A Constant Battle || Clearing The Jungle of Kudzu

The kudzu is in full force this summer, and it’s making the cleanup of the back acreage difficult.
Today’s music, in order (available through Epidemic Sound bit.ly/2Mt3tXm ):
Intro: Let Me Love You by Loving Caliber
ElDorado by Blue Steel
On The Trail by Tigerblood Jewel
Perfect Start by Mefree
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[@VannaWhiteboard]

Martial Arts is a lifelong meditation. Such a healthy outlet, just one class can change so much. You learn how to kill with your bare hands, only to also learn it is never something you will want to have to do, and you will do everything in your power to prevent it.

[@warrenrines3924]

I did 17 years of Jujutsu with my son, we started wen he was 7 and he's 31 now. I think it's awesome that you are doing that with your boys. They will always remember this. Love the channel and thank you for sharing your family and your life with us. Keep up the great work

[@scottensley9964]

Last video you were wondering what you could feed some of your animals to cut down on feed costs. I read something today that says that Goats and dairy and cows meat cows thrive on Kudzu, and grass clippings for an excellent silage.

[@pampilgrim2274]

Hi, Ben! So glad you started karate classes. That’s a great activity for you and the boys. Congratulations!!!! Kudzu grows 18 inches on a hot day.

[@shirleycourtney8034]

Did you know you can feed the kudzu to the pigs as well as dry it as silage for them? The protein content is about 14-15%. There's a renewable source of pig food!

[@amandaforeman2626]

That’s awsome

[@Bex-rg8pj]

Obviously, you didn’t watch the video.

[@heavymetalbassist5]

My great great aunt makes woven baskets from the vines and feeds the leaves to her chickens.

[@tommiejones1072]

Good for many farm animals!

[@marylouise890]

@@Bex-rg8pj 👌😊👍

[@mgtmoffat8411]

The Hollar boys! What a force they are. The truck is sparkling! Great vlog as usual. 💕💕🌻🌻

[@notthereyethomestead8413]

If I remember correctly, horse chestnuts are soap for body and clothes. Check it out, more self-sufficiency!! I say root cellar over where the embankment was dug out, and maybe another trailer married up to yours, for more room. Love your videos and thank youfor bringing us along!! Blessings!!

[@patriciaherman6499]

Those fajitas looked delicious Meg. Ben nuts trees will round out your homestead, meat, eggs, milk, cheese, veggies, fruit and nuts awesome. Blessings to you all. 😊🇺🇲

[@Zeke-yv3nw]

That's cool, you and the boys doing something together. Kudzu is invasive but animals love it!

[@Bex-rg8pj]

Ben and Meg, I would love to see a couple of pictures when you both were around two years old so I could see who the kids look like. I keep changing my mind lol!

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

The hill is going to look nice when cleared from all the trees you don't want, and the under brush. We have black walnut, and pecan trees 100 + years old. The squirrels, and wild boar go crazy trying to get the nuts. Most of what they get has already fallen to the ground. Karate with the boys is a good thing. Meg, and Buggie need to find something fun to do.

[@southloupriverhomestead4696]

My favorite time of the day Hollar Time! As I watch this its dark outside we really really need rain just like you I,m afraid its going to go around. We are in an actual drought and want rain so bad! I,m glad you and the boys are doing an off homestead activity Go Hollar Men!

[@julieagain]

I wish we could send some of this Deep South Louisiana your way. We’ve been getting rain every day some days all day long. Todays the 1st day we haven’t had rain in a month. We started out in a severe drought & now the swamp grass is taking over my lawn.

[@StoneKathryn]

@@julieagain That sounds like an incredible amount of rain!

[@julieagain]

@@StoneKathryn it is. Filled up my 50 gal water drum that’s connected to the gutter system in 1 day. I have to empty it daily so the mosquitoes don’t grow in it. The way summer started I can’t believe I’m throwing water out 😳

[@goldengryphon]

Best decision I ever made, other than my choice of spouse, was starting martial arts. Even when I did (I was older than my instructor), it was an amazing challenge. Stick with it and, with a good instructor, you learn things you never thought possible! My current goal is being able to get back into shape (the past two years have been hard, medically speaking) and go back to class for my 2nd degree. It's a never ending challenge and gardening is the best physical therapy I've found!

[@samgoodie4576]

Pecan trees for sure! Yum! Love what you're doing guys!

[@glendaruff125]

Glad your family is able to do some fun things together. Interesting tidbit about the pigs eating kudzu. I didn't know that.

[@aleccapel472]

Karate is so much fun! Kudzu is super high in protein and is great for pig feed. Also if you ever raise meat rabbits it's great for them too!

[@GeorgiaGrown90]

SO cool the boys are doing karate! Sounds like a blast! Kudzu is just crazy!! I live in Atlanta and we have it growing ALL over. The government even uses goats to help clear up kudzu lol

[@danaoneal6772]

That little guy is a good helper! He is always by your side.

[@marycountry]

Great family class to take together!👍🏻😊

[@janetbecker4282]

I hope as part of homeschooling you teach your children the wide variety of know how you have. My Dad was born to older sickly parents. At age 11 he went to work full-time to support them and get medical help. He became a factory worker. That was the end of his know how. He did love his family well. He raised his neice and 4 daughters with love. I have turned into a lifetime learner to be more self efficient. Love that your able to do such a variety of things on the Homestead.

[@belieftransformation]

Great progress all over the homestead & in the kitchen! Thanks for sharing & blessings to your family 🤗❤️🇨🇦

[@janetwithers7427]

Karate classes for all the boys.. Fantastic!! 🌻💖🌻

[@emmadalrymple4102]

The butter melting in the cast iron skillet had a very relaxing effect in me. Looked like a great meal! Life in the South is usually great...then there is kudzu...wisteria is the same, but at least it has fragrant flowers in the spring. You can make jelly from kudzu. Not that Meg needs more things to do in the kitchen, lol. Such a beautiful family!

[@StoneKathryn]

We have wild grape here in Minnesota that grows very fast. It will climb up trees and any bush and choke it out. That kudzu sounds really prolific! I'm glad the animals love it. Our goats love the wild grape. They help us keep it under control. That does look like hot work cutting and chipping those trees. I'm glad you get help. Yum Meg, chicken fajitas! Thanks for this Hollar family.

[@suerosenfeld4612]

I love me some Hollar time! No really I enjoy following your family to see what’s happening on your homestead

[@seanledig1431]

Glad you and your boys are learning karate. I think it's a great practice for people who like to live an active lifestyle. I hope you take advantage of all that outdoor space and set aside room for a home dojo to train when you can't make it to your sensei's/sabum nim's/sifu's facility. There are so many things to do at your farm to supplement what you're learning in the dojo. For example, chopping wood with an axe develops the same muscles you use to throw a punch. Practicing outdoors in different types of weather builds stamina. I've trained barefoot, outside in cold New England or Sierra foothills winters. I've also trained in 106-degree Northern California summers. Or practice your basics in lakes or rivers. There are so many ways to incorporate your martial arts with being in nature.

[@acornhomestead3575]

We have ivy that grows around our trees but it's so invasive that it will kill trees it wraps around (not sure it can be used as fodder though). In the past I have been so against cutting trees down but thanks to you and a couple other channels I see now the benefits of clearing out and letting the sun shine in. I'd love to do a "fast" marshall arts (I've done tai chi). It's a workout too and if you speed up the moves it's pretty lethal also. Great bonding time. Have fun with it.

[@Julie-bq6iz]

Hi Ben! Morgan at Gold Shaw Farm raises chestnut seedlings every year. Maybe talk to him about getting some.

[@margaretbedwell3211]

Glad to see you and the boys having some off time together for fun as well as a learning experience. That kudzu is as bad as wisteria but at least with kudzu you have feed for your animals. Both are really bad in the south. I didn't realize the kudzu vines got that big, it was like a pipe. Good luck with controlling it. Y'all have a Blessed day.

[@bethrizi6509]

Meg, all your cooking looks amazing. You work so hard yet always seem so relaxed while doing it. I really enjoy watching the whole family sit down to eat together! Thanks!💖

[@sharonnorris5984]

Cows ang goats love kudzu! It's invasive and grows at least 1ft/day. Glad you and the boys have found an activity to enjoy.

[@erikas974]

Great news about the Karate. As a woman I recomend to Buggie to start it too. Shotokan is especially for defence only. When I was a young girl and was going home late in a dark streets I was always a bit scared so I started Karate. After that I had the confident on any situation. Even Meg can do it if she is interested. 👍👌

[@2L82Sk8Bye]

Karate! What a great idea. You and the boys will have so much fun.

[@dorriwaldera3081]

Those fajita's look amazing! I want Meg as my personal cook! In the mean time, I think I need to cut up some onions and peppers, and see what else I have!

[@MrJcalvino]

Chesnuts are amazing. Where I’m from a meat company fatten their pigs mostly on chesnuts and the quality of meat amazing. It’s on another level. Hope your tree planting goes well and in a couple of years your pigs can start feeding themselves.

[@torchwoody58]

Pam says- I watched a youtube from Korea where they harvested kudzu root ground it up and made starch powder for glass noodles. It's scary what they eat sometimes. Their roots were 3 feet long and like 4 inches diameter from an area that they dig continuously. 😎

[@StoneKathryn]

Wow, you can even make a flour with it.

[@patches5965]

So happy you and boys are doing something together beside homesteading. Karate is great!

[@kariannecrysler640]

Fun family event. It’s great that you all have an affinity to martial arts 😊

[@Dee.C]

Love the truck ! Glad you are fulfilling your want to do list and including your boys in on it . Kudzu is a pain in the behind !

[@debbiemontgomery8874]

My boys and I did Karate together most of their lives. They learned self reliance and self confidence. Plus I never had to worry about them. They helped me run a karate school end the oldest ran a karate club at college. Good stuff.

[@olsenjk]

Love the videos. Hope your doing well!

[@joharmon2148]

Sounds like really father son bonding going on, that's fabulouse!

[@growinggenerationshomestea516]

Stephen Bruhner who wrote healing Lyme lists Kudzu tincture best for headaches. Yes, my husband, son and myself have used it with great success. It's good as a salad too. We are from SE KY in the mountains and I'd love to have it, we had to move. Dry it and mail it to me please 😆 🤣

[@docjoe6927]

I had a tomahawk chipper shredder and after I didn't need it any longer I sold it to a buddy. He found they originally offered a finer screen for the hammer mill portion. He would then run shell corn through it for feed for his chickens. Made for less waste when feeding chickens.

[@StoneKathryn]

Thanks for commenting about another possible use of the wood chipper. That sounds great.

[@oahuoffgridhawaiianhomeste1474]

You Guys are Inspirational…. Shout Out from Hawaii!

[@patriciahusk3428]

Well, I learned something new again today! I had never heard of kudzu….it grows like a weed but has some really good things about it😉! I think your plan for all sorts of nut trees is absolutely fantastic. The chicken fajitas looked so good y’all!

[@davidhazelton8327]

What about a pit silo for corn and possibly even Kudzu. Might make some good animal feed.

[@krickette5569]

Karate gave me a much needed edge a couple times in my past. Maybe Buggie can get in on it when she's a bit older, and Meg too, it can give a girl a real sense of freedom to be able to defend herself.

[@dmunoz1943]

The Vine that Ate the South…..we live in Central Texas have a little acreage and we’ve battled kudzu for years….Several years ago after getting tired of trying to cut it down I read up on it and learned that at one time the Soil Conservation Service recommended it for soil erosion, HA! We don’t have pigs and are getting too old to raise farm animals, but every winter I try to go out and whack those vines down. Good luck trying to get rid of it, our hot summers just makes this devil vine thrive!

[@geraldineyoung9401]

So cool good for you and the boys! Meg your amazing! Taking care of so many things! Ben is amazing too! I've been canning a lot still and it gets harder as I grow older. But just got a bigger root cellar here. YAY! I've need one since we moved on another place of our property and I don't have to go to my daughter's and use our old one. Guess what we remodeled a double wide that was pretty much like yours had to be gutted! But it was free except for what it costed to move it! My daughter and family moved to our house and we moved to their's. Then when we finished this one we did a air bnb out of their house! Lol both our kids live on family land close to us! Which is so cool!

[@ivanpaultaurua9246]

This is my absolute favourite video first thing in the morning because you guys make my heart ❤️ sing from amazement and awe your commentary is engaging and overall inspiring the family dynamic is incredible warming I always appreciate you and wife and children’s work ethic’s however your wife’s self assurance efficiency and heart and soul happiness is truly a blessing for a way of life that makes off the grid lifestyle experience inspirational thank you 🙏 guys appreciate you all

[@studentoflife2484]

me too.. before breakfast, while i do a bit of stretching, the HOLLARS are my good vibes go to channel

[@Katiedid1975]

There are lots of used for kudzu. Edible and medicinal.

[@gaylewatkins4685]

Loved everything about the video. 😊 Ben, every bit of land you make usable also makes it more valuable. Awesome job👍👍👍

[@angelalewis9693]

We have kudzu on our acreage it is hard on our brushhog and tractor. We got with our local county extension office to find out more about it it can be used for fodder for animals, the flowers that bloom the last week of September to first week of October you can use those flowers to make jelly which tastes like grape jelly. And the vines can be used for basket making

[@PaulC001]

as someone with a "black belt" in two different karate disciplines... do it for at most 2 years then look at how far you've progressed before you spend any more on it. you can continue doing it on your own in the mornings as a physical fitness activity without it costing you any more. just don't let it be known at your school you might be doing this because 100% they will hold it against you.

[@ladyindigo9835]

Fantastic job of fighting the kudzu!

[@biointheknow]

over the winter, after you build the greenhouse, you should research and build a silage pit big enough to get your tractor in/out. you can silage your corn stalks, especially if you expand your corn, and kudzu. if you overbuild it, it will be scaled for the future.

[@hivolco151]

my mouth is watering watching that dinner with Fajitas. just wow!!

[@sandratorchia4803]

Ben, you can do so many things! Amazing!

[@sharonhaas8503]

Looking good. It will be nice to see all the new trees you are planning on planting. Be watching for you on your next video. Take care.

[@cwade1672]

I noticed the truck was gone, glad it's back, and I agree having seperape place for gas is huge

[@elzeniaallison7445]

You need a couple goats! They will clean it out for you!! We have loved watching you from the beginning! When you lived in California. I’m so happy you have more videos now. We really look forward to them. I agree with you on the animal feed. I’ve looked at what I can grow for my chickens and goats. Also my dog and cat. I love growing my own food but we live in zone 9 10. South Florida. I am jealous of your garden!! I work really hard to get the little I get. We do have lots of fruit trees though. Keep up the good work!! You are great parents!! Love watching little sister grow!!

[@estrogenacres801]

I wish I could cook like Meg

[@cherylphelps6639]

Your doing great on the kadzu, looking forward to the new trees.

[@pattyclarkson3]

Don't forget a few pawpaw trees. 😊

[@sandralovegrove2805]

you are so cute Ben, a boy and his toys... like your wood chipper much?😂you have alot of machines & vehicles on your farm, living the good life! 'Kiss'

[@takeitslowhomestead5218]

Yes! Tame your land! It’s looking great!

[@charlesvaughn5055]

thanks for the video, wood chopping, and a very hardy looking meal. have a great day

[@denisewilson8367]

Make sure to buy carnation walnut for meats with the best taste verses black walnut which had more bitter meats & the tree is actually for wood harvests not nuts.

[@weweresnowedin5801]

What a neat thing to do with your boys. Have fun!

[@karenladwig3856]

Great to see you and the boys have fun together!❤❤❤

[@robertalbus4430]

Have you folks looked into Bio Char? with all of the trees you have you could seriously amend the soil using some regenerative bio char techniques. Great video, amazing to see how far you all have come

[@preppingmama]

Husband and 6 of 7 kids did Kung Fu and Judo. We have several black belts. Best thing, ever.

[@trinapellegrino621]

🙋🏼‍♀️🕊. Don’t forget the hazelnut trees.🕊💕🕊🍀🕊💕🍀🕊💕🍀

[@denahensley9459]

That’s awesome all the guys doing Karate!😀 The fajitas looked yummy!! Hope you get some rain!!

[@1stbadger700]

Good afternoon beautiful family

[@anneturner2018]

Pigs love acorns from oak trees and it makes the meat taste sweet!😊

[@janetlasswell3898]

Kuduz is great for your animals.

[@simoneconsciousobserver3105]

Hy ya! As I heard it kutzu was brought in as lifestock feed many many moons before I'd even heard about this vine. I worked in Alabama for a season. It's weird, as I grew up in Las Vegas, to see so much green growing over so much other green. Glad your using it and not bothered by cept for it tying your trees together. And grows for free! Guessing it's not enough for steady feed for piggys and chickys or you would have mentioned it when you shared about growing more fodder(?)animal feed. Kewl y'all started karate together.

[@leem200]

We have had rain and thunderstorms every afternoon for last month. Lights out and all. Blew my front panels off the overhang over front porch the winds were so bad. I live in Central Florida though. Peace. Made me hngry so I guess I'll go start supper. It looked so good. Peace!

[@leon.benedict]

Have you thought about doing it the "lazy genius" way? If you enclose either goats or pigs in an area like that (preferably first goats to clear the bush and kill the trees by chewing off bark, then pigs to dig up the roots) they could clear 80-90% of that for you in 1-2 weeks (depending on the size of the area and number of animals) while also keeping themselves fed and entertained. Love the small chore vids!

[@tinapaxton4231]

Have you check on ordering trees from the SC Forestry Tree Sales? You should be able to get sapling trees in bulk that will serve as forage for your livestock.

[@rajinevin7273]

Maybe Buggy will be joining you all for martial arts when she gets older eh? Meg could also join you if someone can watch Buggy. Aikido is a more refined martial arts - or Judo is also a ton of fun. Karate is kind of just a lot of kicking and punching. Glad you all are enjoying it!

[@bettyjorodgers8552]

Thank you

[@kimbenefield4996]

Oh those fajitas looked so good!!! Yum!!

[@SandraNelson063]

Meg doesn't need to go to the Dojo. She knows where all the steak knives are. 😊

[@christyleigh696]

Pecans grow great in this area. Pecan flavored bacon!!! Can't wait to buy a wood chipper!!!

[@cathysolorzano6101]

Awesom i'm so glad you going to grow chestnut 🌰 trees, because the chestnut tree are .exstinct here in the US there are alot of trees that is extinct here in Tennessee

[@private15]

Gold Shaw farms has great video on starting chestnut trees from seed and I think he sells trees also.

[@kellyschlosser]

Always great music to match the work . 😁

[@greenbankreptiles]

Haha hight of gas ..don't I know it. I've only got a big van..being a gardener/groundsman..I'm the same..tho a nice pick up would help.. Ben your going a great job out there 👏 keep it up. Love and respect to you all.

[@SwampyAcresHomestead]

Another great video and a job well done thanks again for sharing

[@lanabisson2675]

I take the kudzu flowers and steep them and make kudzu jelly. my family thinks it tastes like grape jelly.

[@maragrey4597]

Feed the kudzu to the cows and pigs.. they will love it. Dig up the roots.. run them through your wood chipper.. feed that to the chickens

[@MrJcalvino]

Are the roots nutritional?

[@maragrey4597]

@@MrJcalvino Very. It is sometimes called Chinese Arrowroot because you can dry and grind it use it as a flour and thickener. In china they will dig them up, chop and steam like a potato. The young leaves are like spinach, and the little flower bunches make for an actually tasty jam/syrup. Best way to get rid of kudzu overgrowth... Use it!

[@pikehomestead]

We've really got the opposite problem. All the trees we have are around the edges of the property, our closest thing to a "forest" is only about 10 yards at its thickest. Kudzu isn't a problem this far north. But we've got spiky prairie rose bushes everywhere under the trees! Just have to get some fruit and nut trees planted too, before we let the poplar and spruce take it over.

[@oliviafox3605]

Another great video; thank you.

[@sandraewers178]

Short and sweet...love every video

[@SasquatchBioacoustic]

Ancient martial arts master say - "the family that kicks together, sticks together".

[@peterellis4262]

That kudzu really is part of your animal feed solution. Don't let it take over, sure, but don't waste the resource either. lol. I stopped the playback to comment the second before Ben discussed it being prime feed ;)

[@jamesthompson8592]

Kudzu makes good cow feed