Planting Trees for Tomorrow

In the early planning stages, we are going to "scrape" this approximate 1/3 acre cattail marsh to open it up.  This will involve removing 2-4 feet of sediment to access the clay soil.  All the cattails will be removed as they are fairly invasive, and will eventually start to take over again.  If we are lucky during the excavation, we may find the spring that supplies the water available in this marsh.  The banks will be shaved down to allow easy access for the deer and other wildlife.   On either end, the plan is to leave a few cattails and plant some willow brush and/or trees to provide cover for any ducks or birds that take up residence on the pond.  Being on the central flyway for migrating geese, they will also be able to take advantage.

 This project is expected to cost in the vicinity of $4-6,000 and hopefully will be funded through purchases in our Ebay store.

 Again, another 1/3 acre marsh area, but this one is overgrown with willow brush.  Very good for the red-winged blackbird and a nice hideout for the deer, but not user friendly for the remaining wildlife.  We will be scraping out 2-4 feet of sediment and brush through 80% of the middle.  Leaving both ends filled with willow brush, this should turn into a very nice scrape for ducks and other waterfowl, with plenty of cover.  Somewhere hidden in here is a natural spring, as this area drains very little of the surrounding landscape.  Located about 500 feet from project number 1.

Again, we are probably looking at $4-6,000 for scraping, grading and restorative work.

Although hard to distinguish, these trees are over 6 feet tall before the new growth extends them farther yet.  Planted in 2004, the trees on this sand hill separate the 2 aforementioned water projects.  One of the newest species inhabitating this plot is a mother Turkey and her eggs.  This would be the first turkey and her family to inhabit the farm, mostly because the pine trees are getting to the point where they will start providing the cover needed.  Recently spotted during the Spring mow were pheasants and a doe and her fawn, hiding out amongst the uncut grass.  And somewhere nested in one of our 3 "marsh" areas I hear 2 Wood Ducks .