Author Topic: Hello from Frank in Red Oak - Ellis County.  (Read 14811 times)

Offline Frank

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Hello from Frank in Red Oak - Ellis County.
« on: September 01, 2011, 05:40:07 AM »
We cultivate 36 acres with another 6 or so in pasture down here using sustainable fertilization practice.  I am also associated with Texas Plant & Soil Lab and have joined the group in the hope of perhaps being able to contribute something.

Offline Brian Gallimore

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Re: Hello from Frank in Red Oak - Ellis County.
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2011, 09:58:26 PM »
Glad to have you as part of the community Frank!    I've heard many great things about Texas Plant and Soil Lab, and I've been meaning to send off a few samples from my yard to see what is going on with it.

What do you grow on that much land?
briangallimore.com  -Permaculture Nut-  -Master Gardener-  -Master Naturalist-  Princeton Texas

Offline Frank

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Re: Hello from Frank in Red Oak - Ellis County.
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2011, 05:18:53 AM »
Well, thank you for this!  And thank you for the kind words about the lab! 

Well, we have the original 15 acres that we grew winter wheat on, last year.  Didn't make that much - not a truckload - only about 55,000#.  We since acquired another 21 acres adjacent to us, to the North.  As it has been conventionally-farmed for many years, it is in visibly bad shape.  Our neighbor's corn crop on it was a disaster, this year.  Had supposed up until recently that we would put winter wheat on that, starting the first of October - and put in Soilsaver® Black Oats on the original - for a cover crop.  Then put in corn on that part in the Spring.  But have seen the NOAA drought forecast through the end of October - now, pretty much don't know much about anything.  Don't know what we're going to do...  But have 3,500# of the Black Oats on the floor that I'm gonna have to do something with...  Am now in the process of spreading Mesa Verde granular humate on all of the fields/pastures.

Anyhow, thank you very much for the nice note!  Will leave it up to you as to whether to contact me privately or on this forum about lab stuff...  Am sensitive about commercialism...  Really glad to be here!  (But still figuring out how all of this works.)

Offline Brian Gallimore

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Re: Hello from Frank in Red Oak - Ellis County.
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2011, 05:56:59 AM »
I'm fine with you and others plugging/talking about their businesses on the forum.  I do have a post about TPSL already at: http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/forum/index.php?topic=83.0

So how much humate does it take to cover 36 acres?  That's not something you do in a few hours, is it?    haha

Hope you get the soil healed!
briangallimore.com  -Permaculture Nut-  -Master Gardener-  -Master Naturalist-  Princeton Texas

Offline Frank

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Re: Hello from Frank in Red Oak - Ellis County.
« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2011, 05:30:27 AM »
Putting down 150#/ac or just shy of 3 tons.  Using a drill without the drop tubes so it will scatter.  The longest run is a half-mile and like to run at least 10 mph.  If my guy loads me up pretty fast and there are no problems, can get it done in 10 - 12 hours.  Now only lack 3 rows - ran out of humate and foam marker juice at the same time about 9:30 last night.  Will hit it again in a few hours...

Offline Frank

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Re: Hello from Frank in Red Oak - Ellis County.
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2011, 05:35:56 AM »
By the way, it was your nice post that got me here in the first place.  Saw the link to NTVGF while reviewing our web stats.  It looked interesting and clicked on it.  And here am I...