We Need to Build a Fence

How do you define ambitious. I think this project fits the bill. But, if we are going to grow we need more pasture.

One of our stated purposes is to give shelter to the homeless. To this end we have been building relationships with local animal control, and animal shelters. This last year we have had inquiries about our ability to help them out, or to take on a group of sheep. We were approached by a shelter to see if we could take in 14 sheep from a potential emergency surrender situation. We said, ‘sure we can’, fenced in a 50ft X 150ft quarantine area, and found a ton of grass hay. The need never materialized, but we were ready just in case.

The Grass is Greener Here for Shelter Sheep

The thing is, the shelters have to take in animals no matter what, even though they have a limited space for farm animals. This last year a local shelter had to move two pet pigs into the dog kennels because they were exceeding the limits of their farm animal enclosure. Even though it was temporary and necessary, it was not the best space for pigs. Thankfully, someone stepped forward and adopted them right away. That is one of the needs we were created to fulfill. We can give needy sheep a healthy and suitable home while taking the pressure off the shelters. The need to take on a large group of sheep will come about eventually, and we plan to be ready to give a home to those sheep in their time of need.

The New Pasture and the New Fence.

The picture above is of the new pasture we are developing. In the last post we wrote about the the water lines the owner of the property has installed. We need to grow, and turning this weedy bit of dirt into a functional pasture will fit the bill. The pink and blue lines are where we need to put the new fence. It calculates out to be sixty 16ft wire ranch panels plus a walk gate and a drive gate. As part of the agreement we are to water the horse chestnut tree. The owner is fond of it, and wants it to stay healthy. Because the seeds are toxic, we need eleven more panels to fence the tree off. We may eventually plant shade loving grass, and put a picnic table and benches under the tree.

The Southwest Corner

When the neighbor gets his remaining stacker load of hay off the future pasture, we are going to place a demonstration section of the fence in the southwest corner.

South Side Barbed Wire Fence

We are going to repair, straighten and stretch the existing barbed wire fence. Our fence is going in about 2ft inside of the barbed wire fence. The intent is to plant a flowering margin between the fences. In the margin, we plan to include flowering plants that are grazeable, but do not stand up to grazing pressure like: echinacea, hollyhock, and fennel. These will naturally seed themselves into the pasture, but will not survive grazing. All the flowering plants we include will support native pollinators, and a healthy ecosystem in the pasture. We found that as the land in the existing pasture healed, voles and mice flourished, snakes followed, and last year a feral mother cat and her two kittens moved in. The cat and her kittens disappeared in October, but they were well fed and healthy over the late summer.

The East Cable Fence

Just like the barbed wire fence, the new fence is going two feet inside the existing single cable fence, with a flowering margin between.

Coreopsis in the Existing Pasture

We are calling for volunteers to help design the margin and set it up. The planning is open to anybody, anywhere. We will be setting up a discussion group on our Discord server, or Facebook for planning, and as long as you have an internet connection, you can be a part of the process. It can be a great way to share your knowledge and learn new things. Just let us know if you are interested. You can let us know by messaging us through Facebook, or email us at baabaahelp@rescewe.org

Sainfoin in the Existing Pasture

If you feel brave enough to help build the fences, have we got a rewarding experience for you. We expect to be setting up fence building parties over a few Saturdays, or Sundays. The hours, days, and number of days will be up to the volunteers and how they feel. Honestly, I pounded 28 fence posts out there one evening. That was a bit of a workout, and more than I would ever want to do at one time. But as they say, many hands make light work. Even if you can not help build fence, you can sit in a lawn chair, make up fence ties, and cheer on the post pounders. Once again, Message us on Facebook, or email us at baabaahelp@rescewe.org to volunteer.

After Waiting, We Now Have Water

When the offer was made for us to care for and graze another acre and a half adjacent to the existing Caldwell pasture, we were excited to start right away. However, little did we know that local water politics would prevent us from using the irrigation water we contracted to have. Two years later, with pressure from divine providence, and the wheeling and dealing of the principle parties (of which we are not), we have brand new mainlines installed along our pastures, and promises of water in the coming irrigation seasons to come.

Last year’s test plot.

Last years test plots were a mixed success. Before we agreed to take on the land, the ground had been repeatedly treated with soil sterilants, and weed killers for many years. We put a halt to that practice immediately. After over a year without the poisons, we were able to get many seeds to sprout, but many seedlings did not survive. None of the legumes that sprouted survived a month. most pasture grass was sickly, and the casual observations indicate that the dirt (I refuse to call it soil) has an 8.5ph or possibly higher.

Waste Hay

We have started to spread waste hay to add to the “green” organic matter of the soil. The soil health and diversity of organisms in the adjacent pasture that we have been sharing with the Fantasy Farm sheep has improved significantly with good management. Part of that has been the waste hay, not just the manure.

The New Mainline

Planning the seeding, and procuring the seeds is the next part of the process. We have found a legume that can tolerate high ph soils, makes a great cover crop, and is grazable. It is an annual that can grow up to six feet tall, has deep roots, and will die off by first frost, adding mulch to the surface. We are also going to seed a lot of daikon radish and chicory too.

The Fence Separating the Pastures

We are going to build a sturdy fence this year to protect the sheep, and will be planting a grazable flowering margin all along the road sides of the pasture. We have volunteers that want to help in the planning and creating the flowering margin. It should be fun, it is intended to be both pretty and functional. it will be another place to experiment and try new things.

The Existing Fenceline at the Highway

Coming Soon, We Need to Build a Fence.