Permsteading.com

The old saying of a four year old 'Hedge' was "horse high, bull strong and hog tight". When barbed wire replaced it, the hedges were left unmaintained and they grew into full trees. The wood from these were used as fence posts and found to be virtually rot-proof.
I have a friend who has some locust on his farm and I have been meaning to look into getting some of the pods to cultivate. I want this for another reason too as it is supposed to make a fair beer.

I have never heard of making beer from locust trees, but I hope it works for you. I have a ton of very young Black Locust trees starting down in the woods. Osage orange used to be very common in fence rows around here Graham. You don't see it growing as much these days, I think the new generation of Farmer does not want to put in the work, or take the time to grow a strong hedge. Wire is quick and easy to install and gives you instant gratification. Four years is too long for them to wait. They do not take the long sighted view that once the growing hedge is well established it will last a life time with no extra expense, and you can trim it to size with a pocket knife.

Guy, I love trying old brewing recipes. I reckon the old timers had just as much fun getting drunk as we do with our scientifically, chemically enhanced brews we drink today. I made some persimmon cider this year and friends who have tried it expect me to make some more this year. The honey locust beer is very simple and quick to make. It's more in the way of an ale really. Just put a layer of crushed locust pods in the bottom of a bucket, cover with ripe persimmon or apple slices, or both. Add a slice of cornbread, a dollop of molasses and then cover with boiling water. Put the lid on and leave it for a week. There's your beer! Don't try it with your black locust though. That was used as a purgative and will have you running to the throne room for days.

Graham, that sounds like a good beer!

CJ, I have Jacobs and Dexters, chickens, and sometimes hogs. You have done such a beautiful job on that layout, it's inspiring. I need to sit down and do the same thing. What software did you use to draw the overlaid circles and stuff?

I haven't listened to Jack's podcasts, I will give it a listen sometime. I have started some living fences with the willows around the garden, and love the idea of the double fence along the perimeter. I have every intention of doing all of those yellow lines in the lower pasture with living fence, but it will be a long process as I haven't really prioritized that task, and just pick away at it when I'm puttering around. This is a good reminder though, thank you.

My Grandmother had a farm, Grandpa bought it just after the War but he died before they were able to move in. She had other people farm it for her. Years ago there was a guy who raised Beef in her barn. There was a spring that filled a watering trough in the barn yard. He had a hedge of Multi Floral Rose that kept the cows in the barn yard. That stuff spreads and the fence was maybe 8 feet wide and about 6 feet high. Very sharp jaggers on those things, the cows never got out. I always felt as a young fellow that it was a lot of land to give up for the fence, but it was low maintenance and free, and it just got more and more impenetrable as time went on. The new owners of the property have ripped it out totally,