Homestead mailing list

["Gloria Morris" <gloriamorris59 AT gmail.com>]

On 12/26/06, EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Recently, I pulled out some old
> pictures of this place I took when we first bought it.  I was amazed to
> see how my pasture has worn in 8 years...too many horses, sheep, and
> goats have constantly grazed it.

Bev, If you can manage to do it, dividing pasture for rotational
grazing will work wonders. Long term, I want to do that with my place,
but that would be on my resolution list for 2008 - I've got enough on
my plate for 2007, I think!

> I need to work on finding a happy
> medium for my land.  If, too, (and I write this with Gloria in mind
> since it is one of her resolutions) you start taking out trees, you have
> to be very careful as it seems that once you start the thinning process,
> Nature will help you finish it, perhaps even more than you wanted as
> wind patterns change and then the first available storm stresses and
> knocks down trees.  It can become a chain reaction type thing.

Thanks for the words of warning. I'm thinking only of taking out the
dead and dying wood. There is a wide path through the woods behind my
house where a tornado came through previously. It took out some trees
and severely damaged others which have subsequently died or are close
to death. I'd like to harvest the firewood from those but leave the
smaller bits to rot and fertilize the next generation of trees that
are coming on.

> For me, the temptation to plant more fruit trees is almost unbearable.
> I have to ask myself, how many varieties do I need?

Ah, Bev! I hear that! This time of year, as the nursery and gardening
catologs roll in, it is very hard not to dream too big. I have to
fight that temptation each year.

Gloria