Pasture Restoration and Forage Establishment
The purpose of our pasture restorations is to provide our herd of goats with palatable, nutritious plants on a year round basis. We feed no grain or commercial goat feed at this point.
When we arrived in Snow Camp, the weeds were so thick that they stalled the tractor. The soil was extremely acid, rocky, uneven. The Ky 31 fescue grass with negative endophytes was predominant, causing all sorts of problems in the goats.
We started a renovation that continues to this day.
Cleaning and Burning
Permit required. We burned one section at a time when wind was low. NC Forestry officer came and sat in the drive while we burned as a back up.
Liming the fields as per Soil Samples
Multiple soil samples were sent to the county for inspection. The report card indicated that we needed a lot of work, to say the least. With soil extremely acid, we began with having lime spread by Keith Stanley, manager at Liberty Farm and Garden.
The first soil samples showed acidity at 4.5 to 5.5. The 2023 sample showed acidity at 6.5.
Fencing
With the working barn in the center of the acreage, we ran fences in a pie shaped pattern to produce 13 plots. These plots enable rotation of groups of goats.
We used 4 X 4 sheep and goat fencing, the only suitable material. Posts were placed at 10′ intervals.
Did some numbers on fencing:
Perimeter fence 6188 feet
This fence existed when we bought the farm
Interior fences 7871 feet, 787 posts on 10′ centers
We installed these fences and posts
14 gates
Cost of interior fencing at about $1 per foot – $7800
Cost in interior fence posts at about $ each – about $3945
Steve made the main gates along the drive from steel and 4 X 4 paneling.
Composting
Steve cleans the barn several times a year. The manure and hay from the floor are stored in rows behind the barn where they are converted into compost through moisture and heat. The pile goes from about 40 degrees to 120 degrees in a week. Steve turns the pile several times until the temperature drops and then spreads it with the 1965 manure spreader.
We tried a new trick this winter. We piled the heated compost against the greenhouse wall. It heated the inside of the greenhouse 24-7, making a fine winter salad bar.
Fertilizing
Composted hay and manure are fertilizer, but we also spray Neptune’s Harvest organic fish emulsion and seaweed in the spring to push our seedlings and mature grasses.
Making and adding Biochar
Biochar is the carbon remnants of bio matter which is heated without oxygen at temperature above 400 degrees celcius. Pyrolysis.
As a carbon sink, Biochar collects free carbon that locks into the chemical soil structure and increases the electrical conductivity of the soil. It creates habitat for the soil food web with microscopic sponge-like features. In this environment, the microbiome blooms and multiplies.
Steve uses waste stick wood from a nearby saw mill to make charcoal. He piles it up to dry and then lights the pile from the top and lets it burn to coals. Exciting.
Before the coals turn to ashes, he cools the charcoal with water to stop to stop the burning.
When the charcoal is cool and dry, he crushes it with tractor tires.
The charcoal is inoculated with organic fertilizer or compost tea before it is spread directly onto turf that has been lightly disked.
We also found that by spreading biochar onto the floor of the barn, we help control amonia and methane gasses in the barn. It also sets up microbial life inside the charcoal in the barn and reduces the leaching of nitrogen gas during composting.
This technique was employed by ancient Amazon people from 500 BC to 1500 AD. The natives threw campfire coals and broken clay parts into areas of their produce fields. In time, the remnants made Terra Preta, the most fertile soil ever produced. It is still fertile today and is sold as soil amendment and potting soil in the Amazon.
Planting
Since the whole farm was host to Ky 31 fescue which holds bad endophytes, we overplanted Novel Endophyte Fescue, a grass formulated to overcome Ky 31 results. 20% overplanting has reduced the negative effects of the original fescue when goats consume it.
In addition, we overplant in spring with warm season annuals and in the fall with cold season annuals. We found that Southeastern AgriSeed has the best products—Ray’s Crazy Mix for spring and fall. Legumes, clovers, soil aeration plants.
We now have established annual and perennial clover, hairy vetch,
