Sunflowers

The sunflowers are blooming; find a yellow swallowtail butterfly feeding.   Also growing here are buckwheat and cowpeas.  This is our best, most fertile, field.   Others are not doing as well, some are just barely growing.   We need to build the organic matter in the soil, which will enhance its fertility.   I am trying to implement the practices of regenerative agriculture with marginal success at this point. 

This fall I will be planting a covercrop of cereal rye, which I will fertilize heavily to build organic matter in these deficit soils.  In general I am trying to reduce the fertilizer inputs and rely more on legumes for nitrogen-fixing and a diversity of plants interacting with microrhizal bacteria and fungi in the soil for the rest of the nutrient needs.   But for this to work the organic content of the soil needs to build.

Honey bee.

Flower closeup. 

A black swallowtail 

Odin, Almost a Big Dog

Odin is getting bigger, almost a big dog.  Here, Hero is on the left and Odin on the right. 

Today, as I try to do frequently, I took Odin with me on the Gator when I went out to the far western oaktree field to feed Hero and Heidi their breakfast.   I keep a leash on Odin so he doesn't jump out.  He seems to enjoy the ride.

Heidi  doesn't like Odin much, is a bit stand-offish and growls a bit if Odin gets too close.

Hero is much  more tolerant of the puppy.

Odin meets Hope.

Whitie walked out with us, on the way back I let Odin walk with Whitie ahead of the Gator. 

It's already hot, Whitie and Odin stop by a creek to cool off on the way back.