Silvopasture

Silvopasture (Latin, Silva forest) is the practice of integrating trees, forage, and the grazing of domesticated animals in a mutually beneficial way. It utilizes the principles of managed grazing, and it is one of several distinct forms of agroforestry, so says Wikipedia.

What does that really mean though? Well, it means that our small patch of the planet has more scrubland than it does grazing and scrubland is wasteful and derelict of any real wildlife habitat. By cutting down the small and dead trees that we have, the better ones will grow to their full, habitat rich, potential and provide shade and a fall bounty. We have started with one of our woodland pig pens already. The outcome is shade from the hot summer sun but also enough daylight to reach the floor to grow a lovely thick carpet of lush vegetation.

Let’s face it, who can stand to be in the sun, in Kansas, ALL DAY LONG! Not I and not my pigs either. Did you know that just like us pigs get sunburnt too?