Sunday, September 27, 2015

Sunday Reading - It Only Took 20 Years or More





Some of you long term readers may remember that the Small-Hold has actually been in my family since long before I was born. It used to be just a small part of a much larger operation that included farms all over the county. As it stood back then it was really just peanuts and mostly just used for my mother's old nags.

It did have the nicest old barn of all the places and percentage-wise the most usable land. Overall it was small of course but there were very few trees on the place so just about the entire 25 acres was productive. At least until they let those damned nags out in one of the pastures anyway.

The only problem area was an erosion ditch down the middle of the pasture from a washed out pond. The only thing this property didn't have though was trees.

Now I realize this is more than likely the only place situated South of Mexico, Missouri that can make that claim because trees are literally everywhere and most people are pulling their hair out working on getting rid of them so they can do something with their land around here.

I have always kinda had my eye on this little spec of land though and as it turned out Mrs. PP and I were finally able to buy it outright but way before that I did start making some improvements. One of them was planting trees and the other was making sure that the few trees that were here stayed and continue to grow.

Way back at the far end of the pasture there was a little knot of trees growing. There were two huge old oaks in the pasture itself and maybe five or six Boxelder trees up around the barn and house with some Honey Locust and Mulberry scattered here and there. Wildlife back then consisted of more rabbits than you could count, about three or four large covey of Bobwhites, a Fox den and Deer passing through to the Corn fields. I am not counting the coons, possum or coyotes either.

Over the years as I planted and nursed some trees I also saw an occasional Turkey, a couple of prairie chickens and a lot of hawks and eagles.

One thing I never saw despite finally getting harvests of Walnuts, Acorns and Hickory Nuts were Squirrels however. Not once in the 50 some odd years I been coming to this piece of land did I ever see a squirrel. Ever.

Now you have to remember we are surrounded by open land of at least a quarter mile in every direction. Corn or Soybean fields on three sides and a huge cow pasture on the fourth. Beyond the small woodlot I been growing which is about 200 yards from the house there is the pasture that goes at least another 200 yards before hitting any sizable amount of trees. Mostly Oaks and Sycamore along a creek bed.

Along with all the domesticated plant and wildlife I try and incorporate wild species into my designs as much as possible. I have let Mulberries grow everywhere I can, Wild Plum as well, and improved the wildlife cover too. Then about 2 years ago I saw a Squirrel down in the back of the pasture. This Spring I saw the first signs of permanent Squirrel feeding when Hickory Nut remains began appearing in front of my bee hives.

Squirrels I have found LOVE to clean up the dead bees from the front of the hives as well.

Then just a couple days ago while mowing I actually saw a Squirrel in our yard messing around with some fallen Walnuts. Later that day as I was sitting on the porch I saw the little bugger making his way down the fence line towards the back of the pasture too.

Most people consider tree rats a complete nuisance. Mrs. PP included as she lived across from a park in town for years and they were constantly raiding her plants. Yet I have been trying to get a population of them going here for most of my adult life because well, in a survival situation the local wildlife can come in handy and I am not that fond of Rabbit anyway.

So far it is only one squirrel and I haven't seen him since the other day but who knows.

At least it shows my endeavors are working at least a little bit. Maybe in another 10 years I might actually have enough trees to last the entire Winter here. And Squirrels too!!!!

Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!!!!!



14 comments:

  1. I can't imagine anyone wanting squirrels. I have lost my entire walnut crop and half of my cobnuts to them this year again!
    Just come across your blog - a good read.
    Gill in the UK

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    1. Frugal - Well I don't want them so much up at the house as on the property. Squirrel can be a good resource to have around if you need an emergency food source and are easy to harvest almost all year too. Walnuts around here are so thick most people have way too many even with squirrels around.

      Of course I may regret getting thems tarted too :)

      Thanks for your kind words and comment!!!!

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  2. Well, I was going to offer to send you some squirrels, since we have an annoyingly huge surplus. But since you're now covered in that department, I suppose there's no need. Have you invested in a good hardhat, though? For when you walk under those squirrel filled nut trees?

    I really like this post. Interesting about trees, when you've got them they're a nuisance, when you don't, you want them. Sounds like you've made good choices regarding yours.

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    Replies
    1. Leigh - I would trade you stray cats for squirrels straight up!!!

      That is the way of things isn't it? I don't want a lot of trees but as it stands now I need some or I will have to make arrangements to cut other people's trees in a grid down situation. Maybe in another 10 years I might have enough for our own needs.

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  3. Your place sounds lovely, especially with all those trees you have planted. We have a small woodland along the banks of the river which borders our land, but we have lost quite a few to soil erosion through high river levels. We do have some very old oaks though, and hopefully the river will not make them topple over. It is heart breaking to hear the crash of a tree coming down.

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    1. Vera - We lost one of our huge old oaks last Winter during a storm that I haven't cut up yet. The erosion ditch is threatening a few smaller trees too but I only just started dealing with the erosion problem. I would just like to get enough trees to feed our wood heating needs and a few squirrels for emergency food if they are ever needed.

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  4. We were getting over run with squirrels a couple years ago as nobody hunts them much around here. The nut trees failed to set a crop and the whole population disappeared just went somewhere else but now they are coming back but not as bad as before. So it seems that food is the key to having squirrels and they will not stay without those nuts no matter how much corn is around, they were stealing it out of my garden and kept coming back no matter how many times I caught them in a live trap. I didn't miss them when they were gone.

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    1. Sf - Oh I know they are a nuisance. I am hoping any I get will stay down at the back and not really venture up tot he house like this one did. You're right no one really hunts them anymore but my grandpa used to eat em all the time.

      He liked the brains though. ewwwww

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  5. Tree Rats are BAD! Good for nothing. When they start chewing the wood on your house, barns, bee hives, fences etc. you will grow to hate them as well. All I can say is kill them now while you have the chance to eradicate them! Do it before it is too late!

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    Replies
    1. Sd - LOL. I have never seen em chew on the hives. I doubt I will ever have enough here for them to be a problem. Not enough trees. I actually have more problems with rabbits than anything else.

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  6. We've never had issues with squirrels, in the city or cabin, and there are plenty to go around. Mice and woodpeckers are the only thing we deal with, and the occasional skunk spraying in town.
    We cleared out some dead tree's this weekend and hope some new ones shoot up in the spring.

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    Replies
    1. Max - We had some serious skunk problems a few years back. They were making a den in the barn as a matter of fact. I finally got rid of all of them but it wasn't unusual for me to call into work a couple times a year because I was held captive in my house by a skunk standing between the porch and my car.

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  7. excuse me - but wouldn't squirrels fall into your category of varmints??? we only have a few here and they are really fun to watch...

    much love bro! your friend,
    kymber

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    Replies
    1. kymber - If they start doing damage to something I find important :)

      Until then they are a naturally occurring resource I can eat in bad times :)

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