starting permaculture. Johnson grass?

Hello to all , We have 20 acre place in central kentucky . This property consists of 9 acre pasture , 6-7 acres of hardwood with north and west slope , and home with north and south slope. I wish to create self sufficient homestead with enough income to work only one full time job. Luckily my work requirements have slowed down my progress to this point. My vision began as John Seymour type , to Salatin , and then on to you crazy folks. It was when I saw Holzers and Pilarskis approach to food - medicinal herbs / food forests that my brain began to congeal and light up inside my skull. I have many questions to pose and some things to share. I have friends who are attempting this and the biggest hurdle seems to be working time for land and making leap to full time or part time income from farm. Any one out there in zone 6b and surrounding area who has been successful ( or not so ) ? One specific - any one had success confronting johnson grass - do pigs eat the rhizomes ? I have had it come through 12 inches of straw mulch , it finds away around cardboard and i can not sheet mulch everywhere. Thank You for having me

your brain congealing around food forests and permaculture should take a lot of the pressure off..get it in and pretty much Fukoka it..or find ways to work less on the garden and then you'll have more time at the job job..

Perennial permanent plants are the real key.

fruit and nut trees, fruit and nut bushes, vines, perennial plants, self seeding plants, OP seed saving plants, mushrooms, etc.

let the plants and worms do the work

If it was me I would start with cattle or sheep and set up rotational grazing of the pasture to start building up the soil. If not you could ask around if any one near you who raises them and work out a deal to let them on your pasture. Good deal either way you get better soil and money form selling the meat or renting it out.

Or start with landscaping, terraces, swales ect.. you need to do first so you won't have to re do it with plants that you've already planted.

Hire a couple of hogs. They can do a great job prepping land, and when it comes time to "lay them off", invite them for dinner.