It may not happen at all, and I may be fooling myself to think it's possible. But there is a piece of land that's been for sale for more that 250 days at this point, and I'm trying to work with the current owner to see if I might be able to lease it for cattle pasture.
A big year, and a big summer!
Highs and lows. Starting with a low... which has probably been one of the main reasons I have sort of lost some momentum in the fence work, and pasture care sadly. ...We had to put mom in a home. After long conversations, meetings, and doctor visits, and hospital stays, and ER visits... she's officially been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
It was pretty close there in the early days of her condition just last year around this time. We (my three siblings and I) were contemplating having to take shifts staying with her in her apartment. But as it went, we were able to get her approved for all of the needed support and found a place for her to stay with the (24hr) care she needs. Thanks be to God! And thanks to my siblings who were able to make it happen! My Mom is only in her early eighties, so... relatively young for that kind of place, but with the condition, it's not a surprise we had to put her there. She is very well cared for, and I visit her weekly.
My youngest son is a Senior this year, I can't believe it. one more year of school and the whole family will be done with any kind of school for the foreseeable future. Also, another hug highlight, and something that absolutely made my summer of 2025...
My younger brother called me out of the blue to ask me if I was sitting down. That he had something he wanted to tell me. ...You can imagine my worried pause when I said ..."sure man, what is it?" His answer:
Been doing lots of Firewood these days, and trying to stay warm during this typical January 2+ week freeze! Thank God for son's with strong backs, trucks, and Chainsaws!!
Also looking at attending a Conference here in the near future. We were contemplating going to the OEFFA Conference (Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association) as I've been to that one in years past. However, with potentially three of us going (maybe four) cost is an issue. So I somehow, miraculously stumbled upon this little gem today...
The Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council (OFGC) at https://ohioforage.com/ ...and this is EXACTLY what I have been looking for, for many, many years. Well... not actively looking for but I started looking a long time ago!
More to come on that I hope and pray!
Peace!
We are really looking forward to being able to get out there again and install some fence posts, and some fence around the back field! I've got plans for the gates, and all kinds of good stuff.
AS it is, I'm stuck behind a wall of other responsibilities. Work, weather, caring for my elderly mother, other events that require my and my family's presence, Holiday travel ...the list goes on!
But with all of that, I'm looking forward to the time back home, when we can make our way to the field, and hopefully get some stuff done! We got a taste of it last weekend, but we'll have to wait for after Thanksgiving (oh yeah, it will also be nice to spend some time with family as well! ;o)
In the mean time, the only thing I seem to have time for is planning. I'm planning on brainstorming for ideas for the whole "shabang", breaking some of it down into bite size pieces. Highlighting some over-all goals, and how we might be able to make those happen, all in good time.
So until after Thanksgiving, The tractor is ready with the post pounder that is mounted on it, and working good.
I've heard it said, that one of the most important factors regarding your spring flush in the pastures is ...how you manage them during the fall season. What you do in the fall makes a huge difference in your grass in the springtime.
I wasn't 100% certain of the wisdom of clipping down the old dead/dormant weeds that grew during the summer drought we experienced this year. But I thought by the end of it, it's better for the weeds/forbs to lay down, and feed the soil, adding to the organic matter by composting under the grass, and legumes that were trying to grow from underneath.
All-in-all, had a blast out there myself, and with two of my son's and with the tractor.
A very good thing to have for a static pasture, is a solid perimeter fence..
Now in some instances it's not 100% required. But if you're thinking about the possibility of having more than one enterprise, it's probably a good idea.
As long as you keep a close eye (and string trimmer) on the Electric fence (if that's you're only fence), you should be fine. However it doesn't hurt anything to have a solid post and 4' high woven wire fence around your entire pasture. Albeit lot's of labor, and a very large expense. It'll serve its purpose and make your money back eventually from the product you are trying to grow/raise.
"Good Fences make good neighbors." ...especially if you're raising livestock!
This photo was taken a few years ago of our two wonderful dairy goats
...I've been looking at the grass again...
I can honestly say that this drought we're in here in the Midwest, just may have enlivened me back to the concern of 'all things grazing'. When I see the severe and even mild drought in Ohio I get concerned.
It has rekindled I believe, my passion for soil, grass, cattle, and management!
Here I am 10 years later. Not where I hoped I would've been when I started this blog back in 2014. But non-the less... still passionate about learning, growing and maturing the land (along with myself as well). Also I'm very grateful for all of the years I've had with my sons, and seeing them grow. 10 years ago they were 6, 8, 11. Hard to believe my youngest is 6'1" now. Hah!
I look at the land where I am, and I'm thinking about "water holding capacity" of the soil. Also about water management on a ranch as a whole. Making the most out of a rain event, and keeping/storing as much as you can, type of mindset. I'm thinking about how I might set things up to prepare for stockpiling forage (if that were possible) and how to make sure the cows have what they need. Thinking about paddock or pasture movements and all of that beautiful stuff!
Just this weekend, I was on my neighbor's land where his and (now only one of) my cattle graze. I saw there the lack of management. He and I both have kind of lets other things get in the way of taking care of the pasture. We've been fixing and keeping our hands to the fence after a storm or such. But not really as closely as we should have. AND When we're looking at the fence, and tending it, THAT is when you see the grass, and the soil. And can make those observations that are SOOO paramount and vital to having even a chance at a successful pasture management program.
Back in 2014 I had thought I would have possibly had enough cattle, and managed enough land (notice I didn't say own) that I might be able to slow down my corporate job and do a part time contracting scenario, or just a low paying job to supplement the farm income, and for insurance. And that I might have had a large enough customer base now that would be consistently buying my grass-fed beef, and or lamb by now, that I might have been able to "retire" and "Just Ranch".
Anyhoo, here I am... looking at the grass, and comparing pictures from May of 2021 to today Oct 2024 of the same pasture. The grass here in 2021 although it was May, and yes we were trying to manage it in coordination with the land owner, it was pretty severely overgrazed. The first picture shows how we were trying to keep the cattle off of one section to allow it to regenerate, and making a little progress.
The second picture shows us the same day taking the cross fence down, on the overgrazed pasture. Opening up the fence for the cows to start grazing what we had allowed to rest..
It has been a very long time since I've posted here (not that it makes any difference to anyone), but I thought .. 'why not?'.
Some of my passion for cattle and the grass, and the land has taken a detour for a while. It's still there don't get me wrong, God's creation, and our stewardship of it has not lost it's grasp on me. I still love being in the field, watching the cattle, and helping my youngest son with the fence at times.
My latest passion is more day job related, and has involved learning and using PowerShell to automate little tasks. I started writing a few simple PowerShell scripts that helped me in my job. That was back in late 2021. I am continuing to write PowerShell scripts and modules for the team. And now starting a new journey at my work, and starting to get back into Linux Administration that I was doing about eleven years ago at a different job. In a way it feels like I'm picking up where I left off.
I've been learning about RedHat's Ansible Automation. It's a challenge to say the least, but one I am trying to tackle. I'm hoping we might leverage that in my new role. I say that because I know that (at least in my experience a decade ago) Red Hat support is really top notch, and just amazing really. Looking forward to learning on my own, and someday back in league with RedHat support.
I wanted to clip down the "Meadow Foxtail", and the invasive "Butterweed" before the cattle were allowed to graze once again in this pasture, but the wise advise of the farmer was, "...I'd wait till the cows come through first, THEN clip it." Which I had not considered, then after thinking about it, it made perfect sense. He knew these cows, and that they would not touch those two plants. Once they were done eating what they wanted, then it would leave the weeds to stick way up above the rest, and then we clipped the pasture down a bit, to cut down the taller "Meadow Foxtail", and the invasive "Butterweed".
Having done that, now I see a lot of wonderful grasses and legumes that have had a chance at good growth without being blocked by the taller weeds. I'm sure they'll come back (weeds) but now I'm seeing a tremendous variety in the plants.. Meadow Fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, Tall Fescue, Orchard grass, Rye grass, Red clover, White clover. Now I've also seen ragweed, and ironweed. But I think that is a thing that will take years of proper management to remedy. All in time. I'm also learning that some of the forbs (weeds) that grow can often have medicinal properties that can benefit livestock's health.
"Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven." -Psalm 85:11
"Be praised for all your tenderness, by these works of your hands.
Suns that rise, and rains that fall to bless, and bring to life your lands.
Look down upon this winter wheat, I'm so glad that you have made
Blue for the sky, and the color green, that fill these fields with praise." - Rich Mullins
Praying that this,
is that new door I was talking about back in July of 2014, seven long years ago.
Here is a little boots on the ground view...
"If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing poorly first." -Joel Salatin
Just another example and comparison of managed time, coupled with natural processes.
last day on (overgrazed) ground March 14th 2021
Inhale... exhale...
Taking a little look at the pasture today on my lunch break (Loving it). I was worried when I saw the weed (forb) which I think is "butter weed" also some meadow foxtail as well about a week or so ago, which has me concerned.. a little.
Looking at (what I believe is) the butter weed which can be noxious to humans and animals... I pulled one or two up the other day, and again today... What I think I'm seeing is the dense grass and legume stands are choking out the butter weed... possibly. Or at least in really good competition for water, sunlight and nutrients. As I look at the low growing leaves of the butter weed down by the roots, I see them slowly decomposing. I also see a very small root system, being suffocated from lack of sunlight. Forbs are not all bad.. but can be invasive. So It's great to see such robust grass and clovers taking THIER stand, and letting them do the delicate, and competitive dance of chaos and order, in it's own way.
Here we have a comparison of grass that was grazed once in the winter 2021 with an un-grazed residual of about 4-6" that was left on top of the soil. Now the same area in Mid-April 2021, waiting to be grazed. Probably going to start opening it up in a week or two max. The old saying goes "It takes grass, to make grass"
Listening to the Working Cows pod-cast, Episode 100, Clay was talking with Burke Teichert and they were talking about ranching, Burke was asked "what's the one thing that you wish you would have known all along, when it comes to ranching and/or life?"
He answered: "That's a tough question to answer, it's been a series of building blocks for me. But the thing I wish I'd known all along is that ... we won't live long enough to become perfect at anything we do. Livestock handling and Grazing management for example, and we love to do those things as ranch managers...but every time we get a little bit better, we get rewarded. And that makes the challenge so enjoyable. We know there's always challenges ahead of us, and because of that we know there's room to get better. And when we get a little better, we are again rewarded." - Burke Teichert
Had an opportunity to greet the day as the sun was rising, one of the days this week and open up some fence for the cows. My two younger son's were along for the job! Had a great time. It was a little uncertain how it would end up working out. I worked from home that day which gave me a little more time to move a little bit of the fence. Took us about 30 minutes, and afterward I went back home and logged into my I.T. Support job... and helped some folks remotely with all of their Computer issues until 5:30 pm. Then had to do a remote zoom session for the High School Bible study class, and by the end of the day... the thought I had was, even though I was tired, the day started with doing something that I wanted to do. Something that might possibly help build my future, and my possible retirement. As opposed to just waking up in the usual way, and doing the usual thing, of leaving the house, to go directly to a job in town, in order to make a paycheck. (As much of a huge blessing that is of course) Instead, the idea of working cows, and managing them, in a way that heals the land, and makes everything, and everyone happier, and healthier.
I'm hopeful about whats next!
