The Newton Farm: "A somewhat controlled burn" Winter 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010

"A somewhat controlled burn" Winter 2010

It's hard to believe it has been almost nine months since the last post. This year has been one of stutter steps and t

wo steps forward, one step backward. We now have a donkey named Cocoa at the farm among our increasing renegade band of livestock. Maynard the dog has appeared and disappeared with all his funny but annoying and sometimes endearing quirks. Just last weekend we were going to create a series of wildlife clearings according to a USDA contract but got waylaid by a misunderstanding about a Bobcat we thought had been arranged for. Steve's nephew Stanton was there helping so we changed plans to take full advantage of his help.

On Friday we experimented with controlled burns as a means of clearing and maintaining our pasture and wildlife areas. The first was on a pasture area and can better be described as a "somewhat controlled burn". The Minor Hill Volunteer Fire Department only had to be called out

one time. It was quite exciting and a bit exhausting after the adrenaline rush. Actually the burn was tentatively under control by the time the truck arrived but it was nice to get some water sprayed over the last bit just in case. In retrospect, the burn accomplished its purpose very nicely and even included the field border warm season grass area, though that was not our intent. We learned some VERY IMPORTANT lessons about advance containment and wind shifts,then tried our hand with better success at the warm season grass area next to the new pond. Rains Saturday night and dense fog on Sunday kept us from continuing with our controlled burn practices.

Logan and Stanton in the field before the burn.

Looking toward the burn area across the pond.

A couple of weeks after the burn.

Tanner is arranging for a dozer in a week or two to create the wildlife openings we were going to work on last weekend. More to come on that.

NWSG Control burn in early evening.
(note back burn in foreground)

The warm season switchgrass area before the burn.

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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.