The Newton Farm: Snowfall and the Sugar Creek Winter Games

Monday, January 17, 2011

Snowfall and the Sugar Creek Winter Games

A massive snowfall blanketed the area over on Sunday night, January 9. Minor Hill reported 13 inches, the largest accumulation in the mid-state. Jim, Steve and Jennifer came to the farm on the following weekend and Beth, Cam and the girls came over from Huntsville on the Sunday.

After the snow the weather turned cold with temperatures barely reaching the low thirties. Early Friday morning Jim checked the thermometer at zero degrees. These pictures were taken on Friday.

Jennifer joined Steve and Jim on Saturday morning. She rode Gypsy while Steve and Jim tended to some burning brush piles and attempted some controlled burns of warm season grass without success.

Then came time for the Sugar Creek winter games, highlighted by the Puncheon Bobsled Team. Fashioning a sled from an old calf feeder trough, Steve, Jim , and Jennifer sledded down the hill while the cows looked on with mild interest.

These pictures were taken on Saturday the 14th, six days after the snowfall.

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Instructions for preparing Eastern Gamagrass seed with Hydrogen Peroxide

This is info provided by Jimmy May at the request of Rusty Walker and Greg Brann of the USDA. We had purchased unstratified seed and followed these instructions with good results on our farm:
Research information collected by Josh Kline at University of Kentuckyin2006 indicated that soaking eastern gamagrass in 15 % hydrogen peroxide for18 hours will substitute for 6 weeks of cold stratification at 4 degreescentigrade. I am attaching a copy of Josh Klines paper. He publishedthis at an International Seed Meeting at San Antonio, Texas in early 2007.I would soak the seed for the prescribed time, take them from thesolutionand let them drip dry 3-4 hours and then plant them in soil that has good moisture and hope for another rain in a week. Two weeks of dry weatherandthe seed are likely to dry out and go back dormant. The hydrogenperoxidetreatment doesn't last if the seed are allowed to dry out. I have planted cold stratified seed treated with hydrogen peroxide next to a row that was just cold stratified and the cold stratified combined withhydrogen peroxide germinated quicker.I would not freeze the seed. Seed kept over should be stored in a cool, dry place. I don't know the specifics for holding seed. Seed allowed to heatup will loose germination. If seed go above 104 the germ can be killed. Seeds held as part of long term seed banks are held at a low humidityandaround 55 degrees Farenheit.Don't know the answer to how long seed be frozen without damaging them.Haven't seen it in print.I personally would recommend the hydrogen peroxide treatment. I have not personally field tested the hydrogen peroxide treatment by itself.(Note: We performed the treatment by itself and it worked at Newton farm) It worked in the germination test as Josh described in hispaper.I have confidence in it.. From: Jimmy May [mailto:nwsgmay@logantele.com]

Acknowledgements

Many have contributed to our success and have helped us in our difficulties. We wish to acknowledge at least some of those and, where appropriate, convey our gratitude:

Joe Newton: We've enjoyed connecting with Joe and Faye and sharing in planning and working on the place. Joe has a wealth of wisdom and farm experience and is a great asset to our family.

Lillian Newton Bass (Joe's Sister) Lillian is the oldest member of the extended family and has shared many amazing stories about growing up in Puncheon. Lillian has even gone the extra mile and sent a manuscript of her stories to various family members.

Hardin Caldwell and Sue Caldwell Richardson & Family: Thanks to Hardin for working through the transfer on his side of the family and to Sue Nell for following through the whole complexity of the process. Also we have come to appreciate the fact that the bathroom was already renovated when we acquired access to the place.

Bennie Sanderfer, Lewis Hardin and Mike Hardin: Bennie has become a partner and more importantly, a friend in restoring and maintaining the pastures. We appreciate the way he has joined with us in sharing in the vision for the potential of the pastures with proper restoration and management. As Bennie began to transition his operation, Mike and Lewis have become part of the family and a great resource to learn from and work together with.

Rusty Walker and the Giles County NRCS : An incredible resource for us as new farmers starting from scratch. They helped us develop a starting point and gain some traction towards a pasture management plan, approved a contract for improvements which is in progress, and have given guidance in many ways.

Tanner Barksdale and Heath Johns: Bringing on Tanner and subsequently Heath who lease hunting rights has opened up new awareness about enhancing wildlife management on the farm. They also have knowledge about farming and mechanical aptitude that has been most helpful.

Dan Melton & Family: Visits with food and fourwheelers and family, and of course the loaner '52 Ferguson Tractor. The Tractor has advanced our pasture improvements and the pond rehab, and has been fun for Jim, Logan, and Ben. Dan also flew Jim and Jennifer over the farm in his plane last February which provided some helpful pictures and a different perspective.

Puncheon Church of Christ: For welcoming us in their worship service when we are there on Sunday morning.

Sugar Creek neighbors: George Bailey, Robert Lee Townsend, and Willard Davis for keeping an eye on things and giving encouragement. Holly and John Smith for sharing similar experiences and for the improvements on the Noblit place.

David Thomack & Family: Hard work clearing fence rows and working around the barn

Matthew Smith: Help with new fencing & getting the seed drill

Norris Cook: Advice and practical wisdom from years of farming experience

Trey Archer: Help with floors

Dan and Marilyn Rachlin: providing second hand refrigerator

Also, none of this would have been possible without a vision from Logan and Maynard Newton to keep the farm in the family back in the 1930's, or without the loving care given to the place by Maynard and Lillie Newton for the latter half of the 20th century.