Field Journal
A field desk, not a feed. The latest dispatches sit up top; everything else is filed by section below.
Latest Dispatches
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The Second Burndown, and Getting Ready to Plant
Agrotech came back in September to fly the cleanup pass, catching what the first burndown missed, and any bermuda that managed to come back. Then the rest of the work that has to happen before seed goes in this winter.
The Weed That Found a Wetland
Half an acre of cocklebur in the southernmost corner of the floodplain basin turns out to be one of the best survey instruments on the land — and the start of a seasonal wetland pocket.
Grounds & Restoration
Land work — clearing, burndown, seeding, survey and the plan behind it.5 on fileAgriculture & Grazing
The Second Burndown, and Getting Ready to Plant
Agrotech came back in September to fly the cleanup pass, catching what the first burndown missed, and any bermuda that managed to come back. Then the rest of the work that has to happen before seed goes in this winter.
Wildlife Affairs
The Weed That Found a Wetland
Half an acre of cocklebur in the southernmost corner of the floodplain basin turns out to be one of the best survey instruments on the land — and the start of a seasonal wetland pocket.
Forestry & Fire
Reading the Ground — the Soil Work Begins
Sampling the tract’s soils three ways: for the NRCS record, for the native seeding to come, and for the propagation bench’s potting mix.
Office of the Steward
Why We’re Doing This — and What the Land Needs
A plain accounting of the ground we were handed, what's wrong with it, how we plan to fix it, and the trouble we expect on the way.
Agriculture & Grazing
The Last Harvest, and the First Burndown
The final cutting of Tifton 85 came off the field in late June. Now we turn roughly 35 of the 90 acres back toward native prairie.
The Station
The instruments, the funding and how the place came to be.3 on file
Forestry & Fire
Propagation Unit No. 01
The goals, and the full build list, for the first semi-automated propagation bench.
Office of the Steward
Two Grants, and What They Buy
Cost-share through NRCS EQIP, and a Texas Parks & Wildlife Pastures for Upland Birds (PUB) grant.
Office of the Steward
The Cabin, and Why We Started
How a small family holding in the Hill Country turned into a field station.