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RE: Cat Tails and Overgrown Land

mystnd — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:53:16 GMT

Didn't stay on yesterday but, no...we didn't get a drop of anything. Although I know we need moisture, I'm looking at wanting some dry up in between moisture events. I actually grew up near Sykeston and ended up in the "far NE" due to the job offer which is supporting my hobby farm plans. Mary Ann

RE: Cat Tails and Overgrown Land

stevemaharry — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 12:18:54 GMT

I know where Hwy 32 is. I grew up in Lisbon ND. The weavers use both the green leafy part and the stalk the catail is connected to. Are you getting alot of snow your way? Here in Fargo we are getting dumped on really good so far about 7 inches. You could even save the seeds (the fluff) when the catails go to seed and sell them to these landscapers that work with native plants for ponds and such. there's always a market for everything You just need to be able to take time and look around.

RE: Cat Tails and Overgrown Land

mystnd — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:19:26 GMT

I am off Hwy 32 about 1/2 way between Petersburg and Aneta. When I know what I have, I'll post. It may not be a lot of variety. What part do the weavers use? The green? I guess. Soup, huh? Mary Ann

RE: Cat Tails and Overgrown Land

stevemaharry — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:06:26 GMT

I live in Fargo ND.

If you have alot of catails you might want to check with nearby artists. There are quite a few weavers in ND specially around Fargo. They are always looking for material to weave. And you might want to think about natural food stores as well since catails are edible food source for people that eat natural foods and such. I Eat them all the time when I go camping and are great with fish and in soups.

Hopt that helps. If you have alot of different types of grasses and you don't live to far from fargo I would love to get several plants for my landscaping business. I deal alot with native ND plants.

RE: Cat Tails and Overgrown Land

mystnd — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:58:53 GMT

Thanks, Sue. I don't plan on horses yet but they will come and I don't want to get rid of all the cat tails either so they will still have some. And to be sure, I will have tons of help and only burn on least windy days (I don't think it's ever not windy in ND.) I have one of those propane weed burners to do small areas. I have been told cattle will tramp them down too but they are on the "later" part of the 5 year plan. Mary Ann

RE: Cat Tails and Overgrown Land

Sue Weaver — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:11:45 GMT

Are you planning to have horses? When we lived in Minnesota, some of our horses dearly loved cattail, bulrush and the like. However, I don't know about goats as now that we're in the Ozarks (with goats) I very, very rarely see a cattail. :o(

Regarding the controlled burn. Please, if you do it, recruit plenty of help because it's incredibly easy to lose control of a burn. Check the weather forecast and make certain the wind isn't predicted to rise after you begin and burn only small areas at a time.

You might also consider clearing small areas with a flamer. Here is a short online article about using one: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/killweedswithheat

I hope this helps!

Cat Tails and Overgrown Land

mystnd — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:23:49 GMT

I have recently moved (back) to northeastern ND. I am on 60+ acres which I knew was not the best land available but hey...it was 60+ acres, a house, a couple barns and a lot of sheds. What else do I have to do with my free time?Now that the land is taking off its white coat I am more able to see what is there although it hasn't really greened up enough for me to know what is alive or not.

There is a small non perennial creek that runs through the property and it is full of cat tails and assorted slough grasses which appear to be invading up the bank into what was probably better grazing/farming land before. It is my desire to do some combination of reseeding it to prairie/wet land/native plants and grass for goats. I understand that getting the cat tails out is mostly just hard work to get the roots out but does anyone know if goats will eat them? And does anyone know if I should do a control burn of the thick grasses and such (It has been untouched for at least 5 years.) I am way out in the country and I don't think I need permits to do that at all. Thanks for any input you can give me. Mary Ann