Comments on: The Art of Rolling Up Barbed Wire http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/ Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Matthew 6:21~ Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:40:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Wardeh http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3834 Wardeh Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:45:48 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3834 <em>Wow, thanks, Michelle! What a great lot of resources that I am eager to look into. I have been to the Oregon Small Farms site several times, but back when we were thinking alpacas and llamas. Thank you, again. What a tremendous help. Please come back and share with me how your property adventures are going. Love, Wardeh</em> Wow, thanks, Michelle! What a great lot of resources that I am eager to look into. I have been to the Oregon Small Farms site several times, but back when we were thinking alpacas and llamas.

Thank you, again. What a tremendous help. Please come back and share with me how your property adventures are going.

Love, Wardeh

]]> By: michelle http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3829 michelle Fri, 30 May 2008 22:39:05 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3829 Well, here's what I know... I get lots of tidbits here and there, but probably my greatest resource has been my local Conservation District. They are part of a USDA program called NRCS-Natural Resource Conservation Service; and that feeds local CDs. To find your local office: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app What I learned from neighboring farmers is that they are the "good guys" who will help you bring your farm into compliance w/ good environmental practices, and will not "turn you in" if they discover you have, say, a policy violation or something. Instead, they only try to help you do the right thing. So, farmers really trust them for advice and consultation, they are true farmer advocates. The CD in my area sent a "farm planner" out to my place, we went over my goals, and she spent a few months on a farm plan just for me, and gave me this huge notebook of resources! She stays in constant contact, so if I have a question, like "can I use this reed canary grass as graze?" she either knows the answer, or will find a colleague who is expert on that subject to advise me. I can run any plans by her to get advice, she's really super! They also organize regular farm tours of neighboring farmers who have model properties of water & runoff mgmt, mud reduction, pasture rotation, compost, etc. They really promote the concept of small farms where you can maximize usage by using diverse animals and crops; and minimize using chemicals etc by leveraging the complementary nature of the species(e.g. poultry passing through a pasture after hoofed livestock can clean up parasite larvae that would otherwise plague cattle). I've been SO impressed by some of the farms the CD features in their literature- many are just 5 acres, but wow, do people pull off some amazing production on little farms that are neat as pin! No mud! Another great, free publication I have been enjoying is the Oregon Small Farm News: http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/ County Cooperative Extension offices sometimes have some resources or classes, some better than others. I'm a WSU alum, also, and because that's a "land grant" college, they do significant research on farming, and I get a lot of info newsletters from them on their research. I'm not sure how to access that otherwise though; maybe their website or the library? They have a lot of good data, especially for the northwest. Enjoy! :) Well, here’s what I know… I get lots of tidbits here and
there, but probably my greatest
resource has been my local Conservation District. They are part of a USDA program
called NRCS-Natural Resource Conservation Service; and
that feeds local CDs. To find your local office:
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app

What I learned from neighboring farmers is that they are
the “good guys” who will help
you bring your farm into compliance w/ good environmental
practices, and will not “turn you in” if they discover you have, say,
a policy violation or something. Instead, they only try to help
you do the right thing. So, farmers really trust
them for advice and consultation, they are true farmer advocates.

The CD in my area sent a “farm planner” out to my place,
we went over my goals, and she spent a few months on a
farm plan just for me, and gave me this huge notebook of
resources! She stays in constant contact, so if I have a
question, like “can I use this reed canary grass as
graze?” she either knows the answer, or will find a colleague who is
expert on that subject to advise me. I can run any plans by
her to get advice, she’s really super!

They also organize regular farm tours of neighboring
farmers who have model properties of water & runoff mgmt,
mud reduction, pasture rotation, compost, etc. They really promote the
concept of small farms where you can maximize usage by
using diverse animals and crops; and minimize using
chemicals etc by leveraging the complementary nature of
the species(e.g. poultry passing through a pasture after
hoofed livestock can clean up parasite larvae that would
otherwise plague cattle). I’ve been SO impressed
by some of the farms the CD features in their literature-
many are just 5 acres, but wow, do people pull off
some amazing production on little farms that are neat as
pin! No mud!

Another great, free publication I have been enjoying
is the Oregon Small Farm News:
http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/

County Cooperative Extension offices sometimes have some
resources or classes, some better than others.

I’m a WSU alum, also, and because that’s a “land grant”
college, they do significant research on farming,
and I get a lot of info newsletters from them
on their research. I’m not sure how to access that
otherwise though; maybe their website or the library? They
have a lot of good data, especially for the northwest.

Enjoy! :)

]]> By: Wardeh http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3828 Wardeh Fri, 30 May 2008 18:55:00 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3828 Robin, Unfortunately, I'm not planting anything this year! Except for some microgreens. Our garden site isn't ready and other things have to be done first before we can move into the realm of food production. I love all your plans. Everything sounds so yummy! Love, Wardeh Robin,

Unfortunately, I’m not planting anything this year! Except for
some microgreens. Our garden site isn’t ready and other things
have to be done first before we can move into the realm of
food production.

I love all your plans. Everything sounds so yummy!

Love, Wardeh

]]> By: Wardeh http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3827 Wardeh Fri, 30 May 2008 18:53:38 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3827 Michelle, Could you point me in the direction of what you've been reading? You sound like you're onto something good! We've only got 5 acres and aren't sure how many animals we can support here, but we share your vision for keeping as many as we can. Love, Wardeh Michelle,

Could you point me in the direction of what you’ve been reading?
You sound like you’re onto something good! We’ve only got 5 acres
and aren’t sure how many animals we can support here, but we
share your vision for keeping as many as we can.

Love, Wardeh

]]> By: michelle http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3823 michelle Thu, 29 May 2008 17:00:26 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3823 I think I'll wear a few scars forever from that sharp stuff! But, hiring someone to do it just wouldn't give the same sense of achievement! :) I plan to start with sheep; but over time, plan to also run goats, cattle and hogs; as well as rotate poultry through. I have been studying up on the "new thinking" on old methods, about cleaving land up into small pastures and rotating complementary animals/crops through, for optimal land use. Such a fun journey! I think I’ll wear a few scars forever from that sharp stuff!
But, hiring someone to do it just wouldn’t give the same
sense of achievement! :) I plan to start with sheep; but
over time, plan to also run goats, cattle and hogs; as well as
rotate poultry through. I have been studying up on the “new
thinking” on old methods, about cleaving land up into
small pastures and rotating complementary animals/crops
through, for optimal land use. Such a fun journey!

]]> By: Sangeeta http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3821 Sangeeta Wed, 28 May 2008 20:34:40 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3821 I loved the picture of the manly father-son chat! I can see my older son and his dad doing that in a year or two! Sangeeta I loved the picture of the manly father-son chat! I can see my older son and his dad doing that in a year or two!

Sangeeta

]]> By: Robin http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3820 Robin Wed, 28 May 2008 18:58:35 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3820 I wish you could, too, Wardeh. :D We have a lot of herbs. Many oregano, lemon balm, marjoram, parsley, cilantro, sage, thyme. Also, pole green beans, carrots, onions, pumpkins. I am doing an experiment with planting carrots about 25 or so per week, until the last day "they" say you can plant them. I am also doing that with the green beans, planting three plants around a "tee-pee" once a week for four weeks. Next year I will do more. We are going to dig up a large (ummm, maybe 10 yards x 10 yards?) area this spring/summer for planting garlic this fall and potatoes, carrots, onion, maybe corn and tomatoes next year. What are you planting this year? Hugs, Robin I wish you could, too, Wardeh. :D We have a lot
of herbs. Many oregano, lemon balm, marjoram,
parsley, cilantro, sage, thyme. Also, pole green
beans, carrots, onions, pumpkins. I am doing an
experiment with planting carrots about 25 or so per
week, until the last day “they” say you can plant
them. I am also doing that with the green beans,
planting three plants around a “tee-pee” once a week
for four weeks. Next year I will do more. We are
going to dig up a large (ummm, maybe 10 yards x
10 yards?) area this spring/summer for planting
garlic this fall and potatoes, carrots, onion,
maybe corn and tomatoes next year.

What are you planting this year? Hugs, Robin

]]> By: Wardeh http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3819 Wardeh Wed, 28 May 2008 17:32:16 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3819 <em>Michelle, it is encouraging to hear that we're not the only ones fighting fencing! Not that I glory in others' difficulties. ;) Yes, we are looking forward to seeing those animals about our place. What animals do you have in mind? Love, Wardeh</em> Michelle, it is encouraging to hear that we’re not the only ones fighting fencing! Not that I glory in others’ difficulties. ;) Yes, we are looking forward to seeing those animals about our place. What animals do you have in mind?

Love, Wardeh

]]> By: michelle http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3818 michelle Wed, 28 May 2008 17:27:38 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3818 The fence looks great you guys! I am also fencing, using field fence. I think you made the right choice using panels, with all those trees, I think you'd have a different set of challenges wrestling with unrolling very spring-ey field fence! (I have open field, so that part's easier for me.) Ah, fencing, it looks so easy, but definitely presents its challenges! I love the workout though, and am so looking forward to the promise of animals inside that fencing soon, as I'm sure you guys are too! The fence looks great you guys! I am also fencing, using field fence.
I think you made the right choice using panels, with all
those trees, I think you’d have a different set of challenges
wrestling with unrolling very spring-ey field fence! (I have
open field, so that part’s easier for me.) Ah, fencing, it
looks so easy, but definitely presents its challenges! I love
the workout though, and am so looking forward to the promise of
animals inside that fencing soon, as I’m sure you guys are too!

]]> By: Wardeh http://suchtreasures.com/2008/05/27/the-art-of-rolling-up-barbed-wire/comment-page-1/#comment-3816 Wardeh Wed, 28 May 2008 17:20:16 +0000 http://suchtreasures.com/?p=1753#comment-3816 <em>You have described that feeling very well -- "Like you could do anything if you could do that, in the rain, while you were already so sore that you wanted to drop." I'm so pleased that your hard work felt so good. I wish, wish, wish that I could visit your gardens (and you, of course)! What you're doing is wonderful and I'd like to peek in person. Love, Wardeh</em> You have described that feeling very well — “Like you could do anything if you could do that, in the rain, while you were already so sore that you wanted to drop.” I’m so pleased that your hard work felt so good. I wish, wish, wish that I could visit your gardens (and you, of course)! What you’re doing is wonderful and I’d like to peek in person.

Love, Wardeh

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