The following photos and video show how we used weeds to help retain moisture and prevent erosion in our vegetable garden.
The photo above is what it looked like by the time I got to it!
This next photo shows it about half done…
Here’s how I did it…
I never get tired of seeing the work our animals do. This Year, December 1st and 2nd our Pigs were turned into our Garden Plot. The two photos show the Before and After. As You can see, they do an amazing job of disturbing the soil just enough to spur growth. Leave them too long, and they’ll compact the earth, but leave them just the right amount of time, and they turn it up and get it prepared for the next growing season. It’s not usually left till December and perhaps should have a Cover Crop, but this year we had beautiful days and 10 + celsius, that’s into the 50s F. Well-composted manure had previously, been applied and worked in.
Also, take note of the Green Grass still growing in the pastures. As a result of our animals, Goats, Pigs, Sheep, Chickens, Rabbits, and Ducks, enjoy their rotational pastures. Rotational Pasturing can be used, not only to keep parasite-free, healthy, livestock but also to encourage growing green grass and pasture forages.
We worked this ground in the Fall, and need it reworked this Spring. So, we’ve put our rootin, tootin, garden tillers, to work! They’ll soon have it all plowed up!
Then, later, we’ll apply our natural fertilizers! It’s a real bird brain way of doing things! No good to be chicken! The whole thing quacks me up! 🦆
Many of us in this neck of the woods heat our homes in stoves fueled with firewood; and that firewood creates ashes. Often those ashes are just discarded, or tossed out. However, there are a number of uses for firewood ashes from Wood Stoves.
Yes, seriously, ashes can be used for everything from Stain Remover and Deicer to Household Cleanser and Odor Remover! Read what Napoleon has to Say!
So, if you have Wood Ashes you’re not using please let us know we’d really appreciate having them. We actually want them for a replacement for chemical fertilizers and garden lime!
There’s nothing like wood heat to comfort us during our cool, damp winters. Unless it’s the vegetables that have been helped to grow by using the firewood ashes of our Wood Stoves! We may even use some of them to make Lye, for making Goat Milk Soap! Read more about Soap Making on Countryfarm Lifestyles.
Whether from Hard, or Soft, wood, ashes contain phosphorus, potassium, calcium, boron, and other elements that growing plants need. Ash is also very alkaline and sweetens and raises pH levels of soil. Click here to read The Chronicle and see what it says about replacing Lime with Ash.
In fact, ashes may also be used to deter insects and other garden pests!
Perhaps I shouldn’t tell you all of this, after all, we’d like you to give us your Wood Ashes! Or at least your extra wood ashes!
By the way, never use Wood Ashes on your Potatoes, or where you plan to plant them! It’ll probably cause them to become scabby!
Do you have other uses for Ashes from your firewood Stove?
If You have ashes you’re not using, we’d love to have them…
Please contact Brian at Briden Farm 902-907-0770.