The Newton Farm: January 2008

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Novice Farmers: The First Year January 1, 2008

The Newton family has just completed their first full year in management of the farm since acquiring access in late October 2006. The first year has been a journey from a state of overwhelmed apprehension and ignorance through the early stages of developing a long term management plan and vision for the farm. The learning curve has been steep, but we've come long way. While there is an even greater awareness of the tremendous task at hand, the family has begun building a level of confidence in its ability to manage the place and even restore it to the point that it can continue to be a blessing for this and future generations.

Jim has become the initiator and leader for improvements to the farmland, farm processes and procedures. He has spent countless hours on the internet, on the phone, and in personal discussions researching , learning , planning and seeking information and resources for improving the place. His obsessive behavior has caused the rest of us to label him as an "agri-holic".

Melba, Logan, Beth, Pam, Janine, Jim, Steve, Fred and others have provided furniture. appliances, window treatments, linens and bath towels, food and provisions, and other things to make the place more livable and comfortable.

Steve, Jim, and Fred have been the primary communicators and co - o

rdinators of the work with the Giles Co. NRCS, Tn Div. of Forestry, the purchase of equipment and materials, and contractors for repairs and other work.

Jennifer, Jim's daughter, is definitely a farm girl. She has visions of keeping a horse or horses on the place eventually. She is an expert at clipping fence wire to T-posts.

It has been especially great for Beth and her 3 young girls to be able to enjoy the farm this year as they live in Clarksville while daddy Cameron is in Afganistan for a fifteen month tour of duty. Cam's mother Myra has enjoyed visiting as well and used the phrase "enchanting " to describe her first visit.

The farm has experienced a period of exceptional drought, with a deficit of more than 50 inches of rainfall over the past 2 years. New practices of rotational grazing enabled by the new fencing has helped to avoid further loss of pasture and has helped sustain the cattle herd better than many and much better than would have been otherwise possible.

Janine deserves extra kudos for putting up with Jim's agri-holic obsession, and for all the unbelievable work throughout the year painting, fencing, and being den

mother. She gives new meaning to the phrase "Git-r-dun".

Jim and Janine had Jennifer's Girl Scout troop spend a weekend on the farm and Jennifer had her birthday party there. Pam and Logan took a group of Logan's friends (Jase, Clayton, and Daniel) for an overnight stay. They enjoyed the tractor and driving and swimming in Sugar Creek.

The following list is a summary of work accomplished since acquiring access at the end of 2006.

Main Farm House

Replaced HVAC system and added LP heater in kitchen
Painted interior ceilings and walls.
Installed new laminate floors in Kitchen, Den, Living Rm, and Bedroom
Repointed and repaired Stone Chimney and interior of Fireplace, new flashing
New keyed alike locksets and deabolts on all doors
Insulated ceiling over den
Removed two brick chimney flues in attic
Fixed roof leak and patched ceiling
Cleaned front gutters
Begun furnishing and decoration

Little House

Repointed chimney , placed new chimney cap and flashing
New lockset and deadbolt on doors keyed to main house
Primed walls and ceiling for painting

Pastures

Installed almost 5 miles of barbed wire in 4 & 5 strand fences.
Pastures bushogged twice during year
Spot sprayed to begin weed control
Bushogged top of back hillside field that will become planted with warm season native grass
Worked with Bennie to develop hay storage and feeding system that is less damaging to pastures during winter feeding season
Placed gate between big pond and field behind barn
Began rotational grazing system for optimum pasture management in April

Ponds

Scraped and cleaned around ponds at low water level
Girdle cut to kill trees on pond dam to reduce water loss and avoid damage to dam
Planned location for new pond at back hay field to be installed in 2008.
Began restoration and repair of water diversion terrace system to both ponds where damaged by silting and erosion

Timber

Met with Tn Division of Forestry / Donnie Barnett to begin Timber Management plan
Purchased 500 walnut trees for planting in early 2008

Barn

Cleared hay from loft and moved loft floorboards that were getting rain damage
Replaced rotten post at side shed to and fixed shed to allow for tractor storage
Sprayed weeds around barn and cut back overgrowth to allow use of rear and side barn lot.
Opened access gate behind barn
Prepared north shed for use in cattle feeding and shelter
Placed gate to separate front and rear barn lot for hay storage

Other

Replaced/refurbished front gate
Replaced gate access from yard to north pasture
Cut path through thicket to hollow field
Built new Insulated pump house with concrete foundation and two doors for access to valve and pump control apparatus. Installed thermostatically controlled heat lamps to prevent freezing.
Purchased additional 1952 Ferguson TO-30 tractor to use with the loaner & to learn about with coaching from Dan Melton
Acquired 1940's or early 50's John Deere Van Brunt mechanical seed drill for reseeding pastures.
Acquired '67 John Deere garden tractor for general fencing , spraying, and miscellaneous tasks.
Acquired 5' bushog and blade scraper to use with Ferguson tractor

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.