Category: Pigs

What We Do To Regenerate Grassland Pastures

Pig Worked Hill 2024

When we moved our animals to the Barn Property on 31 Aug 2022 the place was burnt out hay fields being over taken by Lupines, Goldenrod, and other toxic and invasive species. Now, a little over a year and a half later, we’re seeing multi species grasses, grains, browse, and green fields coming ripe with nutrient rich hay! That’s what we do! 

Actually, We don’t! Our animals do, with a little help from their friends! We put Goats in Pasture One, then move them to Pasture 2 and introduce the Pigs to Pasture one where the Goats were. Then in a week or two we move them again. Now, Goats are in Pasture 3 with Pigs in Pasture 2, and the first pasture sits empty. Then we repeat that process every week to two weeks. When the first pasture has rested it begins to change. The weeds are diminished and the grasses begin to grow. Over time, this process is repeated and the field is restored, regeneration by the animals awakens the seed bed, helps with eliminating the weeds, and system works! 

We’ve also introduced other animals and poultry along the way. With Chicken Tractors and Rabbit hutches being moved across the pasture, on a different spot each day. Helping create more carbon, compost and manure for fertilizer. Spurring further growth and healthy soil.

The Barn Property Sept 2022
The Barn Property Sept 2022

 

The Barn Property May 2024
The Barn Property May 2024

That’s what our Animals do! Do You need them to do it for You!? 

Contact Brian at Briden Farm 902-907-0770

Currently 4th Place! Vote for Brian Hurlburt for FavChef 2024

5 Comments
Currently 4th Place on FavChef 2024

So humbled by all the love! Please Vote Daily! I’m counting on You! 

Please Vote and Share the Link

Sure appreciating all Your Support! I’ve also set up a Chef Brian Hurlburt page on FaceBook to help keep everyone up dated. Thanks Again!

Visit Chef Brian Hurlburt on Facebook

 

Using Animals to turn Fields of Invasive Plants into Gardens

Pig Worked Hill 2024

It’s been. a long process, when we went to The Barn Property on the 31 August 2022 it was at the request of the Family there, and the main goal was to keep the fields from becoming overgrown. 

The property consisted mostly old burnt out hay fields, Lupine, Hawthorns, Goldenrod, and Japanese Knotweed. Here are some photos from Fall 2022 …

Barn Property Fall 2022

Time Passes…. 18 months later… Spring 2024 

As You can see, the fields, even the area under the now thinned out Hawthorns has green grass growing. Actually, we had green grass by Mid-March. A true testament to the incredible work of our animals.

The following video shows a particular area that has not yet been worked as much as the other areas. An area where Hawthorn Saplings and Lupine has begun to take over. An area where our goats have grazed only briefly twice, and that our pigs turned up this Spring. Showing how persistent the Lupine are, and how much they’ve grown in the few weeks to a month since our pigs worked that ground. Here’s the Video…

The results are incredible, especially over time. As this year unfolds I’ll try to bring you updates as to the progress. I’m really not sure how the Corn, Sunflowers, and Peas will grow here, but we’ll find out and hopefully document our success here! We welcome Your Comments.