Marsala-man

Ariel shots with the trees changing.

These are the new plot between the two larger chicory/clover plots.

A few updated shots. Clover is looking great and new plot is coming along. First few are the clover.

It's a DJI Phantom 3.

Just mowed the clover and chicory plots one last time as well. I'll hit them with a little foliar fertilizer and maybe some clethodim to finish off the maintenance season. Need to check in on the brassica plot and hidey hole as well. Pics to follow.

A little update to the central plot. Nothing like a little rain to make a man feel better

1.5" of rain up here yesterday. Checked my brassica plot and it's really not done much. Been in the ground since 8/18. I've got a few hundred pounds of 46-0-0 and I'm thinking of putting 50# on this 1/2 acre plot. Anyone have an opinion on this? The soil test did call for 26# for the size of the plot and I'm just learning that now. I don't think adding it now is detrimental with the 1-2" sprouts that I have?

It's rocky for sure. That's part of the reason I pivoted to no-till planting. I'd disked up the fields in my first year and it was rocky mess. Since then I've been trying to no-till. Hoping these newer plots take hold so I can drill into them next spring and continue that in the summer and fall. Should help build up the organic matter and slowly add back to the soil layer.

I don't mind at all. I'm in the Town of Deposit in Delaware County. The place I manage is sandwiched between a few hunt clubs and some smaller properties. I've got a few of the other properties to start adding food to our area. This becoming an obsession for me. Constantly looking to learn new things and try other improvements. Added 10 chestnut and 10 persimmon last year. This year I added 10 wild pear and I'm waiting on another 10 persimmon. Also signed up to get American Chestnut nuts for the upcoming spring via SUNY ESF and NY-TACF.

Hardly a professional. Just lucky enough to be a caretake of a property with an owner that lets me play around with things. A lot of reading and research over the last four years. I'm also lucky enough to have the equipment to put in larger plots like these. Now I just need some rain to keep things going. These are are some photos of that middle plot as of tonight.

Checking back in. Got rain Saturday night after planting then got some good rain Sunday to today. I'll post pics over the course of the next few weeks to share progress. As an aside, I'd planted about 2 acres of WI Tall Tine Tuber in last Thursday. That was sprouting Monday night.

This is a great shot of the new plot added today sitting between a 4 acre clover/chicory field to the left and a 2.5 acre clover field to the right. I've got five persimmons planted between the center and right field.

First time using the Green Cover Seed's Fall Release. Drilled into previously sprayed plots with a significant amount of clover doing pretty well. Excited to see how this does. Looking to get away from the need for fertilize, herbicides, etc. Planning to use their Spring Release in 2023.

Thank you for the insight. Much appreciated.

How do I stretch with sand? Is it as simple as mixing 50#s of sand with my 12#s of seed and then adding to seeder box?

Looking for guys' opinions on adding some additional seeds to a Whitetail Institute Tall Tine Tubers. I've got about 2 acres to plant and was thinking of adding in some clover and rye to ensure I get a coverage. I'll be no-till drilling the seed and its been my experience with the seeder (Woods 72" FPS) that even with the best calibration efforts I end up a little short. Think of adding some of the other seeds to avoid that shortfall. Anyone have suggestions for what other seeds to add? The soil was tested and its in decent shape but I'm going to true Whitetail Institutes Impact soil amendment for the heck of it. Interested in what it does. Thanks all.

I just did some logs last spring. I've got 1,000 Shitake and 500 Italian oysters. Just order 500 Lion's Mane plugs along with 100 blue and 100 yellow Italian oysters. Should get my first harvest of Shitake and the Italians from last spring this fall. The new plugs will be going on some maple and oak logs. Most of last years planting were on some beech and oaks. Very excited.

Just give them a call. I used them this year.

https://www.treepro.com/wildlife-food-plot-trees

Do a soil test and amend accordingly. I also second the 41% glyso from Tractor Supply. Add a surfactant and you'll kill off what you need. The walnut trees are for certain an issue and I learned that after spending thousands on landscaping that was installed near a black walnut. Most of the shrubs and greenery was stunted and end up dead after just a year.

https://www.treepro.com/wildlife-food-plot-trees I recommend looking at this nursery. The grow tube is a huge need and some of the trees I put in May 2021 were almost to the top of the 6' tube by end of the growing season. That's impressive since they were only about 18" when I put them in the ground.

Looks good. I've been battling 10+ inches of rain since I planted my brassica plot and unfortunately the area is holding water more so then I've seen in the last five years. Stunted growth.

Bought two BOCES Building Trades mock houses that my son and his classmates built during the year at the end of the school year. Changed a few things to the design including the shed roof. Clad it in galvanized siding I bought at auction. Got 25 sheets of 3 X 8 for $400. Have a second building and enough siding so that'll hopefully get done in the next month. This currently sits overlooking 3.5 acres of brassicas and about 10 apple trees. Can't wait to hunt in comfort this year.

I'd spend the $20 or $25 to ensure you've got that well know soil pH along with other soil needs. It goes along way to ensure you aren't throwing money away. Interested to see how your plots come out. Please post some pictures in a few weeks.