Trying Something New Today on the Farm!

[@HamiltonvilleFarm]

I may try this technique. I have a field I need to get grass to grow in.

[@Token_Civilian]

Great source for organic matter for the farm.

[@a-survivors-journey]

Thanks, impressive method of soil management!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Glad it was helpful!

[@providerwilliams5199]

Great video as always, I enjoyed it. Thanks

[@jeffkasler1716]

I use leaves on garden

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

there ya go!!

[@dallasburgess5329]

Seeing so much evidence showing Josh's way is the way to go. You have drought and a rotational field, naturally fertilized right beside a commercial chemically fertilized type. Rotational is green, while commercial method looks like a desert 🏜 - And his is in an area where it was basically stripped of top soil. Josh keeps it positive- (and has a unique ability to be critical without being judgy) Pleasure to watch, thanks Josh!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

thanks buddy......man some like to insult me and say I'm arrogant in the comments...heck I"m just showing folks what I'm doing in the big ol science project

[@dallasburgess5329]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer Arrogant?? I can't see it. I suppose they may see arrogance just because they disagree, and that you are Confident about your angle. (Canadian here, and we know a well mannered person when we see one.) You're way more gentle about getting your point across than most. Nothing wrong with confidence and sticking to your guns. Keep it up buddy.

[@joe_preston]

Having spread mulch for a few years the larger the pile the better, pull off 1 side that is a year old and fill/ push up from the other end. I've spread in all seasons but fall through spring seems the best.

[@bogofishmusic]

Great video, Josh! Thanks for all your hard work with the cameras to make a quality video for us!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

My pleasure!

[@eddeetz493]

I had 3 tree services dumping chips and rounds on 86 acres. Spread it 1 ft high with my bobcat. Garden of eden washington state makes bank with wood chips in apple orchards also. That field is going to be beautiful next spring when the worms get to work.

[@providerwilliams5199]

Beard looks great! Keep it the way it is

[@andyjones6361]

Hey Josh great video! You could use side boards on that spreader as light and fluffy as those wood chips are. Save a few trips. Compost is the right direction!! ITS NATURAL! Well done.

[@paka2492]

You should put coloured cable ties on your hydraulic machines makes life way easier

[@caseyarmstrong7064]

Color coding your hydraulic lines on your tractor with electrical tape, then doing th same to you equipment. That way there’s never no guessing. Good video

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

amen!! I meant to do it with zip ties or paint marker but I got busy!

[@MikeSTGL]

Always thought that would be a good use for wood chips.

[@TreasureFiend]

Keep up the great work Josh, I herd people say that wood chips drawing nitrogen from the soil to breakdown but you aren't a crop farmer so I LOVE it! Another benefit of adding wood chips it will also feeds the mushrooms/mycology which is always a plus for making good soil.

[@JohnTalbot-k6xi]

A+

[@brandonglover9657]

Thanks for another great video! Haven't seen the spreader in action for a while! WOOOOOO!

[@scottsmith6846]

Hey Josh thank you for the video I enjoyed it and eyewear Crocs even still right now but 40° 45 they come off at that temperature woo

[@bay9876]

Technology advancements will make huge drones into flying tractors for the farm. Need a lift to other area or field, just set destination and strap in. Limit to flying only a few feet off the ground but would hate to crash into the fresh manure pile.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

$$$ is the limiting factor on that my friend...spraying...sure....they already have them

[@adrian_sanchez]

Interesting concept. Growing up on a farm myself, we'd always burn everything. Even still, we never reincorporated anything back into the soil. I'll have to talk to my dad about this.

[@joesoutdoorexperience]

Josh what a great way to spread wood chips. I worked for an environmental lab and one of the many things I learned was how good wood chips are for soil amendments

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yessir they work!!! Hope you're putting some deer in the freezer buddy!!

[@mikedavis2969]

👍

[@dannymoore7835]

Wood chips and turds probably the best natural stuff you could put on the ground. Long term investment

[@timshirk6261]

The ultimate goal to well functioning soil is soil that is well aggregated and structured like brown cottage cheese so that it can breath and to let in water. Fastest way to achieve this is apply a compost layer and then wood chips or any carbon source and then something like chicken manure as you want to maintain 30:1 carbon to nitrogen ratio on the surface residue and about 20:1 where to soil starts and about 10:1 several inches down. Also need a diverse mix of green growing to capture the gassing off of nutrients coming from the cold composting of the surface residue and redirect them back down into the soil as root exudates.

[@timshirk6261]

It takes a lot of carbon and organic nitrogen to get soil functioning again and a few years but once you get it structured again and full off life it can be self sufficient as it can biologically fix everything out of the atmosphere. Most soils have been severely raped and depleted and therefore it takes massive amounts of residue to get it going again.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep...if you have all that...and if you can do all that on this scale. I agree with ya totally...in a small back yard garden that works wonders! On 85 acres of pasture....shew...it's work..the cows are doing this for us now

[@timshirk6261]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer yes I know that is a lot. I am actually doing that very thing on 300 acres. I have my own large scale compost site where I bring in whatever carbon I can find and then I get large amounts of animal remains from local butcher shop. I then rebuild one field or pasture at a time as need to make sure that there is at least 1” of 30:1 residue covering soil for about 2-3 years with a diverse green canopy over top of it and this will provide the home and food for the soil biology to turn dirt into structured soil and then it can self sustain and I move on the the next pasture or field.

[@blueridgehomestead566]

Papaw used to use his to spread tobacco stalks out on the pasture.

[@philwhite5815]

Man you have a lot of critters .. 😆😂😆

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

dang right!

[@timmybenton6018]

Get rv anti.freeze 2 gal and if any water left will not freeze

[@phelandlucas7184]

Hi and thanks. Question: How big was the area you amended? How long did it take? How much would chips did you use? I have 50 acres I am wanting to spread some biochar on and can't find any installation/labor rates or type of equipment. thanks

[@Cinder2008]

I worked for Asplundh years ago. We were constantly looking for a place to dump the chips. Sometimes a farmer would drop off some soft drinks. Guess where we dumped the chips!

[@mikestrahl]

I wish it was that way around here! I can’t get chips no matter how I try! I stop and talk to them all the time. No one ever shows. I’ve called and posted messages in FB groups. Nothing works. It’s frustrating.

[@andyjones6361]

Josh, when I saw the pile I thought, (3 loads?) no way. But that’s good more compost! Love how evenly wood chips spread with that spreader!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

bhahhahha...I know right!!

[@jankotze1959]

Like the Gehl skid steer, good quality

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

it's been great...I did have to replace a wiring harness...but it was my fault...I was going too fast and jumped it over a big rock! It hurt!

[@byronmiller800]

Parking so u don’t have to turn much to load saved a lot of time and wont tear up grass so bad, 1/2 the time to load

[@charleswise5570]

I'm surprised you don't have landscaping companies lined at your gate, waiting to get rid of the yard debris.

[@mileshiles1287]

What I do when preparing the tank I use a spray nozzle to try to get as much of the stuff off the walls. You should be OK with the build up out the drain.🧤🥽

[@eagle2019]

Josh, how about an electric bike that you can hang onto the tractor to allow you to leave the tractor and bike bake to the shop?? They make off road electric bikes.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

oh a little walking is good for us

[@garygolden5262]

Nice work. I can tell by those clouds by the end of the video that winter is setting in. I live in south west Florida, and that cold front will give us the high 50's.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep...it got cold that night...the weather changed quick!!

[@jeffeubanks370]

To avoid walking, you should get one of those e-bikes. You could have a rack on the machines to transport to the worksite, then you could just use the bike to get back to the shop. Heck as good as you are,you could probably get a bike company to sponsor a bike. I’ve seen those bikes with all terrain tires on some channels.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

got one...but walking won't kill me brother...we need to walk more...it's peaceful

[@jeffeubanks370]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer And this world needs more PEACE. Take care brother

[@mossman7527]

Would like to get a spreader for that reason

[@michaelblum6222]

Loved it, great work again Josh

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@justinauman5438]

Josh I know you said you would put the sprayer in the shop is it heated yet to prevent freezing if it gets that cold or have you thought about putting windshield washer fluid in the pump and lines to prevent freezing as a precaution

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I'll just drain it and that should do the job...but you have a good point for sure...that would work

[@TreasureFiend]

Just a thought, I wonder if next pile you tossed some handfuls of mushroom inoculation dowls for logs logs if it would jump start that pile of wood chips. Maybe not for eating the mushrooms but to get the fungus started breaking it down.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

oh when it was warmer the pile was covered with mushrooms...no need to buy ...the air is full of spores!

[@brettadams417]

Does your spreader have different speeds of discharge or just one speed???seems like it would be useful to be able to go heavier or lighter at different times and situations.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

raising and lowering the gate controls the flow of material....in case you're spreading something like chicken manure

[@drs1023]

I notice that you (and others) sometimes connect hydraulics backwards. I use multiple hydraulic pieces on my skid steer and have installed male and female connectors on my skid steer. You have 2 female connectors on your tractor. All implements can only be installed correctly because the equipment connectors are female and male. I had to move the hoses on my grapple to match imput/output to the correct sides. Just a thought.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep...well in this case, it's not backwards....most machines have both A and B connectors above and below each other...this machine has them side by side....I've put zip ties on them to fix the issue...but you are right....just like skid loader having the male and female hookups make it handy and ya can't mess up

[@elitesless1539]

Awesome! Soil farmer! The gut of the whole system. Sucks it took more diesel then you accounted for. Maybe keep that whole spreading attachment right there and spread it more often. Like every time you think you have a full load. No matter what, worth it in the long run

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

probably burned about 3 gallons of fuel...no biggie

[@towerjokeytower8484]

I thought the John deer was going by by?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

heck, don't even have time to sell stuff I'm so busy!

[@dustinbjorkquist1185]

Any thoughts about putting. Cheap mountain bike rack on TYM so you can go back for Peanut quicker on a bike?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I'd rip it off....skid steer isn't a good place to mount anything...it takes a beating

[@SFD-Horses]

Very cool! Love the manure spreader! That's the most modern one I've seen. Most around where we are are the old fashioned ones with a spinner at the back that leaves clumps everywhere. lol

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

ABI does a great job at being innovative!

[@robertkoons1154]

After sitting for three years, isn't there alot of lubing to be done on that spreader before you start work?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yeppers...just a few lube points to hit

[@investinginlife3868]

Awesome video…thanks for all you do and continuing to share! Ever used Overhaul on your pastures; if so, what were your results?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

never heard of "overhaul" might have to look into it

[@D8Alpaca]

You mentioned you did 8 loads in the field. How many acres did that cover? Trying to size my own spreader.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I put it down very heavy and fast...covered about 2.5 acres but could have made it 3. Look into the biggest one you can afford you won't regret it!

[@randywilson6869]

If u would go down and rotate all those chips every couple weeks it breaks down real good. Have u ever used poop tea? I had about 25 tomatoe plants with dirt rings around each one so I did a little test. 1 - just water 2- miracal grow 3- poop tea 1- was ok. Just normal like my neighbors plants lol 2- the plants seemed to b greener than 1 and maybe a little thicker fruit was about the same amount 3 -- wow plant was alot darker and at least twice the fruit plus bigger and juicy er lol. Almost had to get step ladder My garden looked weird because I did 1-2-3- Then 1-2-3 just to make sure. I did cheat though because I put pure tea in stead of mixing it with water but they say u can take 5 gallons of tea and mix it with 25 gallons of water and run it through your sprayer on the grass and garden

[@triciahill216]

Josh - What beater (single, double, etc.) set up and other options would you suggest for spreading wood chips?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I honestly have no clue

[@davidmack7018]

Reminds me of a hippo when he starts spinning his tail as he's well you figure it out.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

bhahahha

[@davidmack7018]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer " Contact "

[@nameshavebeenchangedtoprot2127]

Wondering how much square feet or acreage that amount of chips covered, it didn't seem to cover very much? It seems for a pasture the size of yours, you may several tractor-trailer loads full.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I set the spreader wide open. covered about 1.5-2 acres....I could set it to run slower but I really wanted to pound this area with biomass

[@jamesjessee4064]

❤️🙋‍♂️👍

[@ronaldcummings6337]

Joel Salatin does the wood chips

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yeppers...along with manure...me and Joel are friends

[@jtc1947]

Hi JOSH, Talking about the time frame for the wood chips to completely decompose, Can You use "SAW-DUST from somewhere" ? Not available or BAD QUALITY? BLESSED BE!

[@kbcson]

Josh is there a particular reason you run your drawbar offset when you were hooking up the spreader

[@bradtaulbee8620]

Put colored zip ties on your hydraulics to tell them apart

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

amen!!!! I meant to do that last time I used the tractor but got in a rush!

[@caseyarmstrong7064]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmerI spoke to late. Didn’t see this comment. Great advice

[@petermavus4131]

Gonna hit the fan…cold front and bucks on the move…do some hunting.

[@toddpacheco4748]

Josh,will you be able to use your sawmill dust to make the fields green also 😮😊❤

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I get this question all the time.....I can run the mill for 3 days and probably will get 2 wheelbarrows full of sawdust. I just rake that out on the land, once we get the sawmill shed I'm sure we'll spread it a bit, it would take a year of running the sawmill to create 1 load of sawdust for the spreader, it just doesn't produce that much dust my friend...great question

[@dougbrewer2257]

That gate controls how thick you spread, I think wood chips should be spread thiner

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep you're right, and I wanted to get some ground cover so I put them down heavy

[@jeffkasler1716]

R the wood chips composted and what pH r they oak and pine tend to be acidic

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

they will be moderately acidic, however our soil is very acidic here too ph around 4.1 we'll be liming later this fall

[@andrewgraeme8429]

"Stay away from a manure spreader when it's spreading!" 😂Just one of those statements that seems self-evident on so many levels somehow!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

bhahahha...true!!!

[@geedubb-q1u]

Yes, But……..You’ll always read somewhere that….people get covered in manure and not mulch.

[@jamesberg3106]

Self correcting

[@lawncuttingplusdelta]

Can never be too careful , with shit

[@danielsea6479]

Nice we tag the lines helps identify. Looks good. Shoutout from Asheville NC. Do you do Christmas trees at all?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

no christmas trees here buddy...we're grazing pastures....growing Christmas trees isn't my thing...I like to get out and run animals on the land

[@krusejonathan01]

Might have to be careful about what type of trees were chipped. Pine for example is extremely acidic. If your soil is already acidic you might be doing more harm than good.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

we have very acidic soils for sure already.....we're not so much looking at Ph as we are carbon.....I agree with ya...some chips could do more harm than good, gotta make sure they're decayed

[@PineHillFarm]

Just wondering if you have any older equipment or is it mostly new

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep, got a 85 massey (broke down) an 1952 farmall (broke down) a 80s little Yanmar (broke down) so...sure....old crap is laying around everywhere lol. Remember, as a social media guy and a farmer....companies like to share their products on the channel....so I rotate in new equipment all the time

[@WillMasters]

Question: are you familiar with a book called Ten Acres Enough? And Small Farmers Journal?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I'm not familiar with them

[@MikeGreen-x6w]

Are any wood chips bad for the soil

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

it's all carbon, and it will all rot and build soil...I've never heard of anything that would be "bad" but cedar would probably be the least desirable if it's not composted

[@jeffeubanks370]

How long did it take to spread 1 load?? And did you say bad words when you bumped the gate on the spreader?? I probably would’ve!!😂😂 Great video as usual!!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

lol...yep I had a little "sh&*(" that might have come out of my mouth lol......it takes about 5 mins to empty! It's quick!

[@jeffeubanks370]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer a project like that would work a man hard. Even with all of the equipment that you have!! I really look forward to seeing what you share in your videos!! Makes me kinda jealous sometimes 😂🤣🤷‍♂️

[@stevensaxon8888]

Josh, what is the max capacity in lbs for the 185 abi spreader?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

not sure...but you can find specs on the ABI site....if you're filling with manure, you can't overfill it!

[@jamesschaffhausen4466]

Which Tractor do you recommend for a 40 acres homestead ? TYM 574 or 1104 ? ❤😎👍🏠🚜🚜🌲🌲🌲🌲

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

574 is enough buddy.....over 100-120 acres...look for over 90hp

[@jamesschaffhausen4466]

Ok, thanks. Josh 😎👍🚜💯

[@joshmccormick9432]

A cheap bike and a bungee cord would go a long way towards cutting down on your walking time each day!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

a nice walk never hurt anyone...need to burn the calories sometimes brother

[@lonnien.clifton1113]

JOSH ARE ALL P. T. O. SHAFTS RAN AT 540 RPM MAX. ? LOVE FROM LONNIE IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

nope...some are 750 and some are 1000 brother

[@lonnien.clifton1113]

10-4 ON THE R.P.M. SHAFTS@@StoneyRidgeFarmer

[@yaphetsmith6672]

hey, big fan, just wondering can that spreader be rented from home depot?

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

bhahahhahha...home depot....no way buddy....you can find them on facebook marketplace but most of the time they're old and worn out...we started with an old wooden one

[@ralphwoodard609]

Hey Josh, I have a solution for your noisy chicken Edna. Just keep mentioning you want to talk to her about being part of the dinner table. She will get the hint.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

bhahahha

[@danmartin9558]

Wood chips may throw your PH off in soil

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

it can't get much worse at 4.2! We've been putting down Calcium and lime for years and slowly are seeing results

[@danmartin9558]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer would be awesome if you could get hooked up with a damp lime spreader would be a great addition to farm sidespreader makes a nice 3 point model but I think a tow behind spreader like groundhog brand would be easier to load.

[@jaimelago8941]

Josh you may need somebody can help you it is to much for one guy 🙏🏻

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

lol...you don't get to see the half of it my brother!! Sitting in front of this darn computer for 6 hours a day!!

[@jaimelago8941]

Ok you gave me the reason

[@jerryhubbard4461]

My question: For a farm this new and not making a profit, where is all the money coming for this expensive equipment? KZbin don't pay this much money. Not taking anything away from you work. I know for a fact you are doing some hard work as I was once on a farm. I have enjoyed watching you from the beginning of the videos. You must have most of you support coming from advertisement of the equipment you use. Just guessing.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep....the question I get about 100 times a week my brother here's the rub: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJzYoZalj8dpl8k

[@jerryhubbard4461]

Thanks Josh for taking time to answer my question. Keep up the good work. You have a beautiful farm. @@StoneyRidgeFarmer

[@bwise114]

You say you’re a first generation farm. When are you going to start on the second generation? You don’t want to be too old when your children are old enough to help you and learn from you. Get going boy.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I'm not married brother.....having kiddos in my middle age years will keep me young! LOL

[@andyjones6361]

Hey for a test, try getting equal amount of chicken manure and mix with the wood chips next go around. Just turn it every week with the skid steer. You’ll really have some black gold!!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

if I had a source for chicken manure.....the farm would be so green we'd be mowing right now lol

[@andyjones6361]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer In my area the poultry industry is pretty heavy. But the producers are still getting 30$ per ton. So these guys do a corn soybean rotation (killing the land but a couple younger guy are at least putting down chicken manure for the corn season but they put it down now for next year. But the have to take the manure in June when the clean out the houses. They bring it in on the 18 wheeler dump truck and put a mountain in the middle of a huge field. After the beans come off they spread it and do at light til. Let it set thought the winter.