The past few weeks the guys have been working on widening out the path that we have started to give us access to the back of the property. Last fall the path
was cleared to just past the pig's shelter. Now that good weather is finally
here we are getting ready to shift things around and open up more areas to the
pigs.
was cleared to just past the pig's shelter. Now that good weather is finally
here we are getting ready to shift things around and open up more areas to the
pigs.
As I mentioned before, the front half of this property was harvested about 8 -
10 years ago, this has left us with essentially coppiced maple, ash and beech. Unfortunately, the silveculture was not maintained and the understory grew out of control with alders. this has left underdeveloped weak coppices that have grown laterally in search of light.
We have spent a lot of time this spring going through the front ten acres of this property selecting which trees to leave and which will need to be thinned. The plan has always been to use the front 10 acres for gardens, pasture and housing. The back 10 acres will be left as a managed woodlot for fuel and lumber for building projects around the farm.
We have to build the road stable enough to be able to drive the truck back to the barn area for unloading hay and such. After the barns we just need it developed enough to haul wood out. Gary and Reiley have plans to build a "woods buggy",
I am going on the long term horse or oxen route. Our son Jason is an experienced horse logger. I grew up with horses so I feel comfortable with this route.
10 years ago, this has left us with essentially coppiced maple, ash and beech. Unfortunately, the silveculture was not maintained and the understory grew out of control with alders. this has left underdeveloped weak coppices that have grown laterally in search of light.
We have spent a lot of time this spring going through the front ten acres of this property selecting which trees to leave and which will need to be thinned. The plan has always been to use the front 10 acres for gardens, pasture and housing. The back 10 acres will be left as a managed woodlot for fuel and lumber for building projects around the farm.
We have to build the road stable enough to be able to drive the truck back to the barn area for unloading hay and such. After the barns we just need it developed enough to haul wood out. Gary and Reiley have plans to build a "woods buggy",
I am going on the long term horse or oxen route. Our son Jason is an experienced horse logger. I grew up with horses so I feel comfortable with this route.
So starting next week, we will open up the pigs area and allow them to do
what pigs do. They are great for clearing out underbrush, removing small stumps, dis-lodging medium to large rocks and adding fertility.. So we will expand the pig yard and move up the lower edge of the fence. We will leave the area that is now the lower edge of the pig yard, where they share a fence line with the goats, to sit fallow for a couple of weeks. Then we will move the goat yard up to allow them to have the space vacated by the pigs.
Eventually most of the area that is now the goat yard will be garden space.
(When I say eventually, I mean next year). Gary has already started moving some of the larger rock to make terraces for the garden.
what pigs do. They are great for clearing out underbrush, removing small stumps, dis-lodging medium to large rocks and adding fertility.. So we will expand the pig yard and move up the lower edge of the fence. We will leave the area that is now the lower edge of the pig yard, where they share a fence line with the goats, to sit fallow for a couple of weeks. Then we will move the goat yard up to allow them to have the space vacated by the pigs.
Eventually most of the area that is now the goat yard will be garden space.
(When I say eventually, I mean next year). Gary has already started moving some of the larger rock to make terraces for the garden.
So, that is the focus of work for the next few days. Looks like we are in for a deluge tomorrow so I will probably be bringing home a bee nuc. We will keep our fingers crossed! Have a great day everyone!
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