Hello again!
Weather: dreary, drab and a little sad. It just hasn't seemed to stop raining lately. (OK, I'm exaggerating, but still, it's been quite wet)
...and so, in light of the moistened ground conditions, the pigs have wreaked havoc (in as good a way as possible) on the pasture, leaving no spot unrooted.
Stuart and I moved them this evening to a fresh patch which seemed to please them to no end. It was great to see them wading through the tall grasses emitting what I can only guess to be grunts of pleasure.
Next tasks: researching self-weaning and developing a system for feeding the piglets separately from the voracious sows. And, using the draft horses to work a springtooth harrow over the clumpy rooted parts before we sow pasture seeds.
Until next time,
Eliza
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 26: Good Reads
Weather: Cloudy, cool (60s) and patchy rain.
I want to note 2 things:
1) there is a great demand for pork at Sterling (that is processed in a USDA approved slaugherhouse). now comes the conundrum of how much of the 3 pigs slaughtered in December should go to the kitchen, and how much should go to my distribution across income levels?
2) the following books are handy, and I daresay near indispensable for pig raising.
and, "Living with Pigs" by Chuck Wooster.
I want to note 2 things:
1) there is a great demand for pork at Sterling (that is processed in a USDA approved slaugherhouse). now comes the conundrum of how much of the 3 pigs slaughtered in December should go to the kitchen, and how much should go to my distribution across income levels?
2) the following books are handy, and I daresay near indispensable for pig raising.
and, "Living with Pigs" by Chuck Wooster.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Days 24 & 25: Solstice and Successes!
Weather: Tuesday was a brilliant day to usher in the official start of summer, while today has been a bit warmer, with clouds rolling in and the threat of rain.
Fortunately, the waterer hasn't been acting up any further with mysterious disappearances of tens of gallons of water. Even more fortunately, Ephraim, one of the many "handy" farm hands has connected the piping running along Virgina Russell Pasture to the Inn (a student dormitory), so no more schlepping water from the barn via tractor! What a joy it is to have a supportive crew of able workers, thinkers, and tinkerers to support my project. It truly is a collaborative Sterling project.
In other piggy-related news, I went and hung out with the pigs for a couple of hours on Tuesday while attempting to get some reading done. Instead, I just ended up doling out back scratches and belly rubs to the bolder of the pigs. Stout (my favorite pig) has gotten quite accustomed to such treatment, and saunters right up to me whenever she isn't busy eating or sleeping.
Next major update will be of pig measurements, and hopefully some more pictures.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Days 22 & 23: Long and brilliant
Weather: has been GORGEOUS. Breezy, sunny, low-70s.
Things have been good. I moved the pigs today and they were enthusiastic about their new stretch of pasture. I didn't have a camera, but the sight of them lost amidst the purple common vetch flowers and buttercup was something to behold.
There's only slight trouble with the pigs: Their waterer is mysteriously depleting at an unbelievable rate. 125 gallons in 24 hrs, when there's no leak!? I'm flummoxed. The only rational explanation is that someone on farm chores duty let it seriously overflow the water basin. Weird. And annoying, because its quite the effort to fill up sap tanks and bring them all the way out to the field.
Besides that slight trouble, all is well! The pigs seem content.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Days 19-21: Happy pigs!
Weather: has been very agreeable, in the 70s and sunny.
I fed the pigs whey (from the Farm to Table classes @ Sterling), baked goods and comfrey the other day. They dove into the whey and the baked goods and ignored the comfrey. Surprise?
I also did a species ID of the pasture before the pigs moved into it, where I found: milkweed, white clover, red clover, common vetch, Kentucky bluegrass, reed canary grass, bird’s eye speedwell, perennial ryegrass, buttercup, tall fescue, rough cinquefoil, and orchard grass. Not too bad! We'll be adding bromegrass and ryegrass among whatever else we can dig up. The mix will be seeded behind the pigs in their last day of each rotation.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Days 17 & 18: Madness and now Happiness
Yesterday, I spent all day scything pasture in order to set up fencing. The weather was perfect for manual labor, cloudy and in the high 50s. This was after selling 6 piglets. While we were completing the transaction, Ice Cream (the bigger sow) vaulted the 3 ft wooden barrier and came pummeling toward her squealing babies. Luckily, we were able to react quickly and keep her contained in the barn.
In the evening, Stuart (the farm manager), Jade (who is also doing a project with pigs this summer, and is a great pig handler) and I attempted to move the pigs to pasture.
It was a disaster, albeit an entertaining one.
The pigs weren't hungry enough to be guided by our grain and milk, instead what happened is the sows bee-lined for the compost heaps while the piglets ricocheted about. Next we beckoned them into a trailer, but the trailer couldn't make it down the farm road because of low-lying branches and rutted out conditions. So, they spent the night in the trailer.
I had class all morning, but Stuart, farm manager extraordinaire that he is, moved the pigs via a different route first thing in the morning. The weather today is steamy relative to the weather we've been having, around 80 and clear skies.
I just got back from visiting them on pasture. Man, do they look good! I re-filled their water, gave the sows a drink of cold water straight from the house, and doused some of the piglets. Before leaving I made sure to give my favorite pig (a black and brown striped one named Stout) a back rub and was on my way. Soon, I will remember my camera so you too can revel in the perfect picture that is a pig on pasture!
In the evening, Stuart (the farm manager), Jade (who is also doing a project with pigs this summer, and is a great pig handler) and I attempted to move the pigs to pasture.
It was a disaster, albeit an entertaining one.
The pigs weren't hungry enough to be guided by our grain and milk, instead what happened is the sows bee-lined for the compost heaps while the piglets ricocheted about. Next we beckoned them into a trailer, but the trailer couldn't make it down the farm road because of low-lying branches and rutted out conditions. So, they spent the night in the trailer.
I had class all morning, but Stuart, farm manager extraordinaire that he is, moved the pigs via a different route first thing in the morning. The weather today is steamy relative to the weather we've been having, around 80 and clear skies.
I just got back from visiting them on pasture. Man, do they look good! I re-filled their water, gave the sows a drink of cold water straight from the house, and doused some of the piglets. Before leaving I made sure to give my favorite pig (a black and brown striped one named Stout) a back rub and was on my way. Soon, I will remember my camera so you too can revel in the perfect picture that is a pig on pasture!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 16, waitin' on a dry day
...so I can set up fencing.
Weather today was cloudy, 50s and raining off and on.
Today I made several more calls to local breweries/bakeries/businesses (and other places that don't start with 'b'). No luck, everyone's got compost, pigs, a food pantry or a farmer they already donate to. I'm definitely making a map at the end of this depicting where all the food waste goes in this part of VT. It's quite impressive.
Friday I watched the pigs down about 12-15 gallons of milk in under 2 minutes. They're eating machines.
Also, I decided to sell 2 of the 8 piglets now rather than later. So I'll only be raising 6 piglets in addition to the two sows. They'll still do plenty of tilling, I have no doubt.
Tomorrow will ideally be the last day of pig selling. Then, as long as it stops raining long enough for me to set up fencing, they'll be on pasture!
Weather today was cloudy, 50s and raining off and on.
Today I made several more calls to local breweries/bakeries/businesses (and other places that don't start with 'b'). No luck, everyone's got compost, pigs, a food pantry or a farmer they already donate to. I'm definitely making a map at the end of this depicting where all the food waste goes in this part of VT. It's quite impressive.
Friday I watched the pigs down about 12-15 gallons of milk in under 2 minutes. They're eating machines.
Also, I decided to sell 2 of the 8 piglets now rather than later. So I'll only be raising 6 piglets in addition to the two sows. They'll still do plenty of tilling, I have no doubt.
Tomorrow will ideally be the last day of pig selling. Then, as long as it stops raining long enough for me to set up fencing, they'll be on pasture!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Days 9-15 (apologies for the delay)
Weather: Has been all over the place, spanning cold, damp and rainy, to warm, dry, and sunshine-y.
The week in brief:
The pigs are beginning to be sold! All the buyers will finish their buying by mid-week. Then, if it ever stops raining and I can get the fencing set-up, the pigs will be on pasture this week!
Other developments include a finished water nipple system set-up connected to one of the 250 gal. sap tanks the farm acquired.
I picked up milk for the piggies pretty regularly as well. This is in addition to baked goods and "salad" (grass clippings from the scythe) both of which they love.
Tah-dah! Sorry for the brevity, but it's a Sunday night and it has been a busy weekend, so...g2g.
The week in brief:
The pigs are beginning to be sold! All the buyers will finish their buying by mid-week. Then, if it ever stops raining and I can get the fencing set-up, the pigs will be on pasture this week!
Other developments include a finished water nipple system set-up connected to one of the 250 gal. sap tanks the farm acquired.
I picked up milk for the piggies pretty regularly as well. This is in addition to baked goods and "salad" (grass clippings from the scythe) both of which they love.
Tah-dah! Sorry for the brevity, but it's a Sunday night and it has been a busy weekend, so...g2g.
Monday, June 6, 2011
DAYS 7 & 8: countdown to pasture time!
Weather: Two more beautiful days. Yesterday was a bit cool and cloudy, and today is humid and warm, a balmy 77 at the time of this posting.
Yesterday, Sunday I pretty much took the day off from pig related duties, with the exception of bringing the pigs some ultra fresh milk from a local dairy farmer. (I watched the milk being pumped from the cow). The pigs loved it.
Today, Monday, I was in class all morning, but in the afternoon picked up more of the same delicious looking raw milk (I wish I had poured myself a glass before the pigs greedily gulped down 6 gallons in around 1 minutes time).
Today I also met with my adviser, and we've laid out a plan for a watering system and for moving the pigs to pasture. Otherwise, we came up with several exciting academic pursuits to incorporate into my project. I really love this kind of learning, the collaborative kind, not the top-down kind.
PICTURES SOON. I promise. I just need to get in the habit of carrying my camera with me to the barn.
p.s. pigs officially on pasture, this week! (will be moved to their official pasture that they'll be regenerating next week, once the buyers come for the 13 piglets we're selling).
Yesterday, Sunday I pretty much took the day off from pig related duties, with the exception of bringing the pigs some ultra fresh milk from a local dairy farmer. (I watched the milk being pumped from the cow). The pigs loved it.
Today, Monday, I was in class all morning, but in the afternoon picked up more of the same delicious looking raw milk (I wish I had poured myself a glass before the pigs greedily gulped down 6 gallons in around 1 minutes time).
Today I also met with my adviser, and we've laid out a plan for a watering system and for moving the pigs to pasture. Otherwise, we came up with several exciting academic pursuits to incorporate into my project. I really love this kind of learning, the collaborative kind, not the top-down kind.
PICTURES SOON. I promise. I just need to get in the habit of carrying my camera with me to the barn.
p.s. pigs officially on pasture, this week! (will be moved to their official pasture that they'll be regenerating next week, once the buyers come for the 13 piglets we're selling).
Saturday, June 4, 2011
DAYS 5 & 6: fun in the pig pen
Weather: Has been gorgeous. Sunny, cloudless skies with highs in the 70s yesterday and today.
The biggest thing that's happened in piggy-dom from my perspective has been my delight in certain pigs overcoming their fear of me. I was able to give several pigs a full belly/back/behind-the-ears rubdown, something they usually would have writhed away from.
I also put up electric fencing inside their pen so they can be trained 24/7, even when they're not roaming in the pen we set up for them.
Other than that, the only other thing I have to note is that all the pigs save for 2 (so, 21 of them) were in a pile today sleeping. Their cuteness level cannot be understated.
Oh, and I'm picking up leftover milk from a nearby dairy tomorrow! Only 5 gallons or so, but still, the piggies will love it.
The biggest thing that's happened in piggy-dom from my perspective has been my delight in certain pigs overcoming their fear of me. I was able to give several pigs a full belly/back/behind-the-ears rubdown, something they usually would have writhed away from.
I also put up electric fencing inside their pen so they can be trained 24/7, even when they're not roaming in the pen we set up for them.
Other than that, the only other thing I have to note is that all the pigs save for 2 (so, 21 of them) were in a pile today sleeping. Their cuteness level cannot be understated.
Oh, and I'm picking up leftover milk from a nearby dairy tomorrow! Only 5 gallons or so, but still, the piggies will love it.
Friday, June 3, 2011
DAY 4: Fence training and clever pigs
Weather: Cold front! High around 56 and cloudy.
I let all the pigs out into the fence training paddock, and all was fine and dandy as they pranced around, rooted, and tore up chunks of grass and shook them back and forth. Occasionally, they ventured over to the fence to test it out, and promptly would squeal in pain as their wet little noses got a serious shock.
Things were so good, and the pigs were contained so well by the fence that I decided to go to the library and do a bit of work.
When I returned, the pigs were all back in their pen with the gate fastened shut. Confused, I went to talk to some of the folks who were on the farm while I was gone, where I learned that the pigs had escaped! They had been allowed free range of a paddock and the barn where they normally are kept, and busted through a gate in the barn and the front door, which wasn't latched, in order to proudly sashay over to the compost windrows.
What clever animals!! The sheep never attempted such shenanigans when they were in the same setup. As the draft horse manager reminded me, they're going to have to be deprived of all temptation if they're to be kept contained. He likened it to a piggy 12 step program :)
Oh, and today I built a trough with the help of a farm hand. It's designed to be pig-proof (can't be tipped or "hogged" (ie. one pig can't lie in it like they're prone to do, and monopolize all the food)
I let all the pigs out into the fence training paddock, and all was fine and dandy as they pranced around, rooted, and tore up chunks of grass and shook them back and forth. Occasionally, they ventured over to the fence to test it out, and promptly would squeal in pain as their wet little noses got a serious shock.
Things were so good, and the pigs were contained so well by the fence that I decided to go to the library and do a bit of work.
When I returned, the pigs were all back in their pen with the gate fastened shut. Confused, I went to talk to some of the folks who were on the farm while I was gone, where I learned that the pigs had escaped! They had been allowed free range of a paddock and the barn where they normally are kept, and busted through a gate in the barn and the front door, which wasn't latched, in order to proudly sashay over to the compost windrows.
What clever animals!! The sheep never attempted such shenanigans when they were in the same setup. As the draft horse manager reminded me, they're going to have to be deprived of all temptation if they're to be kept contained. He likened it to a piggy 12 step program :)
Oh, and today I built a trough with the help of a farm hand. It's designed to be pig-proof (can't be tipped or "hogged" (ie. one pig can't lie in it like they're prone to do, and monopolize all the food)
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
DAY 3: "Swing Scything Away"
Weather: Another warm, sunny, mid-80s day. Cold front tomorrow though! Lookin' forward to it.
Updates:
I'll try to keep this brief as I'm in need of some time to actually sit down and do my homework. I've either been in class or scything/arranging electric fences since 6:15 this morning.
1 of the 2 cheese places left on my list doesn't have whey. They too have pigs!!
I scythed all around the training fence for the pigs today. So much fun since I'm borrowing a really nice Swiss scythe which my fellow scythe nerd friend coined the use of as like having "scythe sex". It's true, it's that great of a tool.
Tomorrow: no class, lots more pig stuff.
Eliza
Updates:
I'll try to keep this brief as I'm in need of some time to actually sit down and do my homework. I've either been in class or scything/arranging electric fences since 6:15 this morning.
1 of the 2 cheese places left on my list doesn't have whey. They too have pigs!!
I scythed all around the training fence for the pigs today. So much fun since I'm borrowing a really nice Swiss scythe which my fellow scythe nerd friend coined the use of as like having "scythe sex". It's true, it's that great of a tool.
Tomorrow: no class, lots more pig stuff.
- pig fence training! this is GREAT news. the pigs are finally going to get some fresh air and grass in their system. plus, it should be cloudy, so there's less chance of them getting burnt. (I'm still going to put up a tarp shade area for them however. Vermont weather changes unbelievably fast).
- need to figure out what to plant and when for pig forage (I'm thinking brassicas, turnips etc. We already have mangels planted)
- need to continue figuring out slaughter stuff. The question is weather to slaughter them in August or December...They'll be small in August, but that saves 3 months of labor in which I can work on other things.
- building a pig-tough trough in the afternoon
- plus other miscellaneous things like making phone calls to various other receivers of pork and providers of waste and picking up scraps.
Eliza
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