Over 20 years ago he set out on this endeavor, and well... let's have him tell the story.
"God gave each of us a responsibility. I believe as farmers it is our job to steward the land we were given. This doesn't just mean growing crop. It means protecting the species of plants and animals that share the land with us. So I've made it my goal to steward that the best I know how, planting and nurturing the original God-intended species, and to help others do the same."
I have some where my dogs play all the time, they never touch it, and it’s been there since June, it’s late August as of writing this. Butterfly weed is the best for being around pets since it’s not AS toxic to mammals
I’m in zone 6b. I bought a bag of 6 roots of butterfly weed. One of them has growth poking through the bag. It’s only March 20. How should I store the roots until it’s time to plant. We usually get some frost int the beginning of may
When you say use as a lawn. Do you mean mowable style lawn? Or just leave it be? You have me curious now to think about a native lawn that could be kept lower and or tolerate the high stress/disturbance from a cut with increased frequency that far down the top growth AND would also have the deep root growth for the massive exudates release and the huge biomass opportunity of microbes within the rhizosphere. 🤩🥳🦠 The native grass would be adapted to that environment and influence native insects and up the biome trophic levels to connect a “kinetic chain” for optional energy conversion within the site food web. No synthetic ☠️🤢🤮chemicals needed 😍 That seems like it would be a easy sell. To a emotional and logical customer.
Look how tall it is and decide. There are modified buffalo grass varieties they stay shorter but they are uneven. I’ve had it. It’s a very nice grass. I thinknfor attractive dark green low maintenance zero nitrogen it’s hard to best micro clover.
Cutting a 3 inches/5 cm top stem from an existing NE aster, removed its lower leaves, dipped the bottom tip into commercial rooting hormone, watered its hosting soil and planting it has worked very well personally! 🏅 On 2024-08-12, that one stem is now three! But so far stayed short compared to its mother plant which reseeded itself to three really big patches! I wish I had more gardening real estate to move them! 😩 It’s a plant that can be regularly pruned from spring to mid-summer to control height and shape. The pruning will grow more stems for more flowers in September to cap off the growing season!
If I may, what settings do you use for the combine? Cylinder speed, air, concaves etc. Thank you! Appreciate the diversification of your farm beyond commodity grains.
Thanks for compliments! The end of the second year is okay, but the third year is best. So if you planted in spring 2022, then fall 2023 is okay, but 2024 is best. Also, worth noting to not let anything overgraze in the fall. Best of luck!
Not an expert, was just curious. Also, be safe around those helicopters. Just spoke to a family friend this week who was gardening a month or so ago when the neighbors were out spraying the fields. The overspray wafted over, got in her face, and settled into her throat and chest. Now she has to go to Kansas for treatment sessions in hopes of flushes the chemicals from her body. Serious stuff!
