VIRTUAL FARM TOUR - ORGANIC HAY

Nearby 22+ Acres of Carpenter Farm Fields. Initial Cover Crop of Organic Buckwheat, Field Peas and Clover planted with a Strickland Brothers Enterprises (SBE) Greenscape 600 seeder.  Photo taken April 15, 2006. (See the Press Release).

Progress Photo taken May 12, 2006 - Buckwheat, Pea and Clover (Alsike, Sweet and Mammoth Red plow-down mix) germination underway.

Progress Photo taken May 22, 2006 - Buckwheat, Pea and Clover growth continues. Buckwheat tallest,
Peas next, then Clover at ground-level - a "Sea-of-Green".

Progress Photo taken May 29, 2006 - Buckwheat, Pea and Clover growth continues. Buckwheat blossoming.

Progress Photo taken July 7, 2006 - Just prior to bush-hogging to re-seed the Buckwheat, chop-up the Peas stems, expose the low-lying Clover (see the following photo) and prevent weed seed-out.

Progress Photo taken July 13, 2006 - Close-up of field Clover after bush-hogging the fields. Note the Buckwheat (black seeds above) re-seeding has occurred and phosphorus uptake is complete; Pea nitrogen-fixing nodules are in the soil at the roots; and Clover is exposed to full-sun to mature before we disk, lime and plant Alfalfa and Orchard Grass in the Fall.

Progress Photo taken July 13, 2006 - Just after bush-hogging to re-seed the Buckwheat, chop-up the Peas stems, expose the low-lying Clover and prevent weed seed-out.

Progress Photo taken October 13, 2006 - after disking-in the cover crops. Winter oats emerging and Ladino clover planted in the foreground field - to be cut as oat hay for horses in Spring 2007; permanent pasture alfalfa and orchard grass planted in the background field - for cattle hay in 2007 and thereafter.

Progress Photo taken October 28, 2006. Winter oats progressing in the foreground; a tinge of Alfalfa emerging in the background - see next Photo.

Progress Photo taken October 28, 2006. Close-up of excellent Alfalfa germination. Optimal stand at
20-30 plants per square foot.

Progress Photo taken December 4, 2006. Oats (foreground) thicken-up and Alfalfa (background) continues to develop.

Progress Photo taken March 28, 2007. Close-up of Alfalfa stand.

Progress Photo taken March 28, 2007. Close-up of Oats with underlying Clover.

Progress Photo taken April 28, 2007. Oats with underlying Clover cut to dry 4-5 days, then square bale.

Photo taken November 4, 2007. Freshly seeded (F4) Oats with underlying Clover (late due to drought)

Photo taken November 4, 2007. Alfalfa (F5) field with freshly seeded section (middle-right).
Oats and clover (middle-left) fields. Perimeter tractor way (foreground)

Progress Photo (1 of x) taken November 4, 2007. New two-acre Field (F7) - initial state before any tractor-work.

Progress Photo (2 of x) taken November 8, 2007. After tree removal, bush-hog and rip. Perimeter preserved and meadow strip added mid-way up F7.

Progress Photo (1 of x) taken November 9, 2007. New 1+ acre Field (F8) - after initial tractor-work.