DMarley83
DMARLEY83
So embarking down a few year journey of a very landscape changing project.
Full disclosure My farmer friends would 100% disagree with what I am doing!
Reason for post is looking for ideas to build on.
Here is the basic parameters.
This is a project on which I live. Our intention is to live here as long as god allows. We have 3 young kids who are all involved in hunting and the outdoors and would like to create a magical place for us all to enjoy.
The farm is in a very good neighborhood including good genetics and above average #s. We have good neighbors in all directions and are located in SCIa. We did battle ehd a few years ago 19/20 and have fought back quickly.
The farm is basically 500acres along a water way with roughly 400 acres in production now. A out 30% is hills and 70% is bottomground. The timber areas are along the water ways, creeks, and river.
(Narrow by nature) no large chucks of timber on mine but many large chuncks on all sides.
My goal is to convert about 300 of the 400 acres of tillable acres to conservation. My intention is not financially driven but is a very large factor in all practices....(don't want to go broke in the process) would like to maximize the habitat benefits for the native wildlife. In order of our priorities 1-deer 2- Pheasants/quail 3-Turkeys 4- the rest of the critters. Also by crp practices it allows our family access to the farm year round. Not just when the crops are off....
I'll be happy to provide pics along the way if there is any interest.
I currently have an approved Ripperean Buffer Strip (with trees) approved on 75 acres of the farm. This is kind of my starting block. I intend of getting a majority of the trees from isu.
Would like to make a realistic plan getting a majority of the plants from isu due to past experience. (Have been awsome to work with.) So if making a suggestion please refer to what they offer. We do not intend on tubing or protecting off these trees as it's 600+ trees per acre. We will tube and cage off the special fruit/crop trees.
I do intend on slipping in occasional fruit/crop trees which I will baby a lot more than the .60 seedling but will 95% be from mass production nursery.
We are breaking down the planting Into 3 years. (Roughly 25 acres per year) Doesn't sound like a lot but if you have ever been involved in a tree planting it is A LOT!
They all will be planted along the water water ways roughly 30 yards out on both sides. I'd like to provide food and cover in the planting. In my mind I picture shrubs being the furthest out closest to the field working its way up in height as you get closer to the water ways.
There are the basics.
Here is where we are at.
Shrubs-
Dogwood
/Plumb
/Choke Chery/
button brush
Ever green
-Red cddar
-whitepine
-jack pine
- spruce
Hard Wood's
-White oak
-Swamp oak
-Red oak
-Black walnut
-Hybrid poplar
-Silver maple
Fruit / Crop tress
- Apple
- Pear
- Chestnut
- chickapan
Plan on trying to make as mixed as possible to try to avoid major failures....
I look forward to all opinions and past experiences!
Full disclosure My farmer friends would 100% disagree with what I am doing!
Reason for post is looking for ideas to build on.
Here is the basic parameters.
This is a project on which I live. Our intention is to live here as long as god allows. We have 3 young kids who are all involved in hunting and the outdoors and would like to create a magical place for us all to enjoy.
The farm is in a very good neighborhood including good genetics and above average #s. We have good neighbors in all directions and are located in SCIa. We did battle ehd a few years ago 19/20 and have fought back quickly.
The farm is basically 500acres along a water way with roughly 400 acres in production now. A out 30% is hills and 70% is bottomground. The timber areas are along the water ways, creeks, and river.
(Narrow by nature) no large chucks of timber on mine but many large chuncks on all sides.
My goal is to convert about 300 of the 400 acres of tillable acres to conservation. My intention is not financially driven but is a very large factor in all practices....(don't want to go broke in the process) would like to maximize the habitat benefits for the native wildlife. In order of our priorities 1-deer 2- Pheasants/quail 3-Turkeys 4- the rest of the critters. Also by crp practices it allows our family access to the farm year round. Not just when the crops are off....
I'll be happy to provide pics along the way if there is any interest.
I currently have an approved Ripperean Buffer Strip (with trees) approved on 75 acres of the farm. This is kind of my starting block. I intend of getting a majority of the trees from isu.
Would like to make a realistic plan getting a majority of the plants from isu due to past experience. (Have been awsome to work with.) So if making a suggestion please refer to what they offer. We do not intend on tubing or protecting off these trees as it's 600+ trees per acre. We will tube and cage off the special fruit/crop trees.
I do intend on slipping in occasional fruit/crop trees which I will baby a lot more than the .60 seedling but will 95% be from mass production nursery.
We are breaking down the planting Into 3 years. (Roughly 25 acres per year) Doesn't sound like a lot but if you have ever been involved in a tree planting it is A LOT!
They all will be planted along the water water ways roughly 30 yards out on both sides. I'd like to provide food and cover in the planting. In my mind I picture shrubs being the furthest out closest to the field working its way up in height as you get closer to the water ways.
There are the basics.
Here is where we are at.
Shrubs-
Dogwood
/Plumb
/Choke Chery/
button brush
Ever green
-Red cddar
-whitepine
-jack pine
- spruce
Hard Wood's
-White oak
-Swamp oak
-Red oak
-Black walnut
-Hybrid poplar
-Silver maple
Fruit / Crop tress
- Apple
- Pear
- Chestnut
- chickapan
Plan on trying to make as mixed as possible to try to avoid major failures....
I look forward to all opinions and past experiences!
