tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post2285442815446002847..comments2024-03-28T12:01:24.909-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Go PigsLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-40080992046317835172014-10-02T16:30:00.245-04:002014-10-02T16:30:00.245-04:00Pigs can do wonders....Pigs can do wonders....small farm girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01485314092236803411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-6579939537961287252014-09-29T20:16:54.843-04:002014-09-29T20:16:54.843-04:00Ground ivy is really a problem for us too. Maybe ...Ground ivy is really a problem for us too. Maybe I should get a couple pigs! LOL Since my hubby won't even let me have a couple chickens I don't think he would go for pigs!! Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-6358299592440597112014-09-29T06:08:21.038-04:002014-09-29T06:08:21.038-04:00Chris, that's exactly it, well said. It is all...Chris, that's exactly it, well said. It is all about balance and the problem seems to be that human goals differ from what nature does. Learning how to cooperate with all things together has been an amazing thing so far. <br /><br />DFW, I agree!<br /><br />Harry, maybe you should try a different approach, LOL. I'm sure you learned from the goat fiasco. Somewhere I think I read that pigs will eat snakes(?) Not real sure about that, though.<br /><br />Mark, I just can't imagine life without animals and feel fortunate to be able to be home full time for their care. They are amazing partners.<br /><br />Mama Pea, it's exhilarating, I admit it. And it seems the effect animals have is different that what we humans try to do. Like the chickens in the compost. I'm amazed at how much quicker it makes than my old way! <br /><br />Ed, very true about chemicals, especially with grazing animals. I honestly wouldn't mind if the stuff took over the front yard. Maybe I should transplant some and let it go, LOLLeighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-18096565024354651592014-09-28T21:32:43.687-04:002014-09-28T21:32:43.687-04:00Back when I lived is suburbia and had a creeping c...Back when I lived is suburbia and had a creeping charlie problem, I did find an over the counter chemical that would kill it but you had to spray it on while it was blooming in the spring and wasn't going to rain for the next 24 hours. Surprisingly hard to do some springs. But I was able to go from a lot like what you had to none in about three years time. But it is chemicals which aren't for everyone. Now that I live out on the edge, I have adopted a live and let live policy with the creeping charlie. I've also gone from a quarter acre to over two which makes a lot of difference too!Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214319366049620074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21359622703024852072014-09-28T20:51:31.816-04:002014-09-28T20:51:31.816-04:00Yet another plus for raising pigs! Don't you ...Yet another plus for raising pigs! Don't you just love it when "natural" solutions to a problem (at least temporarily!) are found?Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-75334137428379067082014-09-28T20:40:39.618-04:002014-09-28T20:40:39.618-04:00Oo-Rah pigs! What a great solution. We don't...Oo-Rah pigs! What a great solution. We don't have stuff like that on the ground here, but do get wild grape in the trees. <br /><br />I am sooo looking forward to the time when my work situation allows for goats, pigs, and maybe some meat sheep. You and Dan are definitely and inspiration!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08343134852881572900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-53796208582650397702014-09-28T18:02:40.108-04:002014-09-28T18:02:40.108-04:00What noble pigs! I asked my wife is we could get a...What noble pigs! I asked my wife is we could get a small pig like yours, and she was not enthusiastic. She reminded me of how well the goat project worked out. (not well at all.)<br /><br />I hate ivy style plants because snakes get in them.Harry Flashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071021900005041592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-56335707575652556822014-09-28T17:53:56.937-04:002014-09-28T17:53:56.937-04:00Well done piggies!Well done piggies!DFWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345712839702427280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-43605873785646731732014-09-28T17:42:16.526-04:002014-09-28T17:42:16.526-04:00You've really put into context, why we need an...You've really put into context, why we need animals - they really keep nature in balance. While they may never kill it off completely, what they will do is keep it in check.<br /><br />Every year, if you let them go over the problem areas, you should see less and less of it. The way animals disturb the soil, is really quite a gift, because they leave fertilizer behind in their wake too.<br /><br />Nature doesn't try to outright kill nature off, like we have traditionally been known to do through modern agriculture - but it does work at disturbing the balance in favour of species who "work" the land.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-83985956556313988822014-09-28T13:21:07.161-04:002014-09-28T13:21:07.161-04:00Lynda, it's amazing, isn't it?
Renee, spo...Lynda, it's amazing, isn't it?<br /><br />Renee, spoken like a true Charlotte!<br /><br />Bettina, yeah, there are some areas I would like, but can't, let them into for that very reason. <br /><br />Cassandra, it does have a strong smell, doesn't it? It's a member of the mint family.<br /><br />Barb, we want the netting to be able to subdivide areas for rotational grazing of all critters. We figured it would be cheaper in the long run rather than permanent fencing. We talked about cattle panels for that, but would still have to use t-posts or else the goats will knock them down. Chickens too, need to be kept out but can easily hop through cattle panels at least. <br /><br />Debbie, it's great, isn't it?<br /><br />Izzy, absolutely!<br /><br />Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-86319250873812793342014-09-28T13:11:25.564-04:002014-09-28T13:11:25.564-04:00Gotta Love those Pigs!!! Gotta Love those Pigs!!! Izzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07750628123685151713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21842641877696806342014-09-28T12:45:47.869-04:002014-09-28T12:45:47.869-04:00Glad to see the pigs are working for their keep. :...Glad to see the pigs are working for their keep. :)DebbieBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00508692845369401119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-85954799761130342062014-09-28T12:04:34.303-04:002014-09-28T12:04:34.303-04:00Why invest so much in electric netting when a &quo...Why invest so much in electric netting when a "Hog Square" is easier to cope with? I use hog panels and quick links to move the sheep along. with only two pigs, you could get away with half panels, so it wouldn't be so heavy (I cut them with bolt cutters). Did I say CHEAP? $40 for the two panels and the quick links (if you go stainless they cost more) but you need eight, total. I just shake a grain box to lure them into the square, put the grain in a bowl and then close the square on them. I use a snap bolt to hang a bucket of water and a piece of old tarp with snap bolts for shade. You can't beat it for total destruction. They don't have anything else to do, so they get EVERY LAST BIT! Farmer Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07596672416236302171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-46370025614012529202014-09-28T11:35:55.890-04:002014-09-28T11:35:55.890-04:00Excellent! We have a lot of creeping charlie in th...Excellent! We have a lot of creeping charlie in the bed next to the back of the house. I've mostly gotten it under control, though it has taken lots of hand weeding. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing the medicinal info. I'd wondered about that, as it always smells so strongly when crushed. A good smell, but strong. Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02074532906052222281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-29200648869797605202014-09-28T09:16:36.209-04:002014-09-28T09:16:36.209-04:00pity that we have too many plants (aka shrubs and ...pity that we have too many plants (aka shrubs and trees) in the ground - or I'd get some piggies and let them take out the ground elder:) I'd have no shortage of that....Woolly Bitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11961632742998726155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-42668632013093767782014-09-28T09:14:56.316-04:002014-09-28T09:14:56.316-04:00Some Pig!Some Pig!Renee Nefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167893445846427824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-16304067002660388302014-09-28T08:25:38.841-04:002014-09-28T08:25:38.841-04:00Got to love those pigs.
Got to love those pigs. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12605358521258969537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-32843510465205814482014-09-28T08:12:59.016-04:002014-09-28T08:12:59.016-04:00Quinn, the pigs and chickens really make a great t...Quinn, the pigs and chickens really make a great team, don't they? I'm planning to plant a mix. I have a deer plot forage (from TS, cheaper than pasture forage and a good mix for goats too) containing annual rye, wheat, oats, winter peas, red clover, and rape. I'm going to add a orchard grass for my perennial along with ladino clover seed. Also herb seeds I've grown myself: yarrow, thyme, and chicory. The concern for goats with red clover (from what I read) is that it is high in copper and be a problem. Considering we have a copper shortage and it will be heavily diluted with other seed, I'm not going to worry about that and hope for less signs of copper deficiency. <br /><br />Gill, "synergy" I love that word! We're looking at getting electric poultry netting to help focus rooting where we need it. Should have more on that soon.<br /><br />Tami, actually, the pigs are the quietest critters on our homestead! Not that they don't "talk" (grunt) all the time. They do occasionally squeal (especially if pestered by one of the bucks), and will bark at me if I'm too slow with dinner, but I doubt our neighbors even know we have them. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-43479039745123689612014-09-28T07:35:14.433-04:002014-09-28T07:35:14.433-04:00I need to get me some pigs! (Do you think the nei...I need to get me some pigs! (Do you think the neighbors would mind?) @;)Tamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06597093453934852571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21650285153853062782014-09-28T06:23:15.056-04:002014-09-28T06:23:15.056-04:00What pigs were born to do and a perfect example of...What pigs were born to do and a perfect example of synergy on the smallholding.<br />GillFrugal in Derbyshire https://www.blogger.com/profile/10221169113482164565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51332706867818929842014-09-28T02:57:37.282-04:002014-09-28T02:57:37.282-04:00Pigs are my favorite tillers. And hens do the sift...Pigs are my favorite tillers. And hens do the sifting and deseeding really well. So satisfying when your crew is working where you want the work done! <br />What are you planting, Leigh?Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292701509476856967noreply@blogger.com