Friday, July 06, 2012

Slim Pickins

You can see that our yard, on this side of the fence, is turning brown and crackly.  Things are a little greener on the other side of the fence, thanks to the alfalfa that we never intended to plant.  Cliff mowed it for hay early in the summer, then simply mowed it with the rotary mower the last time because with the drought we're having, there wasn't enough to make much hay.  It isn't all alfalfa; there's grass in there too.  It was supposed to be a permanent pasture mix made up of a grass mix and some clover.  Someone at the MFA gave us alfalfa instead of clover, so we have taken that lemon and made lemonade.  Alfalfa roots go as far as fifteen feet deep in the ground, which is why it's still green while everything else is dying.  It's no longer growing, but it's alive.  
The cows spend quite a bit of time there, although they go elsewhere in the heat of the day because there's no shade in that part of the pasture.  I'm sure there are a lot of farmers whose pasture is totally gone.  We still have plenty for the two horses and four cows to graze.  We also have a barn full of hay, if push comes to shove.  
Adam's horses don't have access to the alfalfa.  In normal times, when we get rain and things are growing as they should, it would be too rich for them.

5 comments:

  1. That area left of center looks freshly dug. Lose another farmhand?

    ReplyDelete
  2. David... that's our septic tank.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I thought you meant the man Slim Pickens!!! LOL
    \

    ReplyDelete
  4. I could use some alfalfa here. It really looks lush and green. Everything here is turning brown from the heat. Interesting about the horses not being able to eat it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A lot of yards are turning brown this summer. Too hot and dry for sure. It's a blessing that mistake was made so you have good grazing for your animals there.

    ReplyDelete

I love comments!