The Pig Pen Garden Clearing Method

Our current design:

Philip comments:

“We had a front yard you could not see the road for the trees and weeds. The spiny vines were horrible. We fenced it in and put goats there for a season. Then pigs for a season. Took most all the trees for firewood. Now it is part chicken yard and part garden. All hand worked except for a walk behind tiller. We ate pork and goat meat. We still work around the big tree stumps. Now we eat eggs and vegetables. You have a good plan. Eventually those pigs will over power that fencing and t-posts. You might want to get a solar fence charger and run a hot wire.”

I was really hoping not to have to mess with a hot wire – I hope they stay put.

They really are good bush clearers.

On YouTube, Scott comments:

“Goats would be a better choice. Milk, cheese, yogurt and meat. They are the most eaten meat in the world. Goats also make better brush hogs than pigs.”

I replied:

“I’ve had goats – I’m done with them for now! They are so destructive. The worst thing about the goats was how they would find ways to get out, then would absolutely destroy my new trees and gardens. As for the dairy side of things, we keep cows for that. The pigs are just for meat. I don’t love them, though. They’re just useful for now.”

These pigs have been easy… so far. If they get out and mess with the gardens, I will shoot and eat them.

Gardening is primary, animals secondary. We already got rid of cats, dogs, squirrels, goats, ducks, and wandering chickens that decided to tear up garden beds. We didn’t kill all of those things, of course, except for the more delicious creatures.

Pigs better watch their tasty little backs.

As for the video itself, just building a pen was too boring, hence the interviews with a scientist and a pig. I’m rather happy with how it turned out, though I’ve lost 17 subscribers since it went live.

17 boring subscribers.

The t-post and cattle panel method seems to be a good way to have a semi-mobile pig pen that allows us to clear grass and plant useful crops through the food forest. The panels can be curved around trees and set up easily if the t-posts are placed appropriately. The seed mix we’re throwing contains a bunch of herbs, along with grains, various garden vegetables and whatever odds and ends of seeds we weren’t sure what to do with, so we chucked them in the canister. I enjoy the unpredictability of throwing a wide mix of seeds out and letting them run.

And speaking of running – I need to call it for today.  Today we’re working in the garden all day. It’s the 1st of March, and it’s past time to get things done.

Share this post!