We only have 5 acres, but we a little over three of it is alfalfa. One of our neighbors/friend cuts and harvest it a couple times per year. When we moved here there were very few milkweed plants. Little by little we have a lot more growing now. We see more Monarch Butterflies now. We also have planted many flowering plants to attract bees. My wife maintains several Humming Bird feeders. Damn. those little guys are quick!
Milkweed and Monarch's, thanks for bringing back some childhood memories. Monarch's; Something to do with life and religion, My mother every year until she passed would cut a piece of milkweed with the white blacked striped caterpillar munching on the leaf, and put it in a jar with holes punched through the cap. And we would watch it go through its phases of life. Milkweed; I was probably about 9 yrs old with three sisters and one bother living in an 11,00 square foot house. During one of my fathers many troubled times stemming from what he went through in WW2, He had a "stay" in our area healthcare facility. In one of those stays he befriended a 100% Native American Indian that had gotten into some trouble of his own . You know, long dark hair in a ponytail, spoke broken English...The real deal. Well after my fathers release, the Indian was released a couple days later with no where to go. So my father took him in our home. He stayed with us for just under a year. He was in his late twenties, very nice and respectful. Even being very protective of my sisters. Anyways getting back to Milkweed. Once in a while he would make our family a meal from nature. One was Milkweed soup...I remember it tasting absolute horrible but was told to eat it all up, I guess out of respect. Sadly about a month after he left, he killed himself.
Yes, sad deal for sure. It really effected my father for a long time after that, he blamed himself for it.
First, DO NOT use any pesticides or herbicides in your yard...ever. This is critical. Second, make the property friendly to bugs, birds, and other critters by planting lots of flowering plants, putting up bird houses, and the appropriate feeders. We have flowering plants from April until October, and get an unbelieveable amount of bees and birds.
When it comes to controlling invasive species for the benefit of native species, sometimes herbicides are the best option. I’m defintely a person who doesn’t chemically treat his lawn.
Interesting thread. I grew up in and still live in the country and to this day can't figure out why folks spend millions using chemicals on their lawns but to each their own. I understand its for the never ending desire to have a home with beautiful curb appeal but at what cost and not just monetary. I use nothing and yes I have some weeds but its green and looks nice when its cut. As restrictive as the EPA/DEP is I can't believe they still allow such wide massive chemical application through condensed areas of population like housing plans. I watch those full lawn chemical tankers going down the road and think multiply than by 1000s across the country. Yeeeks! I say that being a redneck and far from a tree hugger greeny weeney but some things are common sense and respect for this beautiful land we were born into. The cost alone for chemicals not to mention where do all these chemicals end up? Washing into the ground, streams and waterways. No Thanks Now to the mowing issue I have been mowing less often now for 3-4 years for reasons mentioned.....plus it saves fuel and wear and tear on equipment. Big fields down to once a year and areas with invasive weeds twice a year catching them just before they go to seed. I mow in stages so there are always mature areas left for butterfly's, honey bees, red winged blackbirds to nest, and places for rabbits to hide from the hawks and eagles. Jeez I sound like Marlin Perkins! As for the yard around house, due to the weather this year, I had a lot of clover come up thick. I always left it go as long as possible because there were honey bees all over chowing down. Again like the fields, I mow my yard in stages and rarely ever do it all at once.