Most of my land is large steep hills. It is very thick weeds. Does any one have a suggestion on how to improve my land without having to buy anything. I have chickens, horses , and goats. I throw it all in one big compost pile. I have no tractor or anything lke that. Just a wheelbarrow and a pitchfork. I want to eventually use this as pasture.

-- Ginger (majic99@attbi.com), April 22, 2002

Answers

Ginger, I remember reading somewhere about someone who reclaimed strip mined land by mixing clover seed in their goats feed. The clover seed would pass through the goats system undigested and then would germinate in the manure. The clover sends down long root systems and holds the ground so it does not erode, and is a lugume, so adds nitrogen to the soil too. Eventually the clover choked out many of the other weeds. Maybe this would work with grass seed too?? Maybe someone else knows the article or more about this??

-- Clare (qk65327@alltel.net), April 22, 2002.

Why don't you try putting your manure for a couple of days in a heap on your pasture - to - be and see what sprouts? Or, make a "goat tractor" and let the goats deal with the weeds a little at a time?

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), April 22, 2002.

I just took a class on range managenent in school. And the following are some suggestions based on what I learned. There are several factors that you must look at. First, which types of weeds do you have. There are several that are really hard to get rid of and spread rapidly. You can check out a book on local plants in your library. If you have the beginings of an establishment of one of these types of weeds then you should really consider herbicide as an option. These plants tend to be the best competitors as far as crowding, and spread to other parts of your land quickly. They're also very unpalatable so animals will avoin eating them even if it's the only thing there to eat. Nipping a problem like this in the bud is the best way to go. If you don't have this problem then I have a few other suggestions... Weeds are what are known as forbes. Brushes are shrubs and grasses are grasses. Cows and horses are grazers and like to eat mostly grass. Deer, and domestic goats are browsers and prefer to eat forbs and shrubs when they are available. (Remember that some forbes will be unpalatable even to them.) Sheep and Burrows are Intermediate feeders and will eat whatever is available. Sheep are the better at utalizing forbes than burrows. If your land is ALL forbs then consider leasing it to a sheep and or goat farmer with a large flock. They'll eat down the weeds quickly and the farmer might be glad to have the free food. If you still have some grass mixed in then you might want to consider only running goats since they will eat the forbes before the grass and thus let the grass continue to grow. Because the goats will eat mostly forbes the grass will have a competitive advantage and may be able to get a good hold and start growing pasture that you can let horses and cattle out on. It's good for grass to be eaten down a little. This stimulates it to grow out and establish more leaves rather than just making seeds. I have also seen many local (montana) farmers dooing controlled burns. I don't have any experience with this method but if large scale farmers do it then it must work well enough. I'd talk with a local agriculture expert to see of this could be a good choice for your land. You may have to do it twice so than any seeds that don't get killed germinate and are then killed again. After the burn you will have to seed. Finaly, don get rid of ALL your forbes. Even the most picky grazers will eat them a little when the grass isn't growing(if they're palatable) and they can be excelent sources of protein. It wouldn't be a bad idea to invest in some land/range managenent seminars or at the least some books on the subjuct. You'd be really surprised at how huch there is to know and learn. If you raise any livestock on pasture then you should consider yourself a grass farmer. Look at the undertaking acocrdingly. GOOD LUCK!

-- Erika (misserika129@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

As Erica mentioned using multispecies grazing can take advantage of all of the forage.

Weeds or what you may consider weeds aren't necessarily bad. Some weeds are excellent at exracting minerals from the deep below the surface to enrich and build top soil. Plants grow and flourish where the conditions meet their needs. Over time grazing, foraging and the manure that gets spread through the pasture areas will build the soil naturally with less dollar inputs than using herbicides and fertilizers. And you may not have to mow if you're running the right combination of critters.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), April 22, 2002.

The things I have read about rotational grazing show very promising results of pasture improvement. Marginal pasture can be rapidly and remarkably improved with a careful management plan. You would need to get some electric fencing equiptment and I have heard goats are hare to fence in. Intelligent intensive managed grazing can only benefit pasture beneficial species naturally populate the pastures over time while many unfavorable species are pressured out. Unmanaged free grazing almost always leads to gradual pasture deterioration and takeover by unpalatable plants as the palatable high value species are subjected to continuous pressure and the unpalatable ones are rejected and allowed to grow freely. A great book is Greener Pastures on Your Side of the Fence.

-- Tim Springston (springston77@yahoo.com), April 22, 2002.

move

-- g.r. (nowhereman61@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

You didn't maention the size of your future pasture? If it's 5 acres, you won't need much for equipment. If it's 100 acres, then you'll need to rent or buy a few things.... ;)

Also, how fast do you want this to turn from 'just weeds' to 'highly productinve'?

Where is your soil at right now? Have you tested it for N, P, & K. How deep is it, did they replace any topsoil, is it sandy or clay or... What is the ph, in many mining regions the ph is very low, adding lime might be a very good investment - after testing it.

And do you wish to be totally organic, or don't you might getting things to a quick balance with some commercial fertilizers?

In the end, rotational grazing with some legumes & grass for your climate will be the best route to go. Get the ph balanced. Try to get the N, P, & K fertility built up - slowly with just grazing a bit & manure, or more rapidly with organic or commercial fertilizer purchased.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), April 23, 2002.