We Are Gonna Hit Our Goal

Each year we do the same old thing.  We are creatures of habit.  One of the things we do is try to see how long we can go before cranking up the lawn mower.  We've posted many times about our routine to avoid mowing.  It is not really that I dislike mowing - that would be weed-eating.  Man, I hate weed-eating.  I guess it is just a challenge to see how long we can go without mowing.

This year, I set the goal at May 1st.  For a couple of months now, I routinely hear the neighbors cranking up their mowers.  Mine is still in the garage, covered by a tarp.  I know I'll have to charge the battery to make the engine turn over.  Our secret.  The cows and a solar powered Gallagher Fence Charger with temporary poly wire and step-in posts set up in the yard.

Each day I move the paddock once section over in the yard.  After a week, the cows have rotated through the entire yard, and we start over again.  This, while keeping the yard trimmed, also helps the grazing pressure in the pasture down until the grass really comes in strong.

Cows grazing in the back yard

Now, the goats - they are not allowed in the backyard.  They are escape artists.  They don't respect the fence and would be eating Tricia's flowers down to the dirt before you could say, "Doggone goat!"  We leave them in the main pasture outside of the yard.  We do still have to protect certain plants.  As you can see in the photo below, I have our Anniversary Oak protected behind the electric fence.  The cows would love to eat those leaves.

The cows edge around everything.  While they don't exactly manicure the yard like a golf course, it does look neat and tidy when they are done.  They contentedly eat grass all day.  We do have water for them in a big tub that we put in a wagon and will pull it around so they have fresh, clean water.

Rosie eating in the backyard

Cows eating grass in the yard is kind of like a redneck Roomba.  You know, that robot vacuum cleaner that vacuums your house while you watch TV?  Cows do that too.  They walk around and scarf down every tall blade of grass.  Then they'll do it again.

Clarabelle did not get invited to the BBQ

Sometime next week or this weekend I'll likely fire up the lawnmower.  The cows won't like the competition, but once the grass in the pasture can fully sustain them, I'll begin using the mower powered by an internal combustion engine.  I will miss doing other things while the lawn was being mowed by the cows.

There are positives about mowing the yard with a mower.  Mechanical lawn mowers don't leave this all over the yard!:

After the cows mow, you gotta watch your step...