Category: Making Hay

I’m always amazed at how well Sheep Clean Woodland Pastures

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Briden Farm Sheep Pasture After 4 Days of Trimming

We move our Briden Farm Sheep every 4 Days, to stay ahead of parasites and don’t return for at least 90 days to let the pasture rest and any parasites die due to lack of host. That’s why we move them so often. Goats need to be moved at least every 30 days and Pigs at least every two weeks for the same reasons. The time off pasture, allowing the pasture to rest is usually one year. So it’s all very labour intensive. Especially having to move the Sheep every four days! 

So, I’ve probably seen this happen, and helped make this happen, well over 100 times over the past couple of years.! 

Yet, I’m always amazed at what an incredible job they do! 

Just look…

Briden Farm Sheep 19 June 2025 Briden Farm Sheep 23 June 2025
To me it’s absolutely amazing! A stark difference! It really helps recoup old pasture land. Over time it becomes more hay, and less scrub. Especially when we begin to use Goats, Sheep, Chickens and Rabbits all rotated in succession. We’ve seen it on a previously worked overgrown pasture. Within two years it went from weeds and invasive species to where we could harvest hay! 

In some cases, where the weeds and invasive species really need to be rooted out, we use Goats, followed by pigs. Let it rest and recuperate and then next year use goats and sheep.
 
It’s just an amazing transformation! Especially over time! It takes time, and work! Not,only for the animals, but for us also. If You have old pasture land you’d like restored. Naturally without chemicals and excavators, contact us. Let’s discuss Your situation and see how our animals can help You! Call Brian at 902-907-0770 

Categories: Hay Learning Experiences Making Hay Natural Fertilizer Natural Pasture Restoration Pastures and Fencing Sheep Uncategorized Woodlands

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Turning Old Burnt Out Hay Fields to Grazing Pastures and Gardens

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It’s been just a couple weeks short of two years since we moved our animals on to this property. 

The Barn Property Sept 2022

When we were asked to come there and use the land and barn, the fields were mostly old and burnt out, full of invasive and toxic weeds. Two years later through the use of rotational pasturing, and regenerative farming techniques these are those fields today… 

While the original goals of the Property Owners, of “Just keep the trees from growing in, and the fields from getting over taken” with hopes of getting rid of the toxic and invasive plants. Although we wanted to help showcase the work, and help make this place even more beautiful. We’ve used Goats, Pigs, Chickens, Rabbits, and now Sheep to help improve this wonderful old property. Just look at those hay fields now! A true testament to the capabilities of these wonderful birds and animals! 

Not only have we helped keep the fields from growing in, we’ve helped to eliminate many of the weeds, both toxic and invasive. Although it’s still a work in progress! Sheep need adequate pasture grasses and forage to thrive and our shearer and others, and even the wool quality of the sheep have all testified to this being the case! It’s incredible to see the transformation that’s taken place! 

We’ve even managed to turn some of this ground into gardens!

2024 Garden at The Barn Property

Using deep bedding for our animals through the winter helps provide well composted hay and manure to help naturally grow the gardens. The whole thing is laborious and yet rewarding. We work mostly by hand, employing time honoured methods and let our animals do most of the heavy lifting! It’s a labour of love, one where we always strive to be good Stewards.

Categories: Bunnies Chicken Chicken Tractors Chickens Composting Ducks Fencing Free Range Eggs Gardening Goats Help Needed Learning Experiences Making Hay Natural Beauty Natural Fertilizer Pastured Poultry Pastures and Fencing Pigs Saanen Goats Sheep Uncategorized Vegetables Vegetables Woodlands

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Making Hay 5 June 2024

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Brian and Roscoe in front of Haystack

Making Hay by hand isn’t something that’s done here, locally, much anymore but it is rewarding. Although it is a lot of work! What I’ve done this week, in a few hours, say 4 Hours give or take, is to make an equivalent of about 4 or 5 Bales of Hay. I’m guessing that’s about what it is. I could buy 4 o 5 bales of hay for about $20-$25. So, if I were to pay myself, I’d probably be making a whopping $5, or so, an Hour! However, there is something to be said for the quality…

Look at the neighbour’s field just beyond where I’m making hay. See the Lupines, and other toxic and invasive plants? That is what this field, that I’m cutting hay in, looked like about a year and a half ago! Imagine! 

I’d love to take credit for changing this field into the beautiful field it is today, with an incredible mix of grass, grains, and legumes, but honestly, it wasn’t me! It was our animals!

Goats, Pigs, Rabbits, and Chickens being rotated through there last year, led to this incredible transformation! Not only does it allow us to keep more, and more diverse, animals on the land, it also leads to more natural carbon and manure being changed into compost and fertilizer spurring even more growth. I turn, not only getting rid of the toxic and invasive plants, but giving the grasses and forage we want to take over and grow even better! 

The whole system is incredible, so, making hay takes on a whole new meaning! From feeding the soil with natural carbon and manure, to feeding our animals, to growing hay, to help provide Winter Feed for the Animals, some of whom in turn feed us! Either through quality, healthy, pasture raised meats, or milk, or eggs, etc., etc. 

Now, add to that the health benefits of staying in shape! Add to that this is all being done naturally, without chemicals, and You just can’t get any more organic than that! I love it! 

Now, let me tell You the best part! The Smell! There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly cut, dried natural, organic, hay! Unless of course it’s the food it helps produce! Imagine! 

No, don’t just imagine, Book Your Tour of Briden Farm and come learn how, and why, we do what we do! Experience it for Yourself! 

Have questions? Call Brian at Briden Farm, phone 902-907-0770 

All this quality food, meat, eggs, milk, etc., has inspired Brian to enter Carla Hall’s “Favourite Chef” competition that is open to all, including Home Cooks. The competition is in support of the James Beard Foundation, and is actually based on the promotion and number of Votes the Entrant, the “Chef”, receives during the Competition! Thus, Brian is asking You for Your Vote! Everyone gets a Free Daily Vote and You can cast Your Vote at: https://favchef.com/2024/brian-hurlburt

FavChef2024 Top 20

 

 

Categories: Making Hay

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