Regenerative Livestock Pasture

I've stepped back into the scene after an eight year hiatus. Have really gotten into organic/natural/holistic/regenerative agriculture production the last few years. Modern agriculture is a joke. All these chemical inputs make zero sense to me.

Anyone done any growing in pasture ground that's extensively managed? I run cattle in a regenerative grazing type system. Makes for some real healthy soil. I'm about 6 years into this type of management. I also have one growing in a 6th year Ruth Stout bed. It's been a water only approach too. Seems very happy.

Half the place has gotten a sabbatical this year. Loaded with flowers, bugs, and tons of biomass. A solid stand of red clover this spring lodged over and formed a thick mulch layer thru which many forbs and "weeds" have grown through. The smell back there is amazing with all the flowers and thriving biology.

My girls have gotten nothing but water, and very little of that. I have maybe watered three times since May. The plethora of bugs back there have kept the pests in check (Knock on wood). I can only assume there is a helluva fungal network inground keeping the plants water and nutritional needs taken care of.

Seems to be a very solid system. Though I won't know for sure for another 4 to 8 weeks.

Just curious if others on here are growing in similar ground and what your observations/results have been.

This winter I plan to feed a good bit of hay on the ground I will grow in next year. See what that does.

I am a big fan of input-free production. All, or most, or the micro/macro nutrients are already present in the soil. It's just a matter of mining them up to the top and making them available to the plants. I think this is the way forward for agriculture in general.

I've seen several grows in pastures where cows and horses have been for decades, and as you already know the plants love it. Why buy nutrients from someone else when you already have the best on earth? Keep up the great work.

Compost tea twice and watered twice since May. Otherwixe theyve been neglected. Seem very happy (Knock on wood)

Last one is a lighter color. Sativa leaning I'm assuming.

Plan is to keep the best two alive thru winter. I think I've decided which two. I'm pretty proud of this little crop.

Next year I would get a pound of good cannabis seed, maybe a blackberry kush or hindu kush, and spread it along all of your fence lines. That would be an amazing grow!

Funkentelechy said:

I've seen several grows in pastures where cows and horses have been for decades, and as you already know the plants love it. Why buy nutrients from someone else when you already have the best on earth? Keep up the great work.

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As with most of our current reality... we've been taught a load of BS as far as how soil functions and the biology there-in. Seems the truth is coming out slowly, speaking towards agriculture as a whole.

I just know there's nothing more tasty than naturally grown flower that never wanted for anything. Hoping this will meet my expectations. I'm giddy with excitement... it's getting so close.

SouthFloridaGenetics said:

Next year I would get a pound of good cannabis seed, maybe a blackberry kush or hindu kush, and spread it along all of your fence lines. That would be an amazing grow!

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I've got 3 coffee cans of seed. Half of which I made, the other half coming from bags. If I find a couple seed in bottom of a # of fire, I label and keep. Most of them have been female. And pretty dang good. I'm a big fan of bagseed.

Given, it's been years since I've bought seed, but I didn't have the best luck with bought seed. I'm sure it was the sources.

Where do yall recommend sourcing seed nowadays?

Right now the plan is to make a mother out of the two best of these 10 and start clones in Jan/Feb for next year's growing season.

I agree wholeheartedly about soil biology. You say that the plan is to keep the best two alive through winter, you planning on cloning them?

BullPower said:

I've got 3 coffee cans of seed. Half of which I made, the other half coming from bags. If I find a couple seed in bottom of a # of fire, I label and keep. Most of them have been female. And pretty dang good. I'm a big fan of bagseed.

Given, it's been years since I've bought seed, but I didn't have the best luck with bought seed. I'm sure it was the sources.

Where do yall recommend sourcing seed nowadays?

Right now the plan is to make a mother out of the two best of these 10 and start clones in Jan/Feb for next year's growing season.

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oh, you just answered my question.

BullPower said:

Where do yall recommend sourcing seed nowadays?

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Dynasty, Bohdi, and Crickets and cicada have great seeds. I haven't tried KOS Organics or CSI Humbolt yet but they seem to have a good reputation in the community, might be worth a look.
Most of the truly great seeds that I've bought have come from AK Bean Brains. You can order through JBC seeds or email him directly at [email protected] and ask for the master list.
I like old-school strains.

Funkentelechy said:

I agree wholeheartedly about soil biology. You say that the plan is to keep the best two alive through winter, you planning on cloning them?

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I'm going to do a multi-faceted approach to guarantee something survives. Lol. It's been 10+ years since I've cloned cannabis. And I've never cloned something in flower.

So going to try the air-layer method, take actual cuttings, and figure I might as well try digging them up and attempt a reveg. Biggest problem with reveg is going to be them surviving being dug up. These plants are from seed so no clue what the tap root has done. I have done successful reveg in thr past. Had a diesel or church momma that flowered two or three times. Wish I had kept those two going.

I need to get on the propagation thing before I run out of time. My brain stays scattered unfortunately. Lol

Another problem I foresee with digging them up and bringing inside is the potential for pests. Right now there is a balance of good and bad. I won't have that balance indoors.

I'm ALWAYS open to suggestions.

BullPower said:

I'm going to do a multi-faceted approach to guarantee something survives. Lol. It's been 10+ years since I've cloned cannabis. And I've never cloned something in flower.

So going to try the air-layer method, take actual cuttings, and figure I might as well try digging them up and attempt a reveg. Biggest problem with reveg is going to be them surviving being dug up. These plants are from seed so no clue what the tap root has done. I have done successful reveg in thr past. Had a diesel or church momma that flowered two or three times. Wish I had kept those two going.

I need to get on the propagation thing before I run out of time. My brain stays scattered unfortunately. Lol

Another problem I foresee with digging them up and bringing inside is the potential for pests. Right now there is a balance of good and bad. I won't have that balance indoors.

I'm ALWAYS open to suggestions.

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I would clip a couple of small cuttings and put them in a glass of water to root them.

SouthFloridaGenetics said:

I would clip a couple of small cuttings and put them in a glass of water to root them.

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I've got root riot plugs on hand. Domes, trays. All that.

I've never tried it simply placing in a glass of water. I figured they'd get funky and rot. Does it need an airstone or anything to keep it oxygenated? Or fresh water daily?

I love the KISS approach to anything.

BullPower said:

I've got root riot plugs on hand. Domes, trays. All that.

I've never tried it simply placing in a glass of water. I figured they'd get funky and rot. Does it need an airstone or anything to keep it oxygenated? Or fresh water daily?

I love the KISS approach to anything.

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Yeah I have a 36 spot CloneKing and still cut a few and stick them in a beer glass with an inch or two of water. Change or add to it after two days and by day 5/6 the roots are starting to show. I love it. Easy as it gets.

SouthFloridaGenetics said:

Yeah I have a 36 spot CloneKing and still cut a few and stick them in a beer glass with an inch or two of water. Change or add to it after two days and by day 5/6 the roots are starting to show. I love it. Easy as it gets.

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Appreciate that tid bit. I've got sulfur gassy well water. I'll give that a try too.

Here's my LST'd girl in my Ruth Stout bed. She's either going to go a long long time or she's not gonna be real heavy. But going to be fire. This is a Chemdog Cookies bagseed. Water only. Roughly 7 feet wide by 30 inches high at the most. I've got to do some kind of support for her. They're gonna be falling over real soon.

This is a plant I allowed a related male to grow next to. The male was a very early pollinator. Growing in shallow soil. Only watered her once all year. Feeling like she was a decent candidate.

I am impressed as to how she's handled staying hydrated this year. It was extremely hot and dry most of the summer. She never skipped a beat.

Epigenetics wise, should be some pretty tough offspring. Hasn't been bothered by much of anything. Writing Spider webs attached to her like crazy. Probably 5 or 6 of them.