and your SHEEP!
We raised a beautiful garden with a variety of vegetables every year, our only trouble being the summer hail stroms with high winds and occasional tornado.
When I moved to Norhtern Michigan I knew that gardening would be a challenge but I never realized just how different it would be.
At first I tried planting everything, like I did back home. I was so excited to watch my first garden sprouting up and then it happened....A frost! But not just any frost, This was a frost in JUNE. I was heart sick to see all my work gone in one night,
( and Did you know that porcupines like young tender shoots in a garden?After chasing one out of the garden one day I learned a few things from my Northern gardening experience, porcupines are not all nocturnal and they can't really THROW their quills! Oh,by the way, Chasing a porcupine is a slow process since they really don't run, They "mosey")
Well they didn't have the windstroms,heavy rain and tornados up here in the North Country like I was used to growing up.There Certainly were other obstacles though and it took a couple seasons to learn some creative gardening skills. Trying to out smart the critters up here and "Jack frost" has been a learning experience so I will try to pass on some helpful tips and information that I have learned.
The characteristic onion and garlic smells are caused by ALKYL SULPHIDES which are found throughout the genus allium and in other genera of the alliaceae such as tulbaghia.
Add fresh chives to top of their hay.
I have been adding garlic to the flocks diet for three years now and have noticed quite a difference. I had coughing sheep one summer that stopped after I started using the garlic. I also had a ewe my first summer get down due to the heat and selenium problems.I had been giving her double the amounts of garlic the next year and she hasn't had any problems since.. Also a ram with a runny eye and nose cleared up in 2 days of garlic doses.
This is also a natural parasite control. Aids in anemia and builds blood cells.
I use the chopped garlic found in the produce section of the grocery store. about 1/2 cup per about 8 sheep. mixed in just enough corn to trick the sheep into eating it. It doessn't take much corn at all.
I also use this natural Fly control for my horses and Dogs.
For my Horse I put about a tablespoon on top of her sweetfeed daily. My dogs each get a tablespoon mixed in their food. This has really made a difference. I don't see the flies around the horse and mosquitos don't bother the dogs anymore.
This is also very healthy for them.
This is another crop that grows well up in the north country with our sandy soil.
I plant several rows of carrots each spring they tollerate the cool temps. By fall they are ready for the sheep. They also keep well right in the ground.I harvest some and then I cover a few rows with straw. We get so much snow in the garden spot that I can go out and dig down and pull out fresh carrots anytime. Of course we have had snows that were several feet deep and the carrots had to wait until spring. To my amazement they did fine and were not froze. They are a nice fresh treat for the horses and sheep in april or may if I can find them through the snow.
PUMPKINS are also loved by the sheep and the seeds aid in digestion and parasite control. Easy to grow in a hole of well rotted sheep manure, plant early and they will be up before the last frost so make sure you cover their new little leaves.They need this time, so they can rippen by the first frost.
The human benefits- Eases arthritis, protects heart, protects prostate, lowers cholesterol
Remember, If you can smell this odar....So can the flies and Mosquitos.
