In the journeying toward self sufficiency , many would - be farmers find themselves with a vegetable garden and somelivestock animals . Often , they ’re kept far aside or when the animals get around into the garden it is havoc on crops .
But applied smartly , a various group of farm animals can assist your garden boom .
Fowl Friends
Understanding what plants are most appealing to your animals can help you plan how to integrate garden and brute . With geese and ducks on the farm , we keep lettuce , cabbage and Brussel sprout fence off or protected with conducting wire dome when the fowl are about .
As long as they do n’t eat the Green , ducks are invaluable in keep pestilence away . They revel slugs , worms , cat and other creepy-crawly crawlers and are more active hunters and adventurous eater than our chickens . I credit our ducks with the deficiency of Tomato Hornworms , clams worm and more in our garden .
ginzo are hard - work and entertaining bird for a farm .
In summation to eating greenness , the downside of duck , bozo and chickens in the garden can be the accidental death of plants by walking on them or scratch up too much around them . That ’s where guinea fowl are particularly adept .
They are lightweight and very active birds , and almost never harm plants that they ’re kept around . They also have less pastime in fruit and veg than other birds , and rivet their vitality entirely on bugs .
Guinea bird will eat all sorts of insects and small varmint . But they may be well screw for take tick . Kirsten Lie - Nielsen
Kirsten Lie-Nielsen
Pig Pals
It does n’t terminate with the birds!The most helpful livestock innovate to my garden has been our pigs .
We winter our two Tamworth copper in the garden , allowing them to extirpate everything left at the end of the summer , call on over the dirt and bequeath behind amazing fertiliser . With the pig in the garden , we do n’t have to worry about till or adding fertiliser in the spring .
Our daughter are full - sized pigs , but farm with limited place may consider smaller varieties that are equally good in garden , such as Potbelly Pigs or American Guinea Hogs .
Kirsten Lie-Nielsen
Here ’s what you need to start raising pigs .
The Ruminants
Sheep and goat can have their station as well .
Goats are often too destructive to plants to be allow in the garden during the summertime , but they help the pigs take down what ’s left before wintertime . Capricorn are in particular fond of corn . We course all our remaining stalks to them as the weather begin getting cooler .
Sheep are more selective than goats , which can be utilitarian for garden with grass paths or mowing around yield trees . Many sheep strain are all concerned in things like grass and trefoil , and so can keep lawns , paths and fields mow . Kirsten Lie - Nielsen
Kirsten Lie-Nielsen
Free Fertilizer!
All of these animals also bring out nitrogen - rich fertilizer . With pigs , we ’re about to turn that at once back into territory .
For the other animals who have stall and coop to sleep in at night , their bedding is composted and turned a few time to fully molder over a few month or a class . Once decay , this livestock manure is an priceless source of fertilizer and plenteous grease for your garden .
In fact , some farmers are able to turn a little farm gain sell excess plant food to local gardeners .
Whatever beast you decide to add up to your homestead or small farm , turn over how you may utilize them to your garden ’s benefits . It can mean less body of work for you , and happy plants and animals .
