tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post4351746166526188955..comments2024-02-21T01:37:44.813-08:00Comments on Trevor Herriot's Grass Notes: If grasslands are "like the freezer" no wonder we have so little leftTrevor Herriothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-19827558998569630682011-12-19T15:12:22.330-08:002011-12-19T15:12:22.330-08:00Ah well, thank you anyway!Ah well, thank you anyway!Jimhttp://jas.wagneratyahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-88703086000381466172011-12-18T22:03:13.032-08:002011-12-18T22:03:13.032-08:00Sorry Jim--I can't remember where I found that...Sorry Jim--I can't remember where I found that photo or any details on it. that was posted a while back.Trevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-23118353997012774972011-12-18T21:11:28.519-08:002011-12-18T21:11:28.519-08:00Hi Trevor,
I just came across this great picture...Hi Trevor, <br /><br />I just came across this great picture of the Argentine pampas in your blog. Can you say more exactly where the shot was taken?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />JimJim Wagnerhttp://jas.wagneratyahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-12670296825344530232010-08-25T15:39:10.231-07:002010-08-25T15:39:10.231-07:00Thanks for your comment, Arcolaura--those experien...Thanks for your comment, Arcolaura--those experiences with your friend illustrate the challenge we have in opening others' eyes to the loss of grassland.<br /><br />much appreciated,<br /><br />TrevorTrevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-71389432110176089132010-08-23T09:00:59.820-07:002010-08-23T09:00:59.820-07:00Here is a comment from Don Ruzicka of Killam, Albe...Here is a comment from Don Ruzicka of Killam, Alberta. I mentioned Don and his good work at Sunrise Farm in a post on March 24 of this year.<br /><br />Trevor H<br /><br />Hi Trevor,<br /><br />Your latest blog is very timely for our farm. We had Cows & Fish (Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society) come and do a “Native Grassland Health Assessment” on Friday.<br /><br />When we moved to the farm in 1983, I would put the cows out on pasture in May and move them onto the first field that was combined in early September. My “test” for pasture health in those days was if it was green, it was probably ready and ok to graze.<br /><br />The pasture was in pristine health with an abundance of rough fescue. It took me six years to compromise its ability to be sustainable. For some reason, the sharp tail grouse, western meadow larks, Spragues Pippits and others disappeared from the landscape. At that time, I had no idea that this was a symptom of overgrazing.<br /><br />After taking a course in Holistic Management in 1996, I realized all the damage I had done and proceeded to work towards bringing it back to good health. The “cause” was overgrazing and I proceeded to rest most of the native pastures for a year or more. In 2000, the western meadow larks returned, and a few years later, the Spragues Pippits. A positive change in management has resulted in more grass for the cattle and great habitat for the birds that call the native prairie “home.”<br /><br />Applying holistic management has led to a steady progression of new species to the farm and a huge increase to our “quality of life.” It has made me realise that we are only passing through here once and perhaps we should take the opportunity to leave the land in better condition than we found it.<br /><br />What went wrong in the first place? I have to admit that it was ignorance on my part and a false allusion that the technology of industrialised agriculture can fix anything and all things. I found that it just “ain’t so.”<br /><br />The awareness that Cows & Fish have brought to our farm regarding riparian and pasture management, have helped us to make our way back toward a path to sustainability. The assessment scored “healthy with problems,” which we will work at with the goal of achieving a “healthy” status.<br /><br />Also, your latest book, “Grass, Sky, Song,” has brought this awareness message and we continue to view the native prairie with increasing reverence. Thank you for keeping the message coming as it continues to foster hope and we all know that we need more “hope!”<br /><br />Kind regards,<br /><br />Don Ruzicka<br />Killam, Alberta.Trevor Herriothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11129533251670929001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1953681015185820780.post-90937946558319032442010-08-06T15:49:22.199-07:002010-08-06T15:49:22.199-07:00So true. I commented to a friend that the landsca...So true. I commented to a friend that the landscape of southern Saskatchewan is one of the most altered landscapes in the world, and he thought that was utter nonsense. He was thinking of Europe, China... But another time, he was complaining about grass left unmowed in the ditches, and I pointed out that the ditch might be the most natural part of the scene - the place where a native plant population might most readily persist and migrate. ("Migrate?" he said - "Plants? Migrate?")<br /><br />A few years back, I took this same friend out in some native pasture and showed him different plants. He said it was a real surprise to him, how many there were, when he had thought it was just waste land...arcolaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09448256908335690710noreply@blogger.com