Yeomans Keyline - Pitchstone Waters (Page 2)

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Yeomans Keyline

A collection of 59 posts

Desert Mule Deer "Management": Does Culling Low-Point Desert Mule Deer Bucks Help or Harm the Herd and Its Genetics?

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Mule Deer "Management": Does Culling Low-Point Desert Mule Deer Bucks Help or Harm the Herd and Its Genetics?

Culling Mule Deer – or whitetail – is scientifically unjustifiable, and does not improve herd genetics. Note: This post originally appeared on this blog in November 2014 Approach #1: Remove Cull Bucks to Improve Herd Genetics …Jerad Wayne Zachary, Deer Guide Dear Mr. Gill, I hope you are doing well. I just

drought_california

"Invasion Biology"

To Fight Climate Change, Heal the Ground

Soil health and soil fertility should be the goal of every farmer and rancher. Imagine the changes in habitat and wildlife practices if every action and every inaction – such as using fertilizers and pesticides, or removing animals – were tested according to how that action would affect soil health and fertility.

Earthworm_dives

The Dirty Little Secrets Behind Earthworms

Earthworms are disappearing from our farm and range lands. Two articles on this topic appear below. #1: New York Times attributes this to plowing, but #2: Science shows glyphosate (Roundup) use associated with GMO’s and brush control is worse. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on June

circle_ranch_mule_deer_fawns_feature

Animal Development

5 Rules for Bigger, Better and More Mulies

A great article by Steve Nelle that outlines how to have more and healthier mule deer, quail and pronghorn. 1. Grazing management is the single most important way to affect mule deer food supply. When grass conditions permit, practice light-to-moderate seasonal grazing, in some rotational form (examples include “holistic planned

circle_ranch_keyline_plow

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Open Gate Day, August 26, 2016

On August 26, 2016, Holistic Management International (HMI) held an Open Gate educational day at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. We demonstrated desert grassland restoration using ‘Plug and Spread’ water harvesting from eroded gullies, and Keyline contour plowing. Circle Ranch Open Gate, August 26, 2016 from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

Circle Ranch - Genuine Land Stewardship

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Grassland Restoration: Creosote Bush

CREOSOTE BUSH (Larrea tridentata) is generally misunderstood as an invader plant. In fact creosote is a symptom – but not the cause – of dying desert grasslands. Creosote will predominate as grasslands decline but eventually it also dies. 1. Creosote bush flowers and fruits Creosote bush is one of the most common

circle_ranch_west_texas_cattle_feature

"Invasion Biology"

HMI Open Gate Day - August 26 2016

HMI Open Gate: Circle Ranch Day Helping Water Flow Where it Needs to Go – August 26, 2016. Circle Ranch, Van Horn, TX Our Circle Ranch Day is part of HMI’s Open Gate Learning Series. Open Gates are on-the-ground learning days for producers and consumers who care about land health

circle_ranch_jardineros_restoring_grassland

"Invasion Biology"

Animal Impact Made Easy #1

Join a a “pasture walk” at Circle Ranch in far-West Texas to observe how we use cattle to restore grasslands in our high-desert mountains. Animal Impact Made Easy #1 from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

circle_ranch_book_review_feature-940x450

Book Review - The Plug and Spread Treatment - Achieving Erosion Control, Soil Health and Biological Diversity

Book Review: The Plug and Spread Treatment: Achieving Erosion Control, Soil Health and Biological Diversity …By Bill Zeedyk Habitat managers, who are struggling to control the gullies responsible for draining and drying rangelands throughout the desert southwest, have a useful new book written by Bill Zeedyk of Albuquerque, NM. Bill

circle_ranch_keyline

The History of Keyline

PA Yeomans was a true hero of environmentalism.

circle-ranch-texas-grasslands-not-badlands

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands or Creating Desert Badlands?

For 60 years, this National Park Service land has been “protected” from cattle, unintentionally accelerating its desertification. Here is a typical Big Wildlife program being pursued at Big Bend National Park to “protect” degrading habitat. (ABOVE PDF can be viewed here -> ) I don’t doubt the sincerity or

circle_ranch_jardineros_restoring_grassland

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: Circle Ranch Jardineros

When we use our Yeomans Keyline plow to subsoil and stimulate desert ranges and plants, we take pains not to plow through cholla cactus, armadillo bush, allthorn, sumac, mesquite, and other trees and shrubs. This often leaves untreated spots. These we address with animal impact from cattle, which we move

circle_ranch_thistle_keyline-yeoman

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: Thistle and the Yeomans Keyline Plow

Thistle, also known as the “Tumbling Tumbleweed” is an iconic Western plant. Even though it is despised by many as an “invasive” “exotic”, it is probably the single best rescue plant for our declining desert grasslands. Better still, its seeds are provided for free by Mother Nature. Here is an

circle-ranch-out-here-video-feature

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: A Video Comparison of Cattle, Water Harvesting and Keyline as a Safer, Cheaper and Faster Alternative to Spike

Here is a well-intentioned but ill-advised project for “restoration” of desert grasslands. The Rest of The Story… BLM is spending $30 million on 500,000 acres: $60 an acre. The objective is to kill all creosote and mesquite; thereafter, the staffers propose to use fire to “maintain the landscape.” Bad

Cows and Keyline: Restoring Desert Grasslands

"Invasion Biology"

Cows and Keyline: Restoring Desert Grasslands

This 17-minute video, “Cows and Keyline” discusses the use of cattle and the Yeomans Keyline plow as the quickest, cheapest, and safest way to restore desert grasslands. It also documents a project to repair a gully formed by an old road. Aerial photography provides graphic comparisons of the result of

Restoring Desert Grasslands: A New Book by Allan Savory

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: A New Book by Allan Savory

It is hard to believe that the common sense contained in this little book has generated such anger and controversy. Holistic planned grazing uses domestic animals as replacements for the great wild herds that once roamed our grasslands. Beginning with a simple explanation of the physiological need of grasslands for

circle-ranch-keyline-plow-feature

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands: Yeomans Keyline Subsoiling Results at the Circle Ranch, August 2014

Here is a cheap, fast, environmentally-friendly alternative to range poisoning with herbicides. When combined with holistic planned grazing of cattle, and a diverse population of wild animals, this practice leads to rapid conversion of subsoil to topsoil, increases soil fertility, improves and restores water function, and, is sustainable. Beginning in

Restoring Desert Grasslands with Livestock

"Invasion Biology"

Restoring Desert Grasslands with Livestock

Last week we posted a brief explanation of Keyline theory. This week, we share a concise explanation of holistic planned grazing, which uses animal impact to restore grasslands. By Carol Dreibelbis In this series, we interview inspiring people that our readers have nominated. These individuals are working on the front

Keyline Design Restoring Grasslands in High Deserts of Far-West Texas

Keyline Design Restoring Grasslands in High Deserts of Far-West Texas

This concise explanation of Keyline theory and practice was intended for California ranchers and farmers. We have copied it, and illustrated it with photos of Keyline practices that have been used at the Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. NOTE: Originally Published at AGWaterStewards.com Our thanks to its authors, and

Restoring Water Function: What is Keyline Contouring?

Erosion Control

Restoring Water Function: What is Keyline Contouring?

We are currently completing 1,000-acres of subsoiling in one of our northern pastures at the Circle Ranch. This is a very effective tool for us, when used in conjunction with planned grazing. Many people ask: * What is Yeomans Keyline? * What is Keyline Contouring? Here is how its inventor, the

Creosote Bush: An Unassuming But Ancient Form of Life All Around Us

"Invasion Biology"

Creosote Bush: An Unassuming But Ancient Form of Life All Around Us

Though sometimes regarded as a nuisance by residents of the arid Southwest, the creosote bush is a complex and fascinating plant – and creosote colonies constitute some of the oldest organisms known to inhabit the planet. The shrub-like plant’s scientific name is Larrea tridentata, and it is known by many

Planned Grazing and Keyline-Contour Subsoiling Restores Damaged Land at Circle Ranch, March 2009 – September 2013

Animal Development

Planned Grazing and Keyline-Contour Subsoiling Restores Damaged Land at Circle Ranch, March 2009 – September 2013

In the southwest corner of Circle Ranch in the deep, steppe-shrub desert, we have a stock tank which we call “Lobo” because it was the last place that the Mexican wolf was seen in Hudspeth County before being hunted out. When we bought the ranch, it was grazed around a

"Drought Busters" at Circle Ranch

"Drought Busters" at Circle Ranch

These are pictures of areas that were holistic-planned grazed and sub-soiled on contour with a Yeomans Plow earlier this year. All of our subsoiled areas were first grazed then plowed on contour, using Keyline techniques and a Yeomans Plow. Most treated areas remain full of creosote and tarbush. We don’

circle-ranch-texas-cattle-feature

Animal Development

Cows and Plows: Transformation Solutions

Commercial Farm Projects, Courses/Workshops, Land, Livestock, Rehabilitation, Soil Conservation, Water Harvesting — by Owen Hablutzel May 3, 2013 Though too often vilified, both ‘cows’ and ‘plows’ have proven to be among our most effective and available tools for restoring healthy ecological and eco-agricultural systems in our landscapes. Bucking the trend

circle_ranch_keyline

habitat restoration

Circle Ranch Keyline Contrast Photos: 9/4/10

Regarding our Yeomans Keylining progress, here are the latest photos with my comments: October 1, 2009. Last summer was dry. I chose this spot because we had bare ground and minimal grass respose to several years of rain. Grass was disappearing within the tarbush community seen beyond the tractor. September