Let’s talk about the fried patch of land that used to be the pride of our farm. Last summer, a storm took down our shade trees, and without that protection, the birds turned it into their hangout spot. Add a drought to the mix, and that patch got scorched. Classic case of “everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”
Now, I’m the first to admit that when things go haywire on the farm, it’s usually because of us humans. So, to fix my screw-up, I’m taking action. You see, when the storm took down our shade trees, it left the area exposed to the full wrath of the sun. Without the shade to cool things down, the soil temperature soared, moisture evaporated rapidly, and any remaining plants struggled to survive. Shade isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s crucial for keeping the soil and plants healthy.
With the shade gone, the birds—especially the chickens—congregated in the open area. Chickens have a knack for scratching, pecking, and foraging, which is great for pest control but terrible for already stressed soil. Their constant activity compacted the soil, further reducing its ability to retain moisture and support plant life. Add the drought into the mix, and the already stressed soil couldn’t catch a break. Without adequate water, the plants couldn’t recover from the damage, and the soil became a barren wasteland. It’s a triple whammy: no shade, heavy traffic, and a lack of water. No wonder the patch got fried.
The snow we got over the winter helped a bit, but now that it’s melting, the area is in a muddy state, which makes it more prone to pugging and further damage if we don’t take action. So, next on the list is spreading rabbit manure, old hay, and wood chips (the few we can chip out of the frozen pile) over the area. This will help add back nutrients, organic matter, decrease evaporation, increase water retention, and lower the soil temps.
But I’m not one to give up easily. This spring, I’m planning to sow some cover crop seeds to help rejuvenate the soil. Since the rabbits aren’t in that area anymore, the foot (or paw) traffic will decrease significantly, which should help the recovery process. Now, shading the area again isn’t in the cards, but by adding these materials, we’ll be giving the soil a much-needed boost. It’s a lot of work, but hey, farming isn’t for the faint of heart.
It is a bit of a pain, and it does make the area look unkempt, but honestly, so much of the “manicured” look isn’t environmentally friendly. This is a natural way of correcting our mistake. If we had covered the soil after the storm, kept the birds off the area knowing it was already stressed, or otherwise properly cared for the area when disaster hit, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Anyone else got stories of resurrecting their own fried patches? Let’s hear them. Misery loves company, and we could all use a little encouragement.
