[Market Farming] Interesting method of feeding pigs and chickens using rotational and orchard grazing.

Lawrence F. London, Jr. venaurafarm at bellsouth.net
Sun Jan 17 13:40:32 EST 2010


http://www.permies.com/bb/index.php?topic=2855.msg22796#msg22796
Allan.Sterbinsky
1  	  permaculture / permaculture / Re: Polyface Farm   	 on: Today at 
05:55:02 AM
Twice I have traveled across the US to visit Joel Salatin's Polyface 
farm.  I recommend him highly.  Although he is not a permaculture 
purist, we can all learn a lot from his ideas and practices.  For 
example, I use a modification of his movable chicken house idea.  I 
build the house narrow enough to fit between the rows of my garden.  The 
chickens weed and fertilize the garden for me and give me meat.  I am 
going to experiment with using that same idea (rotational grazing) to 
weed and fertilize my raspberries and grapes.  When I was in France, I 
noticed that the chickens spent the winter in the orchards.  (I also 
noticed huge piles of compost at the sides of the fields) There is so 
much to learn!  I'll let you know how well the chickens work in my 
raspberries this year.

http://www.permies.com/bb/index.php?topic=2255.msg22795#msg22795
Allan.Sterbinsky
2 	 permaculture / farm income / Re: $4000 per ham! yes, four thousand 
dollars 	on: Today at 05:36:29 AM
When I raised pigs (small scale), I used rotational grazing for them in 
the forest.  I fenced in a few acres (called a paddock) and let them 
graze for a week or so.  I then moved them to the next paddock.  After 
grazing all the paddocks, I would return them to the first paddock and 
start the cycle over again.  By the time they got back to the first 
paddock, the forest plants had all regrown and were young and fresh 
plants for the pigs.  The pigs loved the young forest plants and refused 
to eat the corn I put out for them.  The neighbors said it was the best 
tasting pork and it reminded them of the pork they ate at their 
grandparents house.



More information about the marketfarming mailing list