Forage Species for Your Rotational Grazing Operations Part 1

Starting or renovating a pasture requires careful consideration of forage species suited to your animals and goals. Key factors include soil testing, choosing between mixed or pure stands, and managing weeds. Selecting appropriate forages based on conditions and livestock needs enhances productivity and ensures successful pasture management.

How to Start Rotational Grazing on Your Farm

Rotational grazing is often misunderstood. There are a lot of parts to the system which can be intimidating. Rotational grazing is an awesome system that it can be fitted to almost any operation involving animals. Rotational grazing can be scaled up or down for a small farm. This system can be used as a small system on a homestead or larger system to encompass entire solar farms.

Essential Guide to Grass Farming and Soil Management

Welcome to Forage Friday. On the first Friday of the month, we will cover topics related to forages. We will discuss grazing and forages for the next couple of months. Grass Farming? If you have animals that require forages, and you plan to grow those forages, congratulations! You are a grass farmer.   The plantsContinue reading “Essential Guide to Grass Farming and Soil Management”

Your November Gardening Checklist for Success

Welcome to my monthly Newsletter. This newsletter will help you save money and time. No need to ask what you should be doing or when it should be done. You will have the Know How. This newsletter has it all.   This is the best way to stay on top of tasks. These tasks help maintain and grow your garden or farmstead

Understanding First Frost and Its Impact on Your Garden

As autumn brings the first frost, it signals the end of the growing season, prompting gardeners to prepare for winter. While some crops can tolerate light frost, others need protection. The article discusses differences between frost and freeze, offers advice on harvesting, and outlines frost tolerance for various fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Agrivoltaics: Combining Solar Energy and Agriculture

Agrivoltaics integrates solar energy production with agriculture, addressing land use conflicts. Benefits include increased income diversity, reduced carbon footprints, and improved habitats. Challenges involve animal management, environmental impact, and design. Innovative practices like Silvopasture and horticulture crops are being explored.

Understanding Fall Colors: Trees and Their Transformation

Fall officially arrived in the Midwest! I am totally looking ahead to the cool weather and of course pumpkin spice. What I’m most excited about more than anything else is fall color. Despite the fact we have had very warm days. We are seeing some signs of Fall. Some fall colors have already started. BlackContinue reading “Understanding Fall Colors: Trees and Their Transformation”

Unidentified Growing Vegetables: Are Aliens Invading Your Garden?

As you harvest your vegetables have you noticed any UGV or unidentified growing Vegetables? Does it look like aliens planted something to hatch in your garden? Maybe you’re wondering if your plants cross pollinated and you happen to get a Cucamelon or some sort of bizarre alien squash that was supposed to be a pumpkinContinue reading “Unidentified Growing Vegetables: Are Aliens Invading Your Garden?”

Jack O Lanterns

Jack-O-Lantern The tradition of carving pumpkin dates back for many centuries. The people of Ireland and Scotland used to carve scary faces in to turnips and Potatoes. They did this to deter evil spirits from entering their homes. In England they sometime used large beets to Jack-o-Lanterns. When immigrating came to America, they brought thisContinue reading “Jack O Lanterns”

Heirloom vs. Hybrids

Should one grow Heirloom or Hybrid plants? This is a discussion that keeps coming up between local gardeners and horticulture professionals. There is a lot of confusion about both types of plants. Heirloom plants can be defined in many ways, but there are some characteristics that many of the definitions share.  Heirloom plants are alwaysContinue reading “Heirloom vs. Hybrids”