Developing the grass in your yard for increasing free ranging nutrition

[Arielle]

Quote: I guess it depends on the library. Ou librarian is around but mostly handling admin duties. THe staff reg avail to the patrons are just book lovers. No real help.

 

[Arielle]

CHicken Canoe-- about the buckwheat. What do you use it for. I'm not keen on using it just to plow under as my land is not tillable. Can it be used as seeds when it falls over after a frost, or can the chickens eat the greens , or if not a chicken , perhaps sheep can eat it??

 

[apteryx]

CHicken Canoe-- about the buckwheat. What do you use it for. I'm not keen on using it just to plow under as my land is not tillable. Can it be used as seeds when it falls over after a frost, or can the chickens eat the greens , or if not a chicken , perhaps sheep can eat it??

I am planning on using it as a forage for my birds. If they don't like the leaves, I am pretty sure they will eat the seeds. As for other animals, here is some additional information: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/bjorkman/lab/buck/guide/forage.php

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Looks like we are on the same track . . thank you, I"m sure it will be a good read!!

 

[Arielle]

The 1 pound bag of white clover seed is only 1/4 gone. The seeds are remarkably tiny and over seeding or reseeding bare patches uses only a fraction of what I have. I tossed down compost (horse manure and shavings, well rotten) then sprinkled on a pinch of seed. Augments the grass seed planted a few years ago, and the reseeding a weeka go or so.

Now with the tree leaves out, it is clear that there are still too many trees and about half should be removed.

I have great empathy for the colonists! lol

 

[ChickenCanoe]

CHicken Canoe-- about the buckwheat. What do you use it for. I'm not keen on using it just to plow under as my land is not tillable. Can it be used as seeds when it falls over after a frost, or can the chickens eat the greens , or if not a chicken , perhaps sheep can eat it??

Mostly I plant it for chicken forage and for bees. It matures so fast you can get a couple crops in a season. Once the flowers fade you can harvest the seed.
In my experience, the chickens aren't extremely fond of the seed. When I sprouted a mixture of grains, BOSS, peas and buckwheat - the peas and buckwheat were the last thing eaten.

The 1 pound bag of white clover seed is only 1/4 gone. The seeds are remarkably tiny and over seeding or reseeding bare patches uses only a fraction of what I have. I tossed down compost (horemanurea nd shavings, well rotten) then sprinkled on a pinch of seed. Augments the grass seed planted a few years ago, and the reseeding a weeka go or so.

Now with the leaves out, it is clear that there are too many trees and about half still should be removed.

I have great empathy for the colonists! lol

kept in a cool dry place the seed will last years. I always find more places to put it.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

My birds like the white clover we grew. Its patchy and the birds have done their part in making THAT happen, but it is resiliant and spreads well, comes back fuller every year. The seeds are indeed small, like black pepper grounds.

 

[jbtcajun]

Well It looks like I am getting poultry fever again.
I have a unused barn that I was considering transforming a stall for meat bird production.
It has no water or power but that's no big hurtle to cross.
Might study here for a while and fence off an acre with electric wire, till, plant, and prepare for next spring.
Having a season of fence operation will teach the walking predators to stay out before having any birds.
In the broad open like it is something will have to be done about the birds of pray witch are numerous around here.
Love to watch them hunt that field flying low and screeching to make the mice look.
Well I enjoy learning and applying new things.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

...
... fence off an acre with electric wire, till, plant, and prepare for next spring.
...
Having a season of fence operation will teach the walking predators to stay out before having any birds.

not a bad idea.

 

[Arielle]

THanks CC -- good to know that seed will last. I'm hopig to keep putting it dow as the summer progresses and the leaves get raked and removed out of the woods.

ON another note, as I"m sure there are gardeners here. . . . several years ago I planted the entire back yard in butternut squash, and I thought it was amazing that all the vines traveled in one direction. Of course I cant remember if they grew going south, or to the north. Has anyone had this happen??