]

The kids re-named Polly the Puppy "Cookie" and she answers to it. #doomed