Animals eat more than grass. Although bamboo is a grass, we don't think of it as horse and cow food. I am experimenting with using it that way. My pigs will get mulberries, evening primrose, and apples as my plan moves forward.
 These pigs arrived a week ago. We have had to scramble to keep them in green pasture with all this rain. They are adapting well. This is their first experience of being outside a barn. They finally figured out what that green stuff was for. That brown stuff is good for rooting in too!
The area on the left had pigs in 2019, but the area on the right did not. I guess pigs don’t like mustard roots and they do like ragwort, blackberry, multi flora rose among a few.   We have the first layer of composted wood chips laid down. Potatoes and onions are planted.
We are still using no-till, but we are eliminating grass walkways and replacing those with wood chips.   We were able to raise three pigs. They were put in pasture at three months and were harvested at nine months of age at over 300 pounds each. No success with chickens which were eliminated by raccoons before laying even one egg. The pigs were moved weekly or more often if it rained. They seemed to love rooting up everything. Growth behind the pigs was noticeably absent of poison ivy, brambles, and other weeds, leaving mostly grass to grow. They were given small amounts of non GMO swine feed morning and evening just thrown on the ground. We will definitely be raising more pigs next year.
We are finding that the pigs and chickens get along well together.
Everything is planted and we are waiting for ripening. Pick your own will happen on Tuesdays from 3 to 7...I will post as soon as the tomatoes and beans are ready for picking. |
