Ben Harris
  • Durham, NC
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Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?

Started this discussion. Last reply by Ben Harris Sep 29, 2020. 14 Replies

As I thin some woods and open up some edge lines, I'm hoping to seed some perennial shade-tolerant forages. I'm mainly focused on wildlife at this point (I don't yet own livestock), and hope to get…Continue

Searching for tree seeds

Started this discussion. Last reply by L kas Sep 1, 2023. 1 Reply

Hey y'all,I'm in search of tree seeds - fruits, nuts, fodder, N fixers, etc. Do you have favorite seed/nut sources or cultivars? I'm looking for production and vigor. Disease resistance will reveal…Continue

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Ben Harris replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Hey Richard, That's the ecological trajectory I've taken. Natives are recovering quickly, and I'm holding off on seeding anything else until livestock (and maximizing their production) becomes an immediate reality. Y'all better…"
Sep 29, 2020
Richard H Bend replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"If wildlife rather than grazing areas for domestic animals is your focus, you need to focus on native biomass rather than non-native biomass, most of which is not usable, or not efficiently usable by wildlife. What wildlife you intend to support…"
Sep 26, 2020
Kable Thurlow replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"I would agree with Brett, this is pretty impressive Ben. Thank you for sharing your journey.  Brett, I totally agree with you on trefoil and i have observed the same things here in Michigan, Trefoil is only growing out in the full sun areas of…"
Sep 11, 2020
Brett Chedzoy replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Impressive, Ben - and clear that you're carefully thinking it all through"
Sep 10, 2020
Sienna Valente-Blough replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"That's great! Thanks for the feedback Ben!"
Sep 10, 2020
Ben Harris replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Hi Sienna, I haven't planted anything, just created the opportunity for the seed bank to express itself. This area is in a floodplain along a riverbank that usually floods at least once/year, often 2-3 times per year. A few years ago, this was…"
Sep 10, 2020
Sienna Valente-Blough replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Hey Ben, Your forest looks great so far after your selective tree thinning! Were those grasses that you currently have already present when you thinned or did you plant them? We have a few goats and have been selectively thinning our woods and using…"
Sep 10, 2020
Ben Harris replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Yeah, lots of understory trees, for sure; I've tried not to open things up too fast. A good portion of them are shell bark hickory and pawpaw, which I like for the wildlife value (and, for myself...pawpaws are delicious). Many are other…"
Aug 7, 2020
Brett Chedzoy replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Ben, From the photo, it appears that your nice trees are well-spaced for silvopasture, but that there are still a significant number of small-diameter stems - most or all of which are probably non-commercial species and/or suppressed shade-tolerant…"
Aug 7, 2020
Ben Harris replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Thanks, Brett! Unfortunately, stilt grass is growing in the sunnier spots right now. BUT in sections of the woods that I selectively thinned 1-2 years ago, the same stilt grass has given way to a much more diverse mix of cool and warm season grasses…"
Aug 6, 2020
Brett Chedzoy replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Limited shade tolerance studies indicate that Reed Canary, Orchardgrass and Tall Fescue and Bluegrass are amongst the most shade-tolerant cool season grasses, roughly in that order.  However, varieties within species seem to matter.   The…"
Aug 6, 2020
Kable Thurlow replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Again, I am not sure where you are located, but in my regular pastures in central MI, i have a fair amount of trefoil, which i like. I wonder how that would perform in a silvopasture. If any on this forum can weigh in, i would like to learn about…"
Aug 4, 2020
Ben Harris replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Thanks, Kable. I've looked at orchard grass, and it's towards the top of my list. If only it spread more prolifically... That it's so deep-rooting is appealing, for sure."
Aug 3, 2020
Ben Harris updated their profile
Aug 3, 2020
Kable Thurlow replied to Ben Harris's discussion Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?
"Hi Benjamin, here is MI, our forage specialist recommended Orchard Grass as one of the grass species. Not sure what you would plant in your area. Good Luck! "
Aug 3, 2020
Ben Harris posted a discussion

Shade-tolerant forage seed species and sources?

As I thin some woods and open up some edge lines, I'm hoping to seed some perennial shade-tolerant forages. I'm mainly focused on wildlife at this point (I don't yet own livestock), and hope to get perennial or re-seeding annuals with substantial root mass to break up heavy clay North Carolina soils. Recommendations for species / mixes / seed sources? I've done some preliminary research, but am hesitant to buy mixes without specific input from silvopasture practitioners.See More
Jul 30, 2020

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Benjamin Harris
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North Carolina
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Durham
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learner, prospective practitioner
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I'm the director of a nature-based children's summer camp on a 96-acre property, interested in environmental education and ethics.

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Forages, Grasses, Legumes

Started by Travis Hermance 4 hours ago. 0 Replies

I am clearing my woodlots for silvopasture in the Mid-Hudson River Valley in New York State. Can anyone recommend a good mixture of grasses and legumes that are more shade tolerate for my new…Continue

Pasture in forest practitioners tend to have higher uptake of climate-smart forestry practices?

Started by Robbie Coville on Friday. 0 Replies

Months ago I had read that woodland graziers tend to have higher acceptance of forest management activities: logging, thinning, mechanical interventions, prescribed burning, chemical treatments,…Continue

Busy fall in the silvopasture world

Started by Brett Chedzoy. Last reply by Joshua Greene Jan 2. 1 Reply

Hopefully some of you have found the time to attend either the "SilvoPro" training this week in PA or maybe even the International Agroforestry Conference in Ireland.  Look forward to some updates…Continue

Feed values for fodder trees

Started by jackie milne. Last reply by Shana Hanson Oct 31, 2023. 10 Replies

Hello everyone!We live in northern Canada, we have Aspen, birch, popular, willows and various wild roses and berry shrubs as well as white and black spruce mainly some pine. What I have been trying…Continue

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