Dirt Dabblers

12/29/2024

Let's start off 2025 with a firm garden plan. What are your goals?

09/21/2022

ITS CORN!!! 🌽

We actually started harvesting our corn silage yesterday and I haven’t had time to post but how do we even know when to harvest our corn silage? One way to know is when you see your neighbours start 😂 There is actually some science to it…..

If you harvest too early you get...
- decrease in starch
- lower yields
- poor fermentation
- juices can run down your silo and cause damage
- it freezes to the silo easier

If harvested too late you get....
- lower fiber digestibility
- lower starch digestibility
- poor packing in the silo/pile (increase in molds)

A rule of thumb is that the silage is ready when you see the “milk line” about half way down the kernel as it makes its way to the cob. However, this isn’t precise because planting date, corn hybrid, weather and field location all play a part. The best thing to do is sample some plants from across the entire field. The plants are chopped up and then tested for moisture. For a tower silo like ours the target moisture is 62-67% moisture. Ours tested on Monday at 63% moisture so it’s go time! It dries 0.5% per day normally or up to 1% per day in dry conditions. We add friendly bacteria to our corn to help with fermentation. More on that later.

* As the kernel dries/matures it hardens starting from the outer tip of the kernel. The line separated the hardened part from the still soft part is the milk line.

Fun fact: Corn is a grass!!!! 🌽

09/19/2022

Maryland ag products are as diverse as the nation itself. Here are the state's top agricultural earners:

1. Broiler chicken - $931M
2. Corn - $230M
3. Soybeans - $182M
4. Dairy products - $173M
5. Floriculture - $115M

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wUrwVZ

09/17/2022

06/05/2022

Create a delightful fairy garden in a repurposed wheel barrow!

05/31/2022

FREE plants, you dig.
Liriope (green), prostrate Lambs Ear, native Blacked Eyed Susan and Autumn Joy Sedum.
Send me a DM for more info.

05/12/2022

05/06/2022

Pots for Mothers Day flowers and crafts...