Author Archives: joesmithreally

9 wild turkeys sighted today. I must learn how to attract, feed, and provide habitat for these big birds. They seem to like the edge of the woods next to the pasture. They are omnivorous, especially keen to eat acorns, pecans, cereal grains, cracked corn, blueberries and other small fruit. I don’t want to huntContinue reading “Wild Turkeys”

So I finally mowed the main part of the pasture. About 4 acres of approximately 5 acres. It took 3 days. So far. Hacked some thistles and tall woody weeds with machete and hand held trimmer first. Went through 2 rolls of vinyl trimmer string and 5 pair of thick vinyl cutter blades. Took downContinue reading “Mowed pasture. Now what?”

Pleased to report that these inherited cats are incompetent bird hunters, so far. They stalk, yes, but have not yet caught any of the many birds. Birds are very wary and smarter than their teeny brains would indicate. As long as the cats continue to fail as predators, they can stay. They’re going to haveContinue reading “Incompetent Bird Killers”

Nice fall evening light and colors. Next year, I’d like to have some animals grazing this pasture.

Dylan and I sorted these barn timbers today, raising them off the ground, and covering them with tarp. Over 100 years old. The supports for the old barn. Large wooden pegs in some of them. Various hefty sizes: 6″ x 8″, 8″ x 8″, 10″ x 10″, a couple almost 12″ x 12″ and 30′Continue reading “Barn Timbers”

Facebook, Google, Twitter, NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. Enough. The overt bias has been bad enough and quite obvious for some years. But the overt censorship of alternate facts and opinions is too much and I won’t willingly participate in it any more. There are other ways to communicate. I’ll keep the stupid Facebook account andContinue reading “No more…”

I plan to do a lot of composting.

6 days of solid rain finally ended on Sunday. Three days of welcome sun, some wind, and 70-80 degree warmth have dried the dirt over the 80 x 180 feet area (14,400 square feet, 1/3 acre) enough that I can get back to picking out rocks and prepping it for fall planting of grass andContinue reading “Inspiration from an Ancestor”