Double Heart Ranch

The Texas Hill Country in infested with a weed like tree we call “cedars.” They are actually Junipers. Regardless of the name, we hate them. They crowd out native trees and grass and gradually take over - consuming a disproportionate amount of groundwater.

You can see from this picture the density of cedar (almost all the green trees around the hay field). Mixed with the cedars are live oaks and cedar elms - both of which flourish when the cedar is removed.

We have developed a system for cedar removal that starts with clearing and piling the trees with our crawler loader. The trees are piled in areas with little or no grass. That’s our son, Sam Gaddis, driving. Thanks to David Bamberger for teaching us this method.

When conditions are right, we burn the piles. Proper conditions require no wind, recent moisture and high humidity. It the conditions are right, it is difficult to get the piles to start.

But once you do, then cedar burns like it has gasoline in it. The intensity of the fires and the rapid combustion of the piles are awesome to watch.

It is not uncommon for the flames to reach 40 to 50 feet.

Once the piles are burned we use a unique piece of equipment we purchased several years ago - a Vermeer Rock Picker. The picker is pulled behind our John Deere cab tractor and picks up all the rocks and sticks left in the cleared area. It will pick up almost anything larger than one inch. Once loaded, the picker has a lift that dumps into a truck or pile.

The result is a remarkably clean field with very little hand work. This is a field we planned in Tifton two years ago. Last year was very dry and the grass survived but did not cover. This year, with lots of rain, it looks like a golf course!

It has been so wet that we have not been able to get our hay cut. Well Hardy has made well over 100 round bales over the past week and we’re trying to get them out of the fields asap. More rain coming soon so we’ll be cutting again.

We have really high quality round bails for sale if you need some.