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Future Fields
Nov. 15th, 2015 11:56 pmNow that the hay is in, the forage specialists of Ponyville have started a month of intensive hay field expansion in preparation for next year. We expect more demand for our hay from Yakyakistan buyers next year and we want to be ready. Also, we plan on moving up the third cut by at least two weeks earlier next year. The extra pasture space will offset the shorter growing time and the increased rest time for the pasture will mean healthier grass in the long haul. It will also mean longer hours for Applejack and the other ponies tending the fields. We'll see next year how that works out.
From my balcony I could see ponies out at the far end of the eastern pasture starting to remove trees and rocks. Fluttershy and Amethyst Star are also hard at work, establishing wildlife sanctuary zones in and around the expansions, relocating animals, having snags and hollow logs collected and moved, and building new hibernation dens. The farmers have selected gentle, smooth slopes with good drainage for the future fields, leaving the rocky, wet and steep areas to the wildlife specialists. The new patchwork of woods, brush and pasture will benefit many creatures that thrive in ecotones or use multiple cover types.
Winter happens in just over four weeks from now. By then, the new fields will have been cleared, graded, tilled, seeded and spread. From there they shall sleep beneath a blanket of snow until Spring, where sun and Earth Pony power will urge them to awake and grow.
From my balcony I could see ponies out at the far end of the eastern pasture starting to remove trees and rocks. Fluttershy and Amethyst Star are also hard at work, establishing wildlife sanctuary zones in and around the expansions, relocating animals, having snags and hollow logs collected and moved, and building new hibernation dens. The farmers have selected gentle, smooth slopes with good drainage for the future fields, leaving the rocky, wet and steep areas to the wildlife specialists. The new patchwork of woods, brush and pasture will benefit many creatures that thrive in ecotones or use multiple cover types.
Winter happens in just over four weeks from now. By then, the new fields will have been cleared, graded, tilled, seeded and spread. From there they shall sleep beneath a blanket of snow until Spring, where sun and Earth Pony power will urge them to awake and grow.
