Berseem Clover

One last look at the rye before I disk it under. I put that in last fall and it's almost 5' now! It's beautiful. I noticed very little weed growth in it. Kind of a nice benefit. I'll turn it under for the nutrients and put in 25# of Berseem Clover. It's a hearty annual and will grow thick until frost.




You can see I prepped my middle acre by disking it and then rolling the seedbed firm with the cultipacker. It was too windy to seed today, so Monday I'll spread 25# of Berseem Clover and re-roll it with the cultipacker. It's a bit late but I'm going to let it grow until late July, and then turn it under along with the horse manure and put in rape/turnips.



The rye looks so nice I hate to cut it down.

8N Tractor Rebuild results

Well, it was a fun time, lots of work, but I finally got the 1948 Ford 8N rebuild done. New sleeves, rings, pistons, main and connecting rod bearings. The old rings were shot and installed improperly with huge end gaps. Plus, they were chattering all over, no wonder I had 70psi vs 120. New plug wires, and all new wiring, and we're good to go.

Here's a pic before of the motor...



Here she is after...


And a full side shot...



Started er up last night and it ran great. Have a few minor issues, but all in all a great success, thanks to Travis and Frank down the road. I figure I'll hand it down before it dies...Can you believe it, 60 years old?

Spring progress report

WOW-check this out- Extreme from Whitetail Institute is a combo of chicory and small burnett. After good rains and fertilizing with 100# of 19-19-19, check out the serious deer chow.



Here's a location that gets afternoon shade. It seems to relish the cooler spot.




Last fall, in the acre at the rear of my property, I put in rye. The deer came to it during hunting season. Check it out now; we're talking harvest here. That's about 4' tall.



Here's a good shot of the chicory. My soil isn't that great, but it really takes off. As a hearty perennial, it keeps coming back year after year.



So here's the plan for my middle acre. I have 5 piles of horse manure going to compost. Mid summer, I'll turn that manure under and plant rape and turnips. They are heavy nitrogen users and need that boost. That'll be my fall hunting plot. I'm putting it in earlier than normal, probably mid July. Here in MI, I have put it in mid-aug, and it was ok, but I'd like to see it produce more and the extra 30 days should take care of that. They aren't tasty till frost, I'm told, but I've seen the deer hit it hard prior.