It’s starting to look like Spring up here in the Kings Valley! Daffies are blooming, the crocus would be blooming if the slugs weren’t eating them, and the Indian Plum is in full, gorgeous force. They’re always the first thing to bud and bloom out there and they smell divine and offer nourishing nectar to the native pollinators.
We’ve been working on a big and long term project around the farm – clearing the fence lines in anticipation of SHEEP and a massive hedgerow planting. More on that to come, but in the meantime there has been lots of scything, pulling, chainsawing and now: burning. We’ll be maintaining/battling the invasives for the rest of our lives (scotch broom and blackberries) but it sure feels good to ‘take ’em down’ and then burn them to ash! Be gone, nasty weeds!
Looking better! We’re pretty proud of this work. Some have surmised it would take us years to clear this area… Just 2 weekends in and about a third of the way around. Once we get all the weeds off the fence we’ll begin repairing it and might even repair it to the point of electrical functionality once again! The neighbors have told us tales of a giant charger and one heck of a hot fence – i would feel so much safer if we had a hot as heck perimeter fence between us, our sheep and dog and large wild cats. First step: pick the fence back up in a few places and tighten it. Then we’ll talk about electricity.
TOOL TIP: Check out these handy flamethrowers that attach to a basic propane tank. GREAT for getting huge bonfires started, especially when the wood is still wet. We love ours!
Between you and the folks across the street, Gage Road is starting to look pretty “up town”. Now, to tackle the logging company.
I wonder if you’ve considered getting a couple of goats for your farm. I know that they would require stronger fencing and you’re probably interested in the fibre from the sheep, but goats will eat both blackberries and Scotch broom (I’ve read, I’ve never seen Scotch broom) and if you got angoras you could get the fibre too!
Goats were our original plan, Rosalyn – but yes, our fences would need more work. Our long term plan is to raise meat goats…. but we’re starting out with the sheep for their ‘easy’ keeping and fiber.
Miranda recently posted…Spring Blooms and Burnin’ Stuff
If keeping critters out is as important as keeping yours in; I would suggest some kind of battery back up for your hot wire. It may never be needed, but any animal is smart enough to know when the fence is not hot and that is when the real trouble starts. We have been replacing fence and the fence guy hung a sweet little gadget that blinks red if the circuit is broken. I have it placed where I can see it from the kitchen window. We lost power in early January and it worked!!! Periodically, we need to replace the battery in it but that is worth the peace of mind knowing I would see instantly if the fence was broken in some way.
Hi, Anne – our poultry are in electronet fencing powered by a solar energizer – so no need to worry about power outages…. cloudy winter days take their toll, however. When we upgrade the perimeter fence we’ll use a plug in charger but will certainly have a battery backup – great idea!
Miranda recently posted…Duck, duck GOOSE!
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