Straw System

Spring is so scruffy looking, but there is a system to clean up.

First, tools are important! A good axe is the first tool, for chopping. Then pitchforks and flat ended shovels. Then good rakes. I have a small aluminum rake from Sweden that is my favorite for digging straw out of houses. When I first had the kennel I did this without an ATV, just a wheelbarrow. Gone are those days!

First, we trench all of the pens so the ice can melt and flow out. This is done as soon as it looks like there will be some good melting. Once the trenches are cut the meltdown proceeds rather quickly.

The dogs like to free run, one at a time, while I clean their pens. Dogs left in pen are busy watching the runner so I can work.

Then, we pitch fork all of the straw out of individual pens. This requires a lot of sun, wind, air drying as the wet straw is too heavy for me to handle.

We use large cans on wheels to transport the straw from pens. We haul these on a rig, first to the waste pit. We cover the winter waste with the winter straw, mulching of sorts.

The rest (and bulk) of the straw is hauled out beyond into the land and spread around to decompose.

The whole process for one person is two to three months of steady hauling. It's not a time of year when it's easy to find help... it's dirty work and not too appealing for most helpers.

For some reason I actually enjoy this work, at my own pace.