Multi-Species Rotational Grazing | Sowing Over-Wintering Cover Crops for Early St Croix Ewe Grazing

[@dwighthires3163]

I love what you said about gaining wisdom from people of more experience. The sooner we gain wisdom from others the more years we have to use it in our lives.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Great thought, and so very true!

[@dwighthires3163]

@@birchfieldfarming I often say: "It is called the human race because it is a race to acquire wisdom and he who acquires wisdom the fastest, wins."

[@birchfieldfarming]

@@dwighthires3163 Lord, we ask for wisdom. We ask you would give wisdom to all Your people reading this that we would know what to do and when during these very uncertain times. We call forth pockets of prosperity surrounding Your people throughout this country in the midst of decay and decline, that those around could clearly behold You and be saved! Amen.

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

My brother, we are safe on the hill and so very blessed with the 8” we received. 7,500g of rainwater catchment overflowing, when it was less than 1,100g a week ago. In town, however, Newport flooded and you can nearly walk across Lake Douglas from all the debris coming down the French Broad. We are banding together through the church to help those devastated by the storm, and praying for them that the next one in line deviates from our course. Our functional medicine doctor in Asheville, who we saw just last week, has had to close down her office and some of her staff lost their homes, so this has affected everyone in this region. God bless you and your family, Dan and Rochelle.

[@birchfieldfarming]

You guys are His hands and feet serving and helping. The Lord continue to uphold you and your farm as you serve those around you.❤️

[@LCFarm_OH]

30min video, makes for a great Monday morning! Glad to hear y'all got a bunch of rain and everything is ok. You are a true source of wisdom, thank you for all you share. Will be looking into some cover crop to break up the compaction for next year.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Thanks Stephen! The rain had me behind on content this week, but man is it green here now! 🌱

[@idahoduckhunter]

Thanks for all the information

[@birchfieldfarming]

You bet

[@Ironrodpower]

I was waiting. Been a while.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Thanks for being patient while the rain moved thru🤠

[@bettyturley6735]

I enjoyed this video. I’m a johndeere fan I’ve had a 316.

[@birchfieldfarming]

The old 300 series is just bulletproof

[@joeycarroll2935]

I want to thank you for your educational videos and trusting in God to supply all our needs. I am a commercial poultry grower in northern Alabama, I have been doing research into St Croix and sheep in general for a couple years now. FInally ready to get my first starter herd. When do you take orders for ewes and what month do you sale them?

[@birchfieldfarming]

@@joeycarroll2935 Thank you, Joey. We lamb in mid-April every year and sell those lambs about 90 days later in July. We have a waiting list for this next lambing, but I’m happy to add you. If you can email me at [e-mail] with your contact info or hop on the website contact form, I’ll be in touch. Thanks! www.birchfieldfarms.com

[@guyhickson7332]

We are still way behind on rain. Not sure if anything will germinate on cover crops for us unless we get some more rain!

[@birchfieldfarming]

It’ll lay there and come up when it’s ready, pretty amazing, just watch those huge flocks of wild birds this time of year!

[@mcchupka9718]

Jason, your flock and herd looks great. I just cannot imagine being able to do the same in W. PA.??? But I plan to try it in a few years once I repair and/or install the necessary infrastructure. Planning to use pasture raised pigs and remove some major timber to clear more pasture but looking to start with about 10-12 acres. What do you think that mix should look like, Jason?

[@birchfieldfarming]

I haven’t a lick of experience with pigs, but I was thinking of this question the other day: If I had it to do again and start all over today with only my experiential knowledge, what would I do? Here it is: I would buy one of those cookie cutter 330’ by 660’, 5 acre plots, build a very small, modest home and family garden on 1/2 acre upfront. In back, I would make 36 paddocks, each 1/8th acre. I would run 40 head of 100% grass-fed St Croix sheep with a couple different bloodline rams. I’d rotate ewes daily thru those 36 paddocks, auto waterers spaced appropriately. Each Spring, those 40 ewes give me 80 lambs, half rams half ewes. I sell the ewes for $20K and harvest the rams at 6 months old, totaling 1200 lbs of meat each year or about triple what my family of 5 needs annually. I would have a dedicated section of the garage for processing rams each year. Down the road, I would then strategically plant 7 Sugar Maple trees throughout those 36 paddocks for shade for sheep, my family’s annual sugar needs (Maple syrup), and harvesting leaves in fall for a Johnson-Su compost system. No pigs, no cows, no grain, no funny business…that’s how I’d do it.

[@Marilou-g5t]

My mom uses long boards to walk on in the garden to minimize compaction.

[@Marilou-g5t]

She no longer pulls most "weeds;" she chops and drops the plant tops and leaves the roots in the soil to build soil.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Interesting, never heard of that

[@donkndave7811]

Where do your cows stay in winter? Do you pasture them or keep them in a waste area and feed hay? ( This what Pete at Just a Few Acres Farm does) Enjoy your channel and content

[@birchfieldfarming]

We have an overwintering paddock that has automatic waterer. It’s very close to out hay storage so makes feeding hay a bit easier. We feed about 10 tons of hay over winter (120 day hay season here).

[@stevenkeim4002]

Do you ever have to trim the sheep's feet?

[@birchfieldfarming]

I usually go over them once a year or so

[@guyhickson7332]

Where do you get your rye/wheat seed from?

[@birchfieldfarming]

Same as cover crop, link in description (Green Cover Seed)

[@Thedobbsstead]

How do you not have moles? We have massive moles destroying our whole 3 acres and I’ve killed 10 in my 1,000 sq foot garden this season alone. I’m about to throw in the towel, they’re killing the ground and my garden.

[@birchfieldfarming]

Yeah, we’ve got them too. Honestly, I think having animals close-by, mainly chickens, really deters them. I see their tunnels where there isn’t much animal impact. Can you run a few chickens?

[@Thedobbsstead]

We have 25 chickens free ranging our whole 3 acres every day! Doesn’t deter the moles at all. One time, a chicken was standing right on top of a mound about to scratch on it, and the mole was right under her and was lifting her up and down as it was shoving the soil up and she was so confused, it was hilarious.

[@birchfieldfarming]

@Thedobbsstead Wow, curious