touch the earth farm blog

We’ve gotten nearly all the animals out on pasture over the past couple of weeks, beginning with the laying hens in their mobile coop. They have adjusted quite well to their new home, with only a slight decrease in egg production, which will hopefully even out over the next week or so. I’m not entirely convinced, however, that some hens are not laying in the tall grass, as they are still able to get through the electric netting when they choose.

Now that we’ve switched over to temporary paddocks with the electric fencing, we’ll be able to manage the pasture rotation more intensively, meaning a smaller range but more frequent moves onto fresh pasture. This system is not only better for the land because it ensures a more even manure application and prevents over-grazing, but it’s also better for the animals because it helps break parasite and disease cycles. Our investment in the electric netting represents an important step in terms of sustainability and organic management, and we’re quite pleased with it.

Here, you can see Maya in her new paddock, which she’ll be grazing, rooting, and fertilizing for next year’s CSA garden. Because the pigs will be our plows and not just grazers, they’ll be on a significantly slower rotation than the other animals, giving them time to graze the grass down and root it up. They’ll receive the same rotational benefits of breaking any kind of parasite/ disease cycle, but they’ll also fully enjoy their natural rooting behavior. Maya will soon be joined by two companions, one of whom will become her mate.

On a different permanent pasture, we’ve begun the meat bird rotation, moving them even more rapidly than the layers because of their number. Our broilers, heritage meat birds, ducks, geese and turkeys are growing rapidly and are now all out on fresh green grass 24 hours a day. Their electric paddock is 1600sf and 48″ high, contained within a permanent pasture of goat fencing with electric wire running the entire perimeter, keeping them safe from all but flying predators. Again, the intensive rotation protects birds and pasture in very important ways.

We’ve been so busy here at Touch the Earth Farm this spring between building, renovating, gardening, and tending babies. It’s been exciting and exhausting! The barn received a much needed new coat of paint this month, and the barnyard will get a much needed rest over the next three seasons. Come winter, we’ll welcome our animals back into the barn where they’ll be comfortable and well cared for, and where we can enjoy the ease of proximity, electricity, and running water while the larger pastures enjoy their season of rest and recovery.