I made a passing reference in a recent post about dragging the pastures, and one blog reader commented she didn't know what that meant. So this is what it looks like. Alayne took the photo this afternoon while I was dragging our second-to-last pasture. (Almost finished!) The contraption on the back of the tractor is the chain harrow, which has tines that angle down and into the ground. As we drive forward, dragging the harrow, the tines break up manure piles, scattering the clumps in much smaller pieces across the ground. This helps fertilize the soil. Horses will also tend to avoid eating the grass near manure piles, so this promotes a more even grazing pattern. The harrow dethatches and aerates the soil as well.
With 160 acres, pasture management is a big part of what we do here. To continue to have healthy, sustainable pastures for the horses, we need to fertilize, seed, spray for weeds, spread compost, and finally, drag the fields. In spring, summer and fall, we're always working on our pastures in some way. Only in winter do the fields, and we, get a break from all this activity.
This time of year when we're dragging, we're in a race against the weather. We want to leave the horses out on pasture as long as possible, without overgrazing the fields, but we also need to get the horses off the pastures so we can drag them before the snow flies. And it takes time to drag that much acreage. At a spine-tingling average speed of 4 miles per hour, there's no rushing this task!
(Click on photo for larger image.)
A true labor of love.
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | November 13, 2007 at 12:01 AM
This was informative. Thank you. On the average, when do you get your first snow?
Posted by: Moon Rani | November 09, 2007 at 02:19 PM
Thank you, Steve and Alayne, for the information. I'm a life-long Texan, but I have never heard of dragging the pastures. I think we turn our pastures, but it is about the same process. I have a small farm which I inherited from my grandparents and Mom, so I need all the information on land care I can obtain. Someday, I hope to build a small house and be able to live there and take care of more dogs ...but that is a dream. And until I can do those things, I really appreciate what ya'll do. Not only loving caretakers for your animal friends, but for the land.
Thank you,
Mary Ware
Posted by: Mary Ware | November 09, 2007 at 08:53 AM
I truly envy your life....
Posted by: Debbie | November 09, 2007 at 07:33 AM
judy bouma spoke so highly of you. she passed away this last week. reveiwing your site confirms her sweet sensitive nature and great empathy for the compromised animals. we will be sending a small donation with great love and appreciation for your efforts. greg and chrisy burnett
Posted by: greg and christy burnett | November 09, 2007 at 02:17 AM