Indigenous Restorations LLC
Beyond farming: Balance and diversity
Indigenous Restorations is Creating and encouraging native diversity throughout the seasons.
The majority of Dorothy's Grange is being managed and restored to the condition it was pre-settlement. |
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Pastured pigs, a little different approach.
Pigs DO GRAZE and can help with the Restorations efforts. We researched grazing breeds, our findings led us to large blacks and GOSes. We believe we have found the best grazing pigs out there! They are very efficient and made for grazing. We're putting them to the test, and I think they're going to be happy with all the diversity the field offers.
In 2014 we will be using a technique; patch, burn and graze. This method is more widely used in the western state regions. We will be using our grazing pigs, instead of cattle. After the spring prairie burn we'll put the pigs out to pasture there. We have been observing what they enjoy eating in their present day pastures, and are pleased that they hone in on cool season grasses and sometimes avoid forbes. Our hopes are they will graze the cool season grasses that compete with the native warm season grasses and forbes, and this will provide an opportunity for the natives to reestablish grazing themselves. Stay tuned, we're excited to document our experiment and share our findings.
07/2014 Update from the field.... We’ve had the pigs out to pasture for months now, in a new area. The space is large and we are not doing the rotational grazing, instead we are allowing access to a acres at a time. Our goal is multifaceted. We want the pigs to have plenty of grass and greens to forage on with a diversified diet that encourages exercise. Also we want to see them eat the cool season grasses to make room for warm season grasses that are native here. Steve planted some grasses in the spring after a prairie burn. The pigs are helping the seed to soil contact and are getting rid of the competing greens. We are thinking that their space is perhaps too big, as they are not keeping up with all the growing greens. Nonetheless the pigs are getting plenty of exercise and plenty of greens in their diet. It will be out of the ordinary to taste pork that has been finished on such a great amount of grazing and exercise, as most of the pork in this area is finished in the fall when there is less greens for grazing.
08/2014
The storms have dropped acorns. They pigs aren't at the fence line waiting for their rations, instead they are found lounging under the oaks enjoying shady naps and acorns snacks. There is probably more exposed ground under the trees than we like, but this will provide a good place for native seeds to be broadcasted. Other than the areas under the oaks the land has been lightly grazed. It has been confirmed we gave them too much space to roam, as the grasses are continuing on more that we would like. Although there are some areas that the pigs have focused on and the area looks like a nicely mowed space. In the hard fenced area that is a permanent pasture we planted rape seed, a brassica that looks like kale. The pigs have grazed this over and over again. During the heat of the summer we filled in some areas with buckwheat, not sure if they would enjoy this succulent green. They ate it all up, as assumed it does not grow back to provide additional greens, but nonetheless, it is a great quick cover that the pigs enjoyed. Also the buckwheat acted as a nurse crop, letting the alfalfa and white dutch clover germinate under it. The rape and the buckwheat both provide a quick nurse crops for longer to grow legumes.
9/2015
We tried the pigs on another cool grass area that we would like to transition back to native prairie. Again looking for them to eat the cool season grasses down providing an area where the warm season native grasses can stand a chance to grow and germinate. Our plans did not work as we intended, the pigs did not get up the hill until heat settled in, so the cool season grasses were not as lush as we wanted or the pigs wanted. The orchard grass was and is still very green and lush, giving them some fresh greens to graze on. We finally got some rain and the grass is recovering, but have since brought some of the pigs down to be closer to us, because of the heat. They will be moved up the hill after next week, we must make room for the 2 sows to farrow close to the house. We have added new breeding stock to the drift, so there are now 2 boars on site requiring more seperate spaces.
2018 the area where the pigs grazed in 2018 are looking good. The inner-seeding has taken hold and we've noticed the warm season grasses are really taking hold, as well as black eyed susans, asters, stiff golden rod, as well as some yellow coneflower and loads of milkweed.
In 2014 we will be using a technique; patch, burn and graze. This method is more widely used in the western state regions. We will be using our grazing pigs, instead of cattle. After the spring prairie burn we'll put the pigs out to pasture there. We have been observing what they enjoy eating in their present day pastures, and are pleased that they hone in on cool season grasses and sometimes avoid forbes. Our hopes are they will graze the cool season grasses that compete with the native warm season grasses and forbes, and this will provide an opportunity for the natives to reestablish grazing themselves. Stay tuned, we're excited to document our experiment and share our findings.
07/2014 Update from the field.... We’ve had the pigs out to pasture for months now, in a new area. The space is large and we are not doing the rotational grazing, instead we are allowing access to a acres at a time. Our goal is multifaceted. We want the pigs to have plenty of grass and greens to forage on with a diversified diet that encourages exercise. Also we want to see them eat the cool season grasses to make room for warm season grasses that are native here. Steve planted some grasses in the spring after a prairie burn. The pigs are helping the seed to soil contact and are getting rid of the competing greens. We are thinking that their space is perhaps too big, as they are not keeping up with all the growing greens. Nonetheless the pigs are getting plenty of exercise and plenty of greens in their diet. It will be out of the ordinary to taste pork that has been finished on such a great amount of grazing and exercise, as most of the pork in this area is finished in the fall when there is less greens for grazing.
08/2014
The storms have dropped acorns. They pigs aren't at the fence line waiting for their rations, instead they are found lounging under the oaks enjoying shady naps and acorns snacks. There is probably more exposed ground under the trees than we like, but this will provide a good place for native seeds to be broadcasted. Other than the areas under the oaks the land has been lightly grazed. It has been confirmed we gave them too much space to roam, as the grasses are continuing on more that we would like. Although there are some areas that the pigs have focused on and the area looks like a nicely mowed space. In the hard fenced area that is a permanent pasture we planted rape seed, a brassica that looks like kale. The pigs have grazed this over and over again. During the heat of the summer we filled in some areas with buckwheat, not sure if they would enjoy this succulent green. They ate it all up, as assumed it does not grow back to provide additional greens, but nonetheless, it is a great quick cover that the pigs enjoyed. Also the buckwheat acted as a nurse crop, letting the alfalfa and white dutch clover germinate under it. The rape and the buckwheat both provide a quick nurse crops for longer to grow legumes.
9/2015
We tried the pigs on another cool grass area that we would like to transition back to native prairie. Again looking for them to eat the cool season grasses down providing an area where the warm season native grasses can stand a chance to grow and germinate. Our plans did not work as we intended, the pigs did not get up the hill until heat settled in, so the cool season grasses were not as lush as we wanted or the pigs wanted. The orchard grass was and is still very green and lush, giving them some fresh greens to graze on. We finally got some rain and the grass is recovering, but have since brought some of the pigs down to be closer to us, because of the heat. They will be moved up the hill after next week, we must make room for the 2 sows to farrow close to the house. We have added new breeding stock to the drift, so there are now 2 boars on site requiring more seperate spaces.
2018 the area where the pigs grazed in 2018 are looking good. The inner-seeding has taken hold and we've noticed the warm season grasses are really taking hold, as well as black eyed susans, asters, stiff golden rod, as well as some yellow coneflower and loads of milkweed.
After a Spring Prairie Burn.
Dorothy's Grange LLC W8707 Sawmill Rd Blanchardville WI 53516 in Southwest WI [email protected] 608-444-1102
