Cheap Fertilizer

The title to this article is pun intended. Cheap fertiliezer, that is, fertilizer from our chicken coops. I spent the day cleaning them out and hauling the manure and shavings out to the pasture. I was able to thinly cover about 80% of one paddock. The paddock is a small one, maybe 1/2 an acre. I got to thinking about the benefit to the grass and soil from the broilers in the chicken tractor and decided to spread the used shavings on the pasture. I can't help but think this is a cheap shot of N for the grass and will be a good source of carbon for the soil through the decomposing wood shavings. Last year, I fed hay to the cows in one place and a dead spot developed there. Although the hay added a lot of compost to the soil. The neat thing was, the grass all around the feeding spot was thick and lush. It was incredible. It just proves to me that the soil needs that organic matter, just like the book "Quality Pasture" says. So, this year, I am feeding hay in various places, rarely in the same spot. The goal is to spread that organic matter around. True, not near as concentrated, but beneficial none the less.

On another note, I happened to walk past our fruit trees (which are all small yet) and noticed a huge growth spurt on the two pear trees. I called my wife out to marvel with me. These two trees are now taller than me (I stand 5'10") and this is all growth from the past year-around 4'. She noticed something that I had not. These trees are planted only a few feet from an old compost pile spot. We moved the compost from there about 2 years ago to another location. The only thing we can figure is that the residual from the compost had served these two trees very well. Our other fruit trees have not displayed that kind of growth and they are not as close to the old compost spot. Interesting, indeed.

I then took care of a project I had put off too long. I built a three hole nest box for our laying hens. Until now, they layed their eggs on the floor of the coop. Now they can "lay in style". That is all I managed to get accomplished on our farm today. It doesn't sound like much, I know, but I'm pooped. Literally ;-)

Stay tuned for the fifthe installment of "What I've Learned About Quality Pasture". Today's post is simply a couple of observations that solidify in my mind the importance of compost and organic matter. I'll keep you posted on the pastures. I am getting nervous as I look at them and wonder if anything will grow this Spring. I'm sure it will. God is funny that way.