Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Harvey Ussery <harvey@themodernhomestead.us>]

I'm preparing for another printing of my book, sending a few minor needed corrections to my publisher. I've read in a number of sources that a good "stacking" strategy is: graze sheep in orchard to take advantage of the grass ground cover between the fruit trees.

Here's a statement as currently printed in my book (in a section on "Stacking Species"):

"Use sheep to mow your orchard (unlike goats, they won't chew off the bark), then follow with chickens to clean up dropped fruit and any parasites in the sheep manure."

Barry Koffler of feathersite.com advised me to correct that--he says that in his experience sheep will also chew bark off orchard trees.

Anybody out there with sheep: Have you found them to be compatible with orchard trees?

Thanks if you can help me out.

~Harvey

--
Harvey in northern Virginia
www.themodernhomestead.us

My book The Small-Scale Poultry Flock was recently published by Chelsea Green. Check it out at
http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_smallscale_poultry_flock:paperback