Hogging down a garden

[turtlehead]

We're wanting to expand our garden area with a "three sisters" plot, plus we're wanting to put in some feed plots for the rabbits and chickens we raise, and we wouldn't mind if the wild deer and turkey took advantage of the feed plots either. We could of course plow these plots with a tractor (don't have the required implements yet) or we could let hogs till them up for us. I prefer the latter but have some reservations about the smell, as some of the plots will be pretty close to the house - AND up wind!

For those of you who hog down your garden, or use hogs to till up areas for you:
1. How far is the area from the house?
2. How large is the area?
3. How many pigs/piglets do you put in the area?
4. How long do you leave them there?
5. How bad does your family say the smell is?
6. How bad would an uninitiated guest say the smell is?

Thanks!

[Pat]

Our garden is about 100 yards from the house.

We use the "pig tractor" and wide rows in the garden (tractor is 4 by 16 and rows are the same width). We buy 2 or 3 weaned piglets in the fall.

We just run them up and down the rows (5 rows of 4 by 72, and 2 rows of 4 by 56)

At first they may be in the same place for 10 days to 2 weeks... as they get bigger they get moved more often to when they are finished with the garden it's move them daily.

This year we are finishing them off only about 100 feet from the house and my wife says too close! Last year was only 25 feet further and she didn't complain (both to the south east of the house) But she only complains when the wind is from that direction.

I don't think a guest would complain anymore than my wife!

Pat

[cowgirlone]

My garden is about 100 yards from the house.
I like to clean out the barns, dump tractor or wheelbarrel scoops full of the used straw/manure in the garden in several piles.
I sprinkle the top of each pile with a handfull of grain, then turn the chickens in.
They fling the manure/straw all over the place for me.
(I do this in the fall, lets the straw age a bit in the garden)

Then....

I turn a couple of sows in and let them have at it. I leave them in for at least two weeks. Last year I turned 6, 50lb pigs in.....they did a great job too.
You will be able to tell when the pigs have done enough. They usually knock down any tall plants pretty quickly then start rooting the dirt up.
Make sure you have good fences.

My garden is on the west side of our farm, we do not get a bad smell from them.

[RedneckPete]

This picture answers all your questions except one. We put the pigs in the garden as soon as the ground thaws, (mid March) and remove them when we want to plant, after the danger of frost is over. (mid May)

Pete

[highlands]

1. How far is the area from the house?

Some of our gardens are right up against the house. In the winter we have some pigs in those areas. Other gardens are 20' away and again have pigs in the winter. Others are further and get pigs. None of them produce offensive smell. The secret is giving the pigs lots of hay both for eating and bedding. This adds fiber and carbon.

Think of it this way: If you can smell it then you're losing valuable fertilizer to the air. Part of why we have pigs is for the good fertilizer they produce to help our poor mountain soil gain fertility. I don't want that valuable nitrogen blowing away in the wind.

2. How large is the area?

It varies with the size and number of pigs.

3. How many pigs/piglets do you put in the area?

A 15' x 35' garden works for a dozen weaners for a month. A couple thousand square foot garden holds 20 growers without any problem for several months. Use lots of hay.

4. How long do you leave them there?

Just for the winter. Keep adding more hay all winter. The pack gets deep. In the spring they'll be larger and till it into the warming soil. As soon as they do, move them out so they don't pack down the soil.

Most of the herd is still out on gardens where they can walk out in to the pasture if they want all winter. During the summer, spring and fall they all are out on pasture because we're growing things in the gardens.

After the pigs are done with an area for the winter put chickens in there. They'll weed it. A few weeks in the spring gives you virtually weed free gardens. This is very important, unless you like weeding.

5. How bad does your family say the smell is?

No bad smell. Use hay. Don't confine them too much. In the warm months they distribute their fertilizer out in the fields. That is idea.

6. How bad would an uninitiated guest say the smell is?

Not bad at all. We have guests and nobody has ever said it smelled or given any indication. I have a sensitive nose and would not like it to smell so I make sure it doesn't. As stated, add hay!

Another thing to note, if your feeding is imbalanced in proteins then you may get more smell. This is because the pigs will defecate and urinate out excess protein they can't use. Your nose knows.

Cheers,

Walter Jeffries
Sugar Mountain Farm
Orange, Vermont
Pastured Pigs & Sheep
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[turtlehead]

Thank you all so much for taking time to answer my questions. It is unbelievably helpful being able to read through all of your experiences and benefit from what you've learned.

These forums are an invaluable resource, and each of you help make it so. Thanks again!