Category Archives: Soil

Boron: A Soil Supplement

This afternoon’s project was spreading Boron on our pastures. Continue reading

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Spreading Lime to Make the Grass Grow

The best part about spreading lime this way was I was recruiting my farm helpers (ages 6 & 9) to come along with me on the project! Continue reading

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Soil Test Results

We are low on Calcium, Sulphur, & Boron. The soil is also acidic.
The phosphorus came out excellent–which was a huge surprise, and a big change from our previous soil sample from 2006. It was virtually zero back then. All the poultry manure & compost spreading has paid off.
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Keep it simple Worm Composting — Vermiculture

The compost was still composting at about the same rate, but my system had changed for the better. I now have a host of worms working through my compost.

I no longer create large heaps of hot compost, and I no longer have to turn the piles.
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Pasture Brix

The threshold of 12° Bx marks the point when insects stop eating the plants. The theory goes that if an aphid or caterpillar eats sap sweeter than that, it ferments into alcohol and kills the bug. Continue reading

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Holistic Sustainable Agriculture from the Soil Up

There were 27 people who came out and joined us for Dr Dettloff’s presentation Saturday. I will type up the notes about local resources which we compiled throughout the day, and distribute them to those who joined us. Continue reading

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Permaculture & Christianity, part 3 – “Native vs. Exotic Plants”

God is the ultimate “permaculturist”. He was using the permaculture design principles before Bill Mollison ever wrote them down. Continue reading

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The taste of raw milk

I learned about barn odors & milk flavors in a cheese making seminar I took a couple years ago, and it’s true. We’ve tasted the difference in our goat’s milk between the days where they are out in the pasture vs. closed up in a pen–though they were eating the same food. Continue reading

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Warning: perspective shift ahead!

At a total length of 8 to 9 inches, the slate black Townsend mole (Scapanus townsendii), is the largest mole species in North America. It occurs in meadows, fields, pastures, lawns, and golf courses west of the Cascade mountains. http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/moles.htm Continue reading

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