Living The Country Life

editor’s note

I’ve been thinking a lot about mud lately. Because it’s spring, and as everyone who lives in the country knows: Spring means mud—lots and lots of gooey, wet, stuck-on, tracked-in mud. Which means I’ve also been thinking a lot about mudrooms. They are such an important part of any house in the country! Muddy boots, dirty coveralls, even raccoons and opossums—they all tend to come through the mudroom. In our home’s 100-year history, this space has seen it all. My husband, Bob, is a country veterinarian and we raise livestock, so you can imagine the messes that have been slung through our mudroom in the past three decades. There have been bags of milk replacer spilled on the floor and caked manure from boots on the welcome mat to the kitchen. It’s…

out and about

Radio Highlights Tune in to the Living the Country Life radio show to hear about these topics (and more): • Orchard Frost Protection• Understanding Lawn and Garden Fertilizers• Introducing Horses to Spring Pasture• Growing Bamboo• Stop Chickens from Eating the Eggs• Short-Duration Cover Crops• Agritourism Severe Weather Planning• How to Weed Less To find a station that broadcasts the show, visit Agriculture.com/lclradio Enjoy These Stories at Agriculture.com Living the Country Life is now part of the Agriculture.com website! Stop by for stories on a range of topics, including livestock, gardening, and family activities. All About Chickens If you’re just getting chickens this spring (or even if you’ve had them awhile), you’re bound to run into questions. Don’t worry—we have lots of answers. Just visit Agriculture.com/Poultry to learn more. Landscaping Ideas Looking to add a little extra interest to your…

reboot your acreage

You’ve got a lot to do this spring. Owning an acreage or farm comes with a lot of responsibility, and maintaining that property is hard work. With the right tools, though, chores and projects can become much easier and more enjoyable. One of those tools, the new CT2025 compact tractor from Bobcat, is being awarded to the winner of the Reboot Your Acreage Contest from sister publication Successful Farming magazine and Bobcat Co. The 25-hp CT2025 features manual-shift or hydrostatic transmission, four-wheel drive, power steering, a Category 1 three-point hitch, and rear power takeoff. It comes with a factory-installed, quick-attach front-end loader that includes a hose kit, bucket level indicator, grille guard, mounting kit, Bob-Tach, and 60-inch Bob-Tach bucket. Additional features include a rollover protective structure, work lights, ergonomic controls, suspension seat, and…

country finds

Let It Rain Keep your garden and containers looking lush all season by capturing rainwater. Barrels in various sizes and styles can complement any outdoor area. Water Smart Sign Us Up Welcome guests to your acreage with a custom sign. You can create a personalized painted wood-plank sign, right, during a “crafternoon” with friends at a local AR Workshop (arworkshop.com). If you’d rather have an artist make one for you, check out etsy.com to find a design that speaks to you. CAMP OUT Idyllic summer evenings beg to be enjoyed outdoors around a fire. Best State Fairs Here are our favorite places to enjoy a corn dog! CALIFORNIA July 17–August 2 In addition to offering traditional fair fun, the California State Fair partners with a food festival so you can eat a diverse selection of fair fare. castatefair.org IOWA August 13–23 With more than…

q&a

Q: I have an area I would like to seed to pasture for goats. What is the best pasture mix to use? A lush stand of grasses and legumes is a five-star menu for cows and sheep, but goats prefer a little more excitement on their plates. Goats will eat grass and clover if that’s all that is available, says Gregg Brann, USDA grazing specialist in Tennessee, but those plants are not their preference. Goats scramble all over a pasture choosing the most nutritious feed. They search out tender leaves from brush and woody perennials, such as multiflora rose and small deciduous trees, and broadleaf plants that are often considered weeds. Pigweed, ragweed, and chicory are favorite meals for goats. Because of goats’ foraging abilities, establishing pasture for them isn’t as much about…

small cows, big benefits

Jason Bagwell’s cows are different. They’re not quite as big as some of his neighbors’ cattle. He raises Lowline (Aberdeen) Angus cattle because he wanted a breed that would provide premium beef on a small acreage and he hoped the diminutive breed would be easier for his children to handle. “The more you handle them, the more docile they will be, so they become quite friendly over time,” says Bagwell of the miniature cattle on his Springs Cattle Farm near Spartanburg, South Carolina. WHY GO SMALL? If you want to raise food for your family, miniature cattle might be ideal. Thanks to their small statures, sweet personalities, and overall adorableness, they are attracting big interest. Smaller cattle are ideal for smaller acreages, says Ron Lemenager, Ph.D., professor and beef extension specialist at…