Hi all from Toongabbie Victoria.

3 posts
Fri, 10/02/2015 - 16:39 #1

Member for

9 years 8 months
Mal
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 04/26/2015 - 08:27

Hi all from Toongabbie Victoria.

My wife, Marion and I have just taken over our new farm. It's a 15 acre lot right with a house and a couple of sheds on the edge of town, only a five minute walk to the shop!

The previous owner let the place go and there's blackberries all over, the fences need replacing and the ground is like concrete thanks to the horses.

The good news is that we have a permenant well, originally dug for the township back in the day and therefore water isn't going to be an issue. Part of the land is designated as a creek so hopefully Landcare will help us out with fencing it off and rejuvenating it with native trees and shrubs.

We plan to run a small flock of Boer goats and chickens and, once we're a little more established I want to get some bee hives.

What I really need to know is how to get the blackberries dead, rebuild all of the fences, rejuvenate the soil, get the trees in, set up the chook and goat residences and find the livestock and keep the grass down while maintaining full time work and without any money... 

And just to make it complicated... Whatever we do will need to make a profit, quickly... Before Christmas this year would be nice... 

Any ideas and suggestions gratefully accepted... :D

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Sat, 10/03/2015 - 06:41 #2
Kaz
Last seen: 07/06/2023 - 21:03
Joined: 04/05/2015 - 09:51
Hello and welcome to the forum :) I have the same issue with the blackberries on 130ac. Mine are strung through boulders and fences and growing in places I can only abseil to! Some blackberries were a no brainer to kill, I just used a slasher attached on the tractor or long tipped pruners to cut the canes. I found round up only killed the cane and not the ball of roots growing underneath, plus we are a water catchment area and round up is strongly not advised for me. My husband bashed a star picket into the roots once the canes were cleared and burnt them out. The canes were burnt off in a bonfire. We also have cleared a massive amount off our neighbours property but using fire accelerant with the help of the local brigade. The neighbours were all to happy for us to do this, they say your neighbours weeds quickly become your problem if not treated. I have read that Goats eat the blackberry bushes but our resident guru Barb can confirm this. And if they do I may have to get my own herd for the hard to reach places! Congratulations on moving into farming, relax and enjoy, make no shortcuts and the farm will flourish! Kaz
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Sun, 10/04/2015 - 11:46 #3
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi all,

 

Yes, goats will eat blackberries but it will take quite a while for them to do the job. However, meanwhile they will help to keep them under control for you.

 

Word of caution, if you have sprayed or poisoned weeds check out the witholding period before allowing herbivors into the area because some poisons are toxic to them and also can contaminate the carcasse if they are to be slaughtered for food.

 

Glad to know that natural controls are being tried, rather than just reaching for the poison.  In some cases though, you may need to slash and spray.

 

Cheers and have a good weekend,

 

Barb

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