Merry Manurey Christmas



Bill's Gift of 6 Tons of Cow Manure



The soil on most of our property is quite poor and very sandy.  It does drain well which has the advantage of not becoming a quagmire after a rain; however, the soil does not hold moisture long enough to be of much benefit to the trees or crops that we have planted.  We have tried several things to improve the soil:  getting soil samples and following the recommendations for adding lime and the proper mixture of fertilizer, spreading ashes collected from our fire place, discing in last season's vegetation, prescribed burns.  Bill’s latest attempt is the time honored tradition of adding cow manure to the soil.  So he put in a request for 6 tons of cow manure for his Christmas gift.  The farmer who provided it assures him that it does wonders in a garden, as it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium plus humus which is helpful in retaining moisture in the soil.

After hauling and spreading 6 loads of this rich (in more ways than one) dirt on half of the field with the poorest soil we were surprised to see the following result:



Green vegetation at far end of field where manure was first applied



After a good rain the vegetation at the far field of the field where the manure was first applied is noticeably greener.  Since nitrogen is one ingredient of cow manure this could have a short term impact mostly benefiting the weeds.  A brassica called rape seed has now been distributed throughout the field, and we will observe the effect that the manure has on the development of this seed.

Winter is a Good Time to Tend to the Trees

We have used the cooler weather also to work on our various soft mast trees.  During the summer the ground can be so hard that it is almost impossible to clear out any weeds around the trees.  We just have to put down a deep bed of mulch and hope for the best.   After a few recent rains we found it fairly easy to pull out most of the weeds that can overwhelm the smaller trees. 



Tree Protectors Also Protect Weeds



Since many of the trees that we have planted were initially quite small, we used tree protectors to help them get started in the sandy soil.  Moisture and heat trapped inside the blue tubes create a mini greenhouse effect that can provide a safe environment for small trees to take root.  However, we think that we might have protected the trees for too long.  Trees that have wire baskets around them to protect them from deer and rabbits are developing more quickly. 

The trees that had the tubes around them for more than a year or two seem spindly.  Part of the problem is that weeds also proliferating inside the tubes are taking some of the nutrients away from the trees.  So another winter activity is the replacing of all of the tree protectors after a year or two with wire baskets.

Winter Activities



Two Active Scrapes Found in January



During the winter, when the foliage is minimal and the weather is cool, is a great time to walk through the woods and check for signs of wildlife.  If one is lucky it might also provide an opportunity to find a set of antlers that a buck has shed.  Recently we decided to check out a section of the woods that had been left undisturbed for several years.  Were we surprised to see multiple signs of deer activity in this several acre patch of woods, including several buck rubs and lots of scrapes, all in close proximity to each other.  Buck rubs and scrapes are effective means of communication for deer to use, similar to a bulletin board that we might use to place notes for others to read.  We have found that there is always a limb directly above a scrape.  A buck is not only creating a visual and scent message of its presence with the scrape itself; it is also creating a scent message by rubbing a gland near its forehead on the limb.  Obviously this patch of woods was a popular hangout for deer, possibly because humans had left it undisturbed.





Closeup of the Two Scrapes





Notice from the photo to the left that the scrapes are still very active.  This was a surprise to us, because, by January, all rut activity should be finished.  However, there are multiple theories about the message that scrapes send.  Bucks are not the only ones to create scrapes.  Sometimes does also leave scrapes.  So the messages that are involved could be far more complex than just a sign of rut activity.

Wood Duck Box Has a Tenant



Wood Duck Box

 After seeing a Wood Duck on our stream Bill decided to build several Wood Duck nesting boxes to encourage one of these beautiful ducks to nest on our property.  Often the offspring will return to the same place to nest.

He built the boxes to the exact dimensions recommended and used cedar as suggested.  On the inside, below the entry hole, he used a file to etch steps into the wood.  This allows the chicks to climb up out of the box.  To ensure that predators could not enter the nesting boxes he attached them to a PVC pipe.  Special paint that adheres to plastic pipe was used to blend it into the natural surroundings.

We have diligently cleaned out the boxes and placed fresh cedar shavings into them every winter at about nesting time.   Although we have never seen a Wood Duck inhabit one of the nesting boxes we did find a broken egg shell once that could have been from a Wood Duck chick.



A shy screech owl inhabiting one of our nesting boxes




However, owls have found these nesting boxes to be a perfect habitat.  We were delighted to discover a screech owl and her owlets one season, and now another very shy screech owl has moved into the same nesting box.  Perhaps this could be one of the owlets that has come back home.

A Fire Circle Adds Warmth and Fellowship

There is nothing quite like watching a fire while sitting under the pines and a sky filled with stars.  A fire circle is a great, and safe, way to enjoy just such a fire.  And if a grill is at the ready to be rotated over the fire with a steak or deer sausages on it, this only enhances the ambiance.

Fire Circle with Rotating Grill

"Annex" Adds Unique Value to Property

When we initially bought our property there were no facilities on it.  At first we used a tent, then set up a small trailer.  But we didn't have a septic system.  Fortunately we learned about a porta-potty graveyard in North Georgia, and we decided to visit it.  What a surprise to see rows upon rows of retired porta-potties, all still usable and for sale.  We picked out one that looked ready to be put back into service and brought it over to our property.  With a hole cut in the bottom and placed over a deep hole in the ground, plus a bucket of lime for environmental purposes, this porta-potty was ready for business!

Bill was able to find paint that would adhere to the fiberglass and transformed the porta-potty into a camouflage "annex" that definitely adds value to the property. 

Transformation of porta-potty

Now that we have a septic system in place near our camping area, we have moved the "annex" to a convenient location at the other end of our property.  There it can continue to provide service for years to come.

"Annex" in new location

Oaks Have Brilliant Colors

Scarlet Oak

Many oaks still have brilliant fall colors late into November.  We are always observing the oaks on our property in the fall, because we want to know what the acorn crop will be for the year.  The red oaks, such as this Scarlet Oak, produce acorns that are more bitter due to the greater amount of tannic acid in the acorns.  White oaks are more popular with the deer, because the acorns that they produce have less tannic acid and are thus sweeter.  Acorns are a preferred food for the deer due to the protein that the nuts provide.