SHEEP IN THE SUGARBUSH (SILVOPASTURE SERIES EP 9)
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In operation since 1984, Sweet Sourland Farms-a small-scale maple syrup, lumber, and heritage sheep farm in central NJ- began integrating livestock and woodlot managment over a decade ago.
Initially, meat goats were employed in land clearing and invasive species managment after a pine timber harvest. Today, Barbados Blackbelly sheep rotate through the woodlot, keeping invasives in check and clearing around sap lines in the sugar bush.
ABOUT THE SERIES
With support from the USDA National Agroforestry Center (NAC), a collaboration of Regenerative Design Group, Wellspring Forest Farm, and Inhabit Films announce the release of a free video series documenting Silvopasture systems in the Northeastern USA.
Silvopasture (grazing livestock with trees) systems are complex, dynamic and site specific. The practice is both rooted in indigenous land stewardship and its benefits are well documented by scientific literature. Adoption by farmers and land stewards of silvopasture is relatively low, but growing in interest.
This project began with an inventory of self-identified silvopasture practitioners in the Northeast US region which resulted in 145 responses across 9 states (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, NY, RI, NJ, PA) of people who reported stewarding 26,782 acres, with 5,267 of those acres in Silvopasture. From these respondents a range of examples were selected for videos and case studies to offer a snapshot of the practice along with ideas and inspiration for others to follow.
Videos will be released biweekly through the Farming with Trees collective, a decentralized network encouraging collaborative projects in Agroforestry that are grounded in the wisdom and knowledge of people, communities and ecosystems. Find out more at www.FarmingwithTrees.org.
Пікірлер: 8
Charlize is an impressive person. Between the farming, the art, the history, I could listen to her all day. ❤ ps: sweet sourland syrup is perfection. NJ produces excellent maple syrup.
I raise American blackbelly sheep, and they are an incredible breed. Like you have described, they are nearly bulletproof. I heard of one experienced rancher who lost 5 out of 12 sheep (he didn't specify the breed) on a single day. I have raised hundreds of blackbelly sheep, and I think I can count on one hand the number I have lost due to illness of any kind (including parasites). Plus, their meat is the best I've ever tasted. I may be a bit biased, since they're my own animals, but I don't think so; it's just incredible meat. Lastly, they're so beautiful. Seeing them out on the pasture never gets old (I'm in my 8th year raising them).
My grandpas cattle would eat stilt grass. So far my dairy sheep have turned their noses up at it. It may be bitter though since it grows in a damp area of my property
Okay so I need to plant some wild rose then for a screen! My bamboo isn’t growing as fast as I’d like. Maybe I can find some privet growing somewhere to transplant.
Question - I am doing silvopasture with sheep in NW Alabama and the problem I run into is the volume of leaves in the fall that don't allow for good grass growth. You seem to have no problem at all and have many more trees than I do. How are you keeping the leaves from smothering out your grass? thanks.
@quailjailss
4 ай бұрын
My first thought was how is there so much greenery under that canopy. That is a LOT of trees for that amount of green under them. They do look like younger trees though.
@charlizekatzenbach5011
4 ай бұрын
The leaves seem to compost enough for the invasive to come back up in the spring. They are not the "normal" grasses that are in our more open pastures.which may be why the damp forest is best for them.
@StewartFarmApiary
4 ай бұрын
@@charlizekatzenbach5011thank you