we’ll probably replace them with blue bushes, scarlet and silver maples and scatter in some hackberry. It really needs a mix of different things I’d like to figure for the right woodlot management. I found a Univ of Minnesota books on Woodlot management. They talk about the wood cycles and what wildlife with which stage in a woods life cycle. and oh squirrels…
Rural Water is a thing. Mine comes from a non-municipal supply. In about ten years they will double their capacity. Reservior is an old limestone quarry and there is another one being dug out right beside it currently. Those people who figure out how to get paid digging a hole and also filling it back in with something have it licked.
Pretty sure mine is just piped from Lake Erie (Avon Lake)... Here is their answer to where does my water come from: "We purchase water from the City of Avon Lake, the Village of New London and City of Ashland."
Following your adventure FJ Enjoy it and take a lot of pictures, mostly for your future frustrations when you think that you'll never *finish (eating the elephant). A look back is a helpful reminder of how far you've come. * do we ever really finish?
Haven’t gotten anything to update on other than last night I stopped and slept on the farm in the semi. I will have to widen the East driveway if I want to get the semi in and out. Delivering the bus to South Dakota had me drive by the farm so I loaded up the dozen pallets I had and dropped them in the Quonset so they are down there to stack wood onto. the sight that greeted me was 6’+ tall burdock on over 2/3 of the property. Not much more than last fall, but still. any suggestions are appreciated. for now my plan is to get in with a brush hog and cut it before they have a chance to go completely to seed. I want to hit it with Pasture Pro And also want to track down a small tractor like a 40-60 hp row crop and attack it with a 3pt hitch disk or field cultivator. I’ve also identified another 7 trees to bring down that are actually leafless this summer.
Too bad you can't bring in some goats. Some places rent them out for that purpose. I hate herbicides. I am trying to live with the side effects of agent orange. I have seen some herbicides linger in the soil for years on end.
Yeah, I’m considering the goat option as well. my options right now really I want to work is brushhog it back and then use a field cultivator or chisel plow and disk to mechanically destroy the roots
Beautiful property! That will keep you busy and happy in retirement for sure! Lots of folks around here rent the goats. Actually, it's usually a mix of goats and sheep. The goats mow down the brush and sheep mow the grass. I looked into it but it wasn't cheap. The service includes a sheepherder and at least two livestock dogs to keep the coyotes away. They put up electric fence around the acre or two they are running and move the fences every two or three days.
FarmerJ I have an Elephant just like you! I'll Invite you in to a couple PM's. Get ready to sit and read when you get the time...
If I may give you (my) opinion of Silver Maples, please consider this; Where I live here in NJ, the developers planted HORDS of Silver Maples in all the surrounding developments. The 2 we had in our front yard died after about 50 years and they are shallow rooted. They blow over in any hard, +70mph wind. I burn't Silver Maple trees from blow overs for years and years here! After a Nor-easter, my buddy and I used to get at least 8 to 10 that went over, just in his calls for service. Now, thats here on the coast but I'm sure you get heavy snow and wind also. My wife is from Wisconsin so I do know the Minnesota winters. You may want to look at another choice. I had my tree cutting friend recommend a Non-Thorny Honey Locust trees. They are hearty and a strong tree. Great wind break. Maybe consider looking at those.
Some of it is, I love the fall colors of maple trees. In 2003, I gave my mom 16 maple trees for Mother’s Day. I was deployed and had “6” bare root trees delivered to her. We were a bit surprised how many they sent. Of the 16, 14 survived. They now make the northwest wood line on my parent place. It’s absolutely heaven sitting in the shade under those trees in the summer months.
FarmerJ if you like maples; fine I love them too don’t pick Norway or Silver UVM has thousands of cross bred maples pick traits you want then select tree Autumn color Growth speed Root size Sugar content
I’m totally open for suggestions…. the ONE a thing I can assure me. I’m clueless compared to the collective knowledge a board like this has. I have my past experience and that’s about it to draw on. managing a farmstead is brand new to me. And the more I learn, the more I’m overwhelmed. some of it causes to dig my heels in for the “familiar”, some of it excites me for the “new”… Some of it, I just share back and give insight why I’ve chosen something and my logic behind it. but that doesn’t mean I’m not open for change. for southern Minnesota, I have no clue what all is available for trees as a option. Just what the DNR lists, University of Minnesota etc. One thing I’m considering is looking at what Minnesota had for native woods in the area 200 years ago…. And making my own little oasis. I can assure you one thing though. My standing dead ash and monster cottonwoods I need to take out.
That's exactly what I would be doing if it were me. Just have to keep in mind sunlight/water/soil requirements for specific trees when you're laying out what needs to go where. I'm a big fan of mast-producing trees for the wildlife value so if it was my project, I'd plant a few oaks, hickories, walnuts, and cherries. The oaks would be more of a gift for future generations, but walnuts and cherries will become respectable trees in a few short years. I'm a fan of maples, but in moderation. The woods behind me were abandoned 25 years ago and maples were all that naturally regenerated, keeping most other species from getting a foothold in the understory. I've since thinned them out, and slowly started diversifying back there.
I have offended a few not on purpose but I have a maple with bright red leaves and and red maple leaves.. But when tapped sugar content is 8% out of the tree tested 4 times! It is not a normal red maple in sandy soils!! Red maple sugar content generally 1/2 a sugar maple.. not twice sugars like rock soils in ledge generally get 4% sugar content silvers like swamps grow fast and break in windstorms
