Comments on: What to Do With the Back Forty http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/ Busy living the good life Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:59:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Bumblebee Blog » Blog Archive » To Pick or Not to Pick… http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-4595 Bumblebee Blog » Blog Archive » To Pick or Not to Pick… Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:17:55 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-4595 [...] We have rows and rows of these bushes all along our very long driveway. [...] [...] We have rows and rows of these bushes all along our very long driveway. [...]

]]> By: RuthieJ http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-4234 RuthieJ Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:39:50 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-4234 I suppose it's all the same hard clay as you have in the rest of your yard too, isn't it Robin? Hard to dig holes for trees and shrubs. A native prairie would be nice, but then you have the burning thing to deal with. If that were my yard and I had unlimited funds, I would put in a big pond with a small waterfall and native plants all around. Looks like you have lots of good suggestions in all your comments. Keep us posted on what your decide! I suppose it’s all the same hard clay as you have in the rest of your yard too, isn’t it Robin? Hard to dig holes for trees and shrubs. A native prairie would be nice, but then you have the burning thing to deal with.
If that were my yard and I had unlimited funds, I would put in a big pond with a small waterfall and native plants all around.
Looks like you have lots of good suggestions in all your comments. Keep us posted on what your decide!

]]> By: Judybusy http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-4036 Judybusy Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:48:56 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-4036 Robin, don't know if you're still reading these comments, but this is a link to the potager at Villandry, France: http://web.mac.com/charlierj/ArtOfGardening/Home/Entries/2008/1/28_Villandry_Gardens.html Enough to keep you busy for a while! Robin, don’t know if you’re still reading these comments, but this is a link to the potager at Villandry, France: http://web.mac.com/charlierj/ArtOfGardening/Home/Entries/2008/1/28_Villandry_Gardens.html

Enough to keep you busy for a while!

]]> By: Juli http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-3971 Juli Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:14:39 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-3971 I just had to come back today to follow up on this saga-- and I was also thinking that my idea about the cow manure was not a very good one-- way too hot...you need horse manure. And then I read your earlier post about your husband's horses! I actually have a horse myself and I just took home a beautiful load of nice smelly compost-- great stuff for the garden Anyway, looks like you've got some great suggestions-- and the idea for the pond sounds great. And I think sheep grazing around the pond would be nice too! Have a good one! Juli <em> You're too funny with the sheep... Robin at Bumblebee</em> I just had to come back today to follow up on this saga– and I was also thinking that my idea about the cow manure was not a very good one– way too hot…you need horse manure. And then I read your earlier post about your husband’s horses! I actually have a horse myself and I just took home a beautiful load of nice smelly compost– great stuff for the garden

Anyway, looks like you’ve got some great suggestions– and the idea for the pond sounds great. And I think sheep grazing around the pond would be nice too!

Have a good one!

Juli

You’re too funny with the sheep…

Robin at Bumblebee

]]> By: cloverann http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-3968 cloverann Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:23:52 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-3968 I say fence it and put 3-4 beautiful white face ewes (female sheep). Hmmm, I know: you could buy some of our Montadale sheep!:-0 Our Papillon loves to help the Australian Shepherds herd the sheep. Sometimes he gets there first. Yes, sheep. How bucolic. <em>I don't recall that you have a Papillon! I must go visit...No sheep! No more mouths to feed. Robin at Bumblebee</em> I say fence it and put 3-4 beautiful white face ewes (female sheep). Hmmm, I know: you could buy some of our Montadale sheep!:-0
Our Papillon loves to help the Australian Shepherds herd the sheep. Sometimes he gets there first.
Yes, sheep. How bucolic.

I don’t recall that you have a Papillon! I must go visit…No sheep! No more mouths to feed.

Robin at Bumblebee

]]> By: susan harris http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-3966 susan harris Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:33:40 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-3966 I agree with you about meadows and vote for trees, all trees. <em> My husband says that more trees will "spoil the view." View of what? Robin at Bumblebee</em> I agree with you about meadows and vote for trees, all trees.

My husband says that more trees will “spoil the view.” View of what?

Robin at Bumblebee

]]> By: admin http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-3965 admin Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:21:58 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-3965 Hi All, Thanks for all the great suggestions. It seems the best thing for me to do is to quit working at a job for a living and just develop the Back Forty. I'm thinking that the trees/shrubs and pathways idea is a good idea--later adding a gazebo and pond. Of course, this is all starting to sound expensive. Why can't I just throw out a packet of wildflower seeds? Nothing is easy. Robin at Bumblebee Hi All,

Thanks for all the great suggestions. It seems the best thing for me to do is to quit working at a job for a living and just develop the Back Forty.

I’m thinking that the trees/shrubs and pathways idea is a good idea–later adding a gazebo and pond. Of course, this is all starting to sound expensive. Why can’t I just throw out a packet of wildflower seeds?

Nothing is easy.

Robin at Bumblebee

]]> By: Juli http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-3934 Juli Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:02:15 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-3934 You might want to consider the usefulness of this section of your property as something more functional and utilitarian. What about setting up a greenhouse or two and a special section for large scale composting. With the size of your property, you no doubt have tons of valuable plant material. And with cows nearby-- I think you mentioned that-- you could probably get some manure to mix in. This would also be an excellent spot for storing other garden materials that you may want to purchase in bulk-- stone, wood mulch, etc. Or, you may want to consider a small orchard of fruit trees and/or a small vineyard of grapes. Or, what about a section of Christmas trees for future sale. This could also benefit you taxwise-- not sure what your state's rules are on this type of thing, but it would be something to look into. If properly planned and well managed, this could turn out to be a beautiful area of your property and one that would certainly earn it's keep. Juli You might want to consider the usefulness of this section of your property as something more functional and utilitarian. What about setting up a greenhouse or two and a special section for large scale composting. With the size of your property, you no doubt have tons of valuable plant material. And with cows nearby– I think you mentioned that– you could probably get some manure to mix in.

This would also be an excellent spot for storing other garden materials that you may want to purchase in bulk– stone, wood mulch, etc.

Or, you may want to consider a small orchard of fruit trees and/or a small vineyard of grapes. Or, what about a section of Christmas trees for future sale. This could also benefit you taxwise– not sure what your state’s rules are on this type of thing, but it would be something to look into.

If properly planned and well managed, this could turn out to be a beautiful area of your property and one that would certainly earn it’s keep.

Juli

]]> By: Gail http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-3930 Gail Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:33:32 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-3930 Wow, Robin, that's a lot of space....are you sure you want a full time job caring for more plantings? Maybe evergreen shrubs and trees would give you year round interest...I can't wait to hear what you have on your list! Wow, Robin, that’s a lot of space….are you sure you want a full time job caring for more plantings? Maybe evergreen shrubs and trees would give you year round interest…I can’t wait to hear what you have on your list!

]]> By: Colleen http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/comment-page-1/#comment-3929 Colleen Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:13:52 +0000 http://www.bumblebeeblog.com/2008/06/11/what-to-do-with-the-back-forty/#comment-3929 Ooh, I vote for a pond! That would be very, very pretty. Ooh, I vote for a pond! That would be very, very pretty.

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