Grass

[Alpenrose]

I live in zone 4B (Montana). Our place is next to a large field used primarily for hay, the rancher is very good at rotating crops and building good soil. We receive a lot of what appears to be wild grasses. 1.5 acres are flat and elevated about 20 feet above a lovely creek. In 2014 the creek looked like this:

 

[Alpenrose]

We disturbed the soil and now the creek bottom is covered in large obnoxious weeds of several types. We have cut down the weeds and will burn the patches this fall. I am trying to harvest the grass seeds from the grasses up top which are the same type. Do you have any suggestions for harvesting wild grasses? Thank you

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I've never tried to keep seed as I have a grass infestation basically, haha. But I did find these two videos that were very interesting. Both have good points and have handy tips. You can see in one video that the guy stuffs the seed stems in a bucket and shakes. And the other video, the man made a belt with what I assume milk jugs to collect different seeds in one go.

 

[Alpenrose]

Dear Mandy:
Please excuse my late reply--have been on vacation (if you can call Seattle a vacation?), anyway I missed your email. Thank you so much for finding these videos for me. They provide good info and insight. I am grateful. Will head out tomorrow or Monday to check the seed and see if they are ready to harvest!

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

No worries! I hope you had a good time
And I also hope these videos will help you in the case that they are ready to harvest

 

[nayday]

I too am battling grass always! Im in NW Ark...where mowing is the summer past time ! 😣
Little by little I am pulling it up...I dont have heavy eqpt...just sweat and a pic axe. I pulled and created a patio/ fire pit, my garden and now extending for raised beds. Whew!
(7ft okra in my garden)

 

[TNTreehugger]

I too am battling grass always! Im in NW Ark...where mowing is the summer past time ! 😣
Little by little I am pulling it up...I dont have heavy eqpt...just sweat and a pic axe. I pulled and created a patio/ fire pit, my garden and now extending for raised beds. Whew!
(7ft okra in my garden)

You remind me of me.
I had a small inflatable pool for myself, too, but when it was invaded by tadpoles I decided they needed it more than I did. I have the same blue tarp covering my fish/frog ponds.

 

[TNTreehugger]

Here's a better photo of the ponds...

 

[TNTreehugger]

As for the grass, I'm "cultivating" violets and clover as a ground cover to replace as much grass as possible. Hoping to get more moss in the shady areas and replace the grass in the sunny areas with edible gardens.

 

[nayday]

Very nice and tranquil! My mom had a little pool and she used to get frogs in it but my pool has not got any frogs in it so far there are tiny frogs in the grass and frogs in the garden but so far no frogs in the pool thankfully!
Happy to know we are pulling the grass "together"
Great job!