Old Farm, New Hunter / Farmer

I've been reading so much from Crimson and Camo and dgallow, that I am ready for throwing and mowing.... I think. Ha

My LC mix worked, new ground opened up and planted in the fall. It grew well and deer ate it well. As things greened up in the spring I noticed some real bare spots and after digging around I knew I had made a mistake.

When my friend came in with the excavator I lost a lot of top soil and after green up it was very easy to see. Spots grew well and looked healthy and spots were noticeably different, both on the surface and below.

I have plenty of clover on my farm so I wasnt worried about killing off the rest of the LC mix, just waiting for the right time to put some buckwheat down.

Before :

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I spread my soil amendments into the standing rye.

Here is a good example of a bare spot.

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Some looked great.

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12 pounds of buckwheat down. I also planted my pumpkins and some lupine mixes on the edges while I was out there.

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Last, but most importantly, not least.... weed whack the standing OM to the ground and hope you had enough thatch to cover things well.
Now wait for some rain, the next three days look pretty good for that.

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Thank you again to Crimson and Camo, dgallow et all for taking the time to document their process. It is so helpful to compare and contrast and has really been an eye opener for me. Thank you.

The ladies around my farm are getting very full bellies and it won't be long now till the fawns arrive.

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I've been waiting to bushhog the fields. I'd never thought about fawning cover before last year when I started reading your threads. So, the horses aren't out on grass just yet !

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My wife is not pleased, the deer seem happy. I'm not sure what the answer is yet.

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Can you see those little ears ?

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And this guy comes through every once and a while.
I think his brow tines are split on the left ? That's a new one for us.

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Best news of all ?
After 14 days and some real luck with the weather, the buckwheat is coming up and even though the soil isn't the best.... it's getting better each day.

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Thanks for your time, I have really been enjoying other's spring work.
 
Timely rains and nice warm temps for us in Maine has made for some good growing.My throw and mow buckwheat is working well. I chose not to spray and because of that I've plenty of rye still growing. I guess I should have thought that part through but either way I need to improve my soils so this won't hurt.

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This is in a new opening in the woods, has never been planted and it is a slow to get going. I hand planted in rows and could have done better with my spacing.
 
I don't have many bucks that summer at my place.
I don't know why but know that they will be showing up as soon as the fall kicks in.

The woods are still alive though.

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Just a few passing shots as they move through.

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Thank you,
 
I've started a new routine.
I work at a desk all day and have been trying to come home and plant a pound or two of buckwheat each day after work. It's painfully slow and wouldn't work for many people... but.. it gives me a chance each day to learn something new.

I cleared a new area adjacent to m LC mix plot. I left the stumps per someone's recommendation. I don't know who to thank for that.

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They are being browsed well and now that I am just getting to planting this area, I'm glad I have something for the does to feed on.

I try to pick a small spot each day and scratch the ground up, pull out any growth and find a rock or two.

There is a root under every rock, it's almost as if mother nature designed it that way.

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Here is a spot I cleared on Saturday.

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And one from a few weeks ago ...

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Here is all I completed today. 8' x 12' not much but enough to keep me going and thankful to be able to dig in the soil, find an earthworm or two and think about this coming fall.

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Thanks to the recommendation to sew some buckwheat in virgin soil, I'm hoping its enough to make some thatch for this fall's planting.
Thank you,
 
Thank you for allowing me to paste all of this here, my intention it not to be self aggrandizing but I have learned so much from other people taking the time and being kind enough to share their information. I am happy to have a chance to share my limited experience with the HT gang. Thank you again.
 
Thoroughly enjoyed the pictures and improvements. That's a stud buck, even in the Midwest!
 
Mainedrifter...You been a busy man! Place looks great and one heck of a buck. I've got an excavator on my place right now removing stumps from a clear-cut section of pine we removed from the south end of our largest field. Will be liming in the next couple of weeks and getting ready for fall planting.
 
Thoroughly enjoyed the pictures and improvements. That's a stud buck, even in the Midwest!

Thank you buddy.

Mainedrifter...You been a busy man! Place looks great and one heck of a buck. I've got an excavator on my place right now removing stumps from a clear-cut section of pine we removed from the south end of our largest field. Will be liming in the next couple of weeks and getting ready for fall planting.

You are just getting in to the good stuff Triple C, I hope you get the rain you need and I'm sure you will do well.

Sidebar : I'm happy to see you both here, looks like most of us made the move.
 
Thanks for bringing this thread over. Great pictures of your progress!
 
Its nice to have a place where you can work on it a little each day, its a nice stress reliever and as you mentioned you get to observe more and IMO learn quicker.
 
Nice tour. Keep the updates rolling in.
 
Thanks for bringing this thread over. Great pictures of your progress!

I agree! So glad you kept this tour alive and happy to see you here.

(Formerly Stickbowcrafter on other forum)
 
Brother you put in some work on that place....very nice!
 
Welcome, great pic tour!
 
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