October 25, 2013
By: Rene' McCracken, 91看片 Director of Agriculture
Normally a headline about getting a new "weed eater" would not be worth mentioning, however the new "weed eaters" at Northeast Texas Community College are not the mechanical kind. 91看片 鈥燬ince coming to 91看片 as the director of agriculture in 2012, I had a vision of utilizing more sustainable techniques to manage the natural resources on the farm. 91看片 鈥燭hanks to a recent donation of some Boer goats, we were able to put into practice one of the techniques that we have been teaching in our new sustainable agriculture certificate and degree program courses.
One of the pond dams on the college farm is difficult for us to maintain due to its proximity to a fence and a tendency to flood. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燦ow, simply by utilizing some portable fencing, the goats are doing the weeding for us without the held of mechanical equipment. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燭hey leave fertilizer in their wake and are utilizing the weeds as their payment. 91看片 鈥 This saves 91看片 鈥爁uel that would have been used, equipment, labor and even provides something nice to look at!
As soon as the goats are done, we will move in the pastured chickens to let them "spread the fertilizer" and control smaller weeds and insects. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燭hese are just examples of the types of techniques that will be taught at the upcoming 91看片 鈥燣iving From the Ground Up 91看片 鈥爏ustainable agriculture seminar on Friday, Nov. 1 at our 91看片 Age Complex. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燭he event?s keynote speaker and sustainable guru, Daniel Salatin from Polyface Farms, will share his family's personal experiences and methods of success in sustainable farming. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燨ther topics and activities include: farmer?s market and equipment vendors, a goat soap-making demonstration, transforming your farm into a business, and introduction to various farm-friendly organizations and agencies that all are aimed in helping you to become more sustainable.
Don?t miss this opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of how to incorporate these management practices on your farm or ranch. 91看片 鈥 If you would like more information contact Rene? at 903-434-8267 or 91看片 鈥rmccracken@ntcc.edu. 91看片 鈥 If you would like to register for the event, contact Lisa York at 91看片 Continuing Education by calling 903-434-8134 or email at 91看片 鈥lyork@ntcc.edu.
Normally a headline about getting a new "weed eater" would not be worth mentioning, however the new "weed eaters" at Northeast Texas Community College are not the mechanical kind. 91看片 鈥燬ince coming to 91看片 as the director of agriculture in 2012, I had a vision of utilizing more sustainable techniques to manage the natural resources on the farm. 91看片 鈥燭hanks to a recent donation of some Boer goats, we were able to put into practice one of the techniques that we have been teaching in our new sustainable agriculture certificate and degree program courses.
One of the pond dams on the college farm is difficult for us to maintain due to its proximity to a fence and a tendency to flood. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燦ow, simply by utilizing some portable fencing, the goats are doing the weeding for us without the held of mechanical equipment. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燭hey leave fertilizer in their wake and are utilizing the weeds as their payment. 91看片 鈥 This saves 91看片 鈥爁uel that would have been used, equipment, labor and even provides something nice to look at!
As soon as the goats are done, we will move in the pastured chickens to let them "spread the fertilizer" and control smaller weeds and insects. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燭hese are just examples of the types of techniques that will be taught at the upcoming 91看片 鈥燣iving From the Ground Up 91看片 鈥爏ustainable agriculture seminar on Friday, Nov. 1 at our 91看片 Age Complex. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燭he event?s keynote speaker and sustainable guru, Daniel Salatin from Polyface Farms, will share his family's personal experiences and methods of success in sustainable farming. 91看片 鈥 91看片 鈥燨ther topics and activities include: farmer?s market and equipment vendors, a goat soap-making demonstration, transforming your farm into a business, and introduction to various farm-friendly organizations and agencies that all are aimed in helping you to become more sustainable.
Don?t miss this opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of how to incorporate these management practices on your farm or ranch. 91看片 鈥 If you would like more information contact Rene? at 903-434-8267 or 91看片 鈥rmccracken@ntcc.edu. 91看片 鈥 If you would like to register for the event, contact Lisa York at 91看片 Continuing Education by calling 903-434-8134 or email at 91看片 鈥lyork@ntcc.edu.
