Leah Holder

Thanks Ra! The flock has grown tremendously since the last post, recent warmer winters has upped the survival rate I think, and kept everyone in the mood for love. They’ve been cooing and dancing  on top of the grain bins all day. I finally sat down and watched them through the binoculars for awhile. So many pretty colors now and it’s easy to make notes of the silly males spinning and cooing to their other halves. I’m particularly impressed by this one fellow with an iridescent cinnamon head, buff back & wings and a white rump. 4 years ago they were almost all “pigeon colored.” 😁

I have 2 empty grain bids without lids. They are full of happy pigeons, and no predators can access them.

Great thread! I live in the Midwest where a few years ago I acquired 2.5 acres with 4 grain bins the lids had blown off. About 50 pigeons live in them, safe from any outside predators. It’s fun to watch them gather on the lip of the opening and drop straight down to feed their young. I recently learned that they mate for life- but move on if a partner is killed of course. They cement their bond with a pigeon kiss which looks more like them feeding young. They have been thriving here for decades with no interference from me, and so of course I have an urge to interfere. I’m wondering if I could line the inside of the bins with some better boxes to help them nest and keep them out of the droppings. Since I’ve had the place they’ve picked up (or raised) 2 white ones and the flock has turned from Pigeon Grey to all types of dapples and cinnamons.

Hi fellow Permies!
    I have been growing a wide spectrum of trees on 2 acres in rural South Dakota USA. The property used to have a trailer house on it in the 70s and has a well, but now holds only my little shack and apples, pears, raspberries, plums, blackberries, and most importantly-hazelnuts. I had the well shocked and sealed 3 years ago because of a bacterial issue, afterwards it was no longer present. The other test results didn’t really stay with me-I was new and if the water was safe for my dog to drink that should be good enough. Funny thing is, the trees survived but failed to thrive. I tested again this year and the hardness and alkalinity are both 9.5. and high Calcium. I should have opened my eyes when the hydrangea I bought started to tank the first week.
    Here’s the dilemma. I don’t live here full time, I just visit several times a week. The pump runs off a Honda generator I fire up when it’s time to water. Hauling water in from town isn’t an option. What methods can I use to change my water without a constant flow of electricity? Thanks for your time and advice!

I am so excited to continue following this thread. Keep up the good work!

Hello Permies! I’ve been wooed by this forum at every turn as I’m constructing my own space in the country. I have a question I can’t find an answer to in “polite” society but I’m banking someone here does. I need to know how to heat treat my pigeon droppings so as to use them in a homemade fertilizer mix. I need to know what temperature and how long they must be kept there in order to kill pathogens with out hot composting them? Thanks a ton!

Welcome Ginny! I’m looking forward to reading all of the bread posts. Thanks for joining us.

Thank you for your experience William. The compost you use is finished, or do you keep essentially an active compost pile in the hole?

I’m looking to implement a banana circle type system for some fruit trees I planted this Spring. I live in South Dakota. I’m thinking dig in a continuous ditch/swale on the inside of the 75’ diameter circle that’s already planted. The trees are asian pear and current and gooseberry spaced alternating around the circle. I’d like to dig a ditch around the whole inside and fill with raw compost/paper sheds and water-via feeder swales and a well. I’ll use the top soil to mound on the inside of the ditch/circle and plant other things on that. Is this unreasonable? Has anyone else tried such a thing? Thank you.

Please PLEASE update this post. I’m in a similar situation and need to know how things panned out. Also curious about the hedge. Also would like to see how your grazing is going! THANK YOU!