The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: colliewoman on March 26, 2013, 07:39:39 pm

Title: Bamboo
Post by: colliewoman on March 26, 2013, 07:39:39 pm
Did my gardening job today and had to thin out the bamboo patch. I trimmed the stems up for canes for the garden and was left with an enormous pile of bamboo leaves.
My goats now think I am God ;D ;D ;D
The sheep are enjoying it too, I am sorely tempted to plant some to crop for winter fodder :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Bamboo
Post by: deepinthewoods on March 26, 2013, 07:40:32 pm
are you breeding pandas?
Title: Re: Bamboo
Post by: colliewoman on March 26, 2013, 07:42:20 pm
are you breeding pandas?




Nah, they are rubbish at it ;D
Title: Re: Bamboo
Post by: Lesley Silvester on March 26, 2013, 11:34:27 pm
How to make friends and influence (goaty) people.   :roflanim:
Title: Re: Bamboo
Post by: countrywoman on March 27, 2013, 09:49:13 am
My goats also love pampas grass and the many (many) massive ornamental grasses planted by the previous owner.  I had noticed for the last few years that they were self-seeding into multiple clumps all round the garden and, pre-goats, decided to get my husband to zap them with weedkiller.  Now I'm glad I didn't because they grow and re-grow from cropping armfuls all summer and the goats wolf them down.
 
In the past I used to burn the stems when I chopped them back and they gave off a burnt-sugar smell so I imagine that is why the goats like them so much: mini-sugar cane.
 
I'm also planting tiny self-sown goat willows all round the edge of my garden because the girls love every part of it.  When I walk my dogs round local lanes there are lots of 6" high seedlings in the verges which I pull out and all I need to do is make a tiny hole with a garden cane and stuff them in when I get home.  Last week I found almost a whole large goat willow that someone had dumped illegally - so I very kindly tidied it up...
Title: Re: Bamboo
Post by: Penninehillbilly on March 27, 2013, 12:34:36 pm
My goats also love pampas grass and the many (many) massive ornamental grasses planted by the previous owner.  I had noticed for the last few years that they were self-seeding into multiple clumps all round the garden and, pre-goats, decided to get my husband to zap them with weedkiller.  Now I'm glad I didn't because they grow and re-grow from cropping armfuls all summer and the goats wolf them down.
 
In the past I used to burn the stems when I chopped them back and they gave off a burnt-sugar smell so I imagine that is why the goats like them so much: mini-sugar cane.
 
I'm also planting tiny self-sown goat willows all round the edge of my garden because the girls love every part of it.  When I walk my dogs round local lanes there are lots of 6" high seedlings in the verges which I pull out and all I need to do is make a tiny hole with a garden cane and stuff them in when I get home.  Last week I found almost a whole large goat willow that someone had dumped illegally - so I very kindly tidied it up...
Its when you keep goats you realise the value of these things, one mans tin is another mans gold  ;D
Title: Re: Bamboo
Post by: Lesley Silvester on March 27, 2013, 10:10:47 pm
Mine love ornamental grass as well.  Unfortunately, it's right next to the pear tree which they like even more.