Recent content by Petroldrinker

Hello all. I have a half acre paddock that I keep my two rams in. It's divided into four with a wire and they get moved once a week. It has a dense cover of rye grass. I'm thinking about over-seeding to add some nitrogen fixers and maybe some flavour to make it more interesting. Has anyone else...

That's great to hear. I'm loving having them.

Love your work!

😂 It's lovely fertile soil. I get lots of grass. It's just that about a third of that field is a rice paddy right now.

My land has about 18" of nice soil and then white clay. Do the perforated pipes work in this type of ground? I can't imagine anything getting through the clay at all.

😂 The water definitely seems to be running down hill 😂 The outlet where it leaves my land is between five and eight foot below the soil.

My rushes were brought under control with topping and weed-wiping. It must have been 80% coverage when I started. My homemade wiper worked amazingly well and used less that half the weedkiller I allowed for. I know the ryzomes will be there for a long time, I'll have to keep on top of them, but...

I've been working my way through all my local land owners trying to find an opinion I can really trust. But I've not yet really found anyone with lots of experience. I'm a builder mostly, the smallholding doesn't add a lot these days, and I've done site drainage plenty. I just haven't ever tried...

I am pretty sure it's just retaining its rainfall. There is only one field above me and a very old Devon bank between us with a decent ditch either side. I'll be digging my side out but they are both running and I'm confident that very little is getting through to my problem field.

Hello all. I have a six acre field that needs attention. After a two year battle I'm basking in the glory of defeating the rushes... ...for now. However, there is obvious room for improvement with the drainage. The field has a ditch on all four sides. These need maintenance but I don't think...

Just to tie this thread off in case anyone finds it useful in the future. After much deliberation and a few disappointing auctions I bought half a dozen draught ewes and an unrelated ram from a moorland farmer who thought that these old girls might prefer the comforts of my smallholding. They...

I haven't spoken to her. I will contact her now.

No, that's boring 😄. I'm expecting growing pains here but I'm going to give it a go. Though I'm ignorant with sheep I'm more than familiar with working around the smallholding in other ways. We eat our own chicken and veg and I'm very well aware that it's all about three times the price of the...

So finding a trusted supplier is going to be invaluable. I will ask my neighbours and perhaps my friendly local auctioneers. Thank you.

Okay that's great, thank you. When I know how many residents will be over-wintering here expect me back asking how much hay I should be storing. On a related subject I noticed an advert in the farm suppliers near me for someone selling year old hay. Is this useable or inappropriate?