Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[richard green <greenrw71@hotmail.com>]

Quail, Cavy and rabbits, and the PIG...two years ago I did a small experiment with one eight week old piglet ( half hamshire and half wild bore that had been caught) and seven 4x16 hog pannels.The pigs natural rooting ability was put to use tilling(bad word) a small section of garden plot. I rotated three pannels at a time and rotated him about the garden. He cleaned everything that could be eaten and revealed some larger roots that were removed. I got smart and started putting rotted leaf piles and some compost into his pin and let him incorporate them into the soil. I would convert the old pen site into three raised beds and plant afterwords. I believe with foresite and better planning I could have planted prior to the pigs arrival and let him pick his own food. I think the only down side was I got attached to the pig and as he grew bigger the rotations got quicker. He is now producing offspring at a local farm.  The book Micro Livestock is worth the read for urban applications and greater.....Question? Anyone know a source of stock for the larger south american meat variety of Cavy , in the USA? 

Rick

 

> Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 07:24:15 -0500
> From: harvey@themodernhomestead.us
> To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] current financial
>
> On 12/24/2010 03:53 PM, bob@4agoodauction.com wrote:
> > Now would be a good time for an urban survival book with tips like: your
> > pretty lawn could feed your family------somebody add some more
> >
> > Bob c
>
> How 'bout:
>
> Duh! Chickens really do fit in, even in the inner city. And maybe guinea
> pigs. . . (No, not as cutesy pets.)
>
> ~Harvey
>
> --
> Harvey in northern Va
> www.themodernhomestead.us
>
> My book, THE MODERN HOMESTEAD POULTRY FLOCK, will be published next year by Chelsea Green Publishing.
>
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