Stacy Zivik

Hello my name is Stacy. I am from north central WI. I am owner operator of Sustainable Stewards Farmstead & Goat Grazing. A Environmental restoration service where I specialize in combating invasive pland species such as Buckthorn. I have 100 head of goats and dozes of heritage hogs. I breed both goats and hogs. While I sell feeders pigs to people my first purpose is to use them along side with goat go fight invasives. Here in the Upper Mid west WI spasticly we have a problem. That is our Native Oak Savanahs are under attach by plans brought here from Europe and Asia. Our biggest threat is Buckthorn. Buckthorn is a hedge row plant. Every part of that plant from the roots, leaves, bark seeds is toxic to native trees and plants. Within 3 years of Buckthorn being established it begins to kill everything around it. Within 10 years a 150 year old oak or maple is dying of dead. I specialize in using Goats on land management projects where people opt pit of large equipment and poison. The process take a min of 4 targeted Mob Grazings to control.
1. Set up solar mobile fencing. (Spring)
2. Let the goats lose go strip all invasives 7 foot and down.
3. Chainsaw the Buckthorn at should hight allowing goats to eat off the rest of the leaves from top and seeds.
4 RUN goat again in fall.
5 RUN goats  again next spring
6 RUN goats again fall.
The key is to corrupt the plant. Take the energy out of the invasive.
Why do we not cut down to the root? Because 20 tree will grow out of that one as it's a hedge row.
Only after tree is corrupted and dead to you cut down all the way.
All bark all wood must be removed. Do not allow to rot in the woods, it's toxic all of it. Burn it!
Now what I have recently experimented with is first running goat through steps 12 and 3. Then sending in the pigs to dig up eat and expose the root system of Buckthorn. This with a cold winter has been very Successful.
I can't express how dangerous these types of invasives are. I have seen  once gorgeous oak orchards destroyed completely within 10 to 15 years. Property values tank and most important our environment and animals life suffers.
Please  what I have given you and use go to better manage your land goals.

I raise Gloucestershire old spot Pigs and Red Wattle Pigs. I breed and raise out on pasture.
KK Pigs are just too small. The amount of meet size in cuts isn't work the labor or cost to feed.
I love my GOS heritage pigs for their amazing puppy like tenement. They are so laid back. The Red Wattle is just as friendly but are a more vocal and active hog. The cross makes for a nice min 8 month growth rate on 50% grass 50% grower ration. Because the GOS have 2 even 3 more ribs then the average pig there is about 8 pounds more bacon yielded.
I have raised every heritage hogs from kk to America Guiney Hog, Berkshire to Large Black.
I will continue with my GOS and RW purebred and crosses.

I can say, no I have not built a seed drying box specifically with fan and ext. However I have been harvesting, drying and saving heirloom seeds for over 20 years. I use a simple corner cabinet with shelving. All my seeds get placed on paper towels with cooky dying racks under. I place a white sheet over the glass door to keep sunlight out and that is it. They are allowed to dry over the next 2 to 3 months without interruption. I have never has mold issue or any issue to destroy seed viability. After drying they are placed in paper envelopes ziplock bags to make sure they stay dry and don't take in any moisture and kept in the North side of my 1st floor (nor basement, too damp) in a closet. Basements and refrigerators are too damp.
I have had seeds over 10 years old that germinate just fine. I see no need to bother with such things that rely in things like fans. Set yourself up for success with or without electricity.

Hi everyone Stacy from Wisconsin. I just wanted to share my expertise with you all about Targeted Environmental Goat Grazing & Land Restoration.
I owe & operate a mobile targeted goat operation here in Central WI call Sustainable Stewards Farmstead & Goat Grazing.
I have come across lots of misinformation on the most harmful of the invasive plants BUCKTHORN.
I'm going to explain how goats help and what not to do.
1. NEVER cut BUCKTHORN down to the root. 10 trees will pop up the next year in its place.
BUCKTHORN is a hedg plant and comes back after cut with a vengeance.  
2. The Poison mistake. Poisons leach into the water system yes but as well don't always kill Buckthorn. The root system of BUCKTHORN is vast you will never be able to kill it wirh herbicides.
3. Heavy equipment to pull the tree and roots. Again you will NEVER pull all the roots. The root can stay dormant up to 4 year as well as the seeds.

So how to we rid this most dangerous invasive that start killing our North America Oak savannahs within 3 years?
Answe is GOATS!
It takes a min of 4 targeted grazings to get Buckthorn to a manageable level.
First visit, let Goats eat down all small plants and defaliate the bigger tree from 7 foot down. Ahold Goats are still in that area cut the Buckthorn trees at chest level. Defaliate first is most important so it don't have the energy to send down to the roots to save itself. Let the goat then eat all the seeds and leaves off the cut tops.
Then simply repeat sending the goats in at least twice a year in June and sep for 2 year best 3.

Last but not least sow some native grasses, plant some native Oaks and Maples.


Now here is WHY it's so dangerous.
I was asked if there were more then one type of bucktorn. The answer is yes.
Goats are an amazing animal. Not only do they love to eat Buckthorn and other invasive they can help to save your old growth Oak/Hard woodlands.
PM me for more info & a free insight estimate.

And the root reason Buckthorn is important to illiterate is this. Within 3 years of it start it creates a Buckthorn desert where it begins to killing all the Oaks, Maples & other native trees.
How? 👇👇👇👇👇

1.      Buckthorn produces a toxic chemical called emodin which inhibits the growth of other plants and prevents “good” plants from becoming established. It creates what we have called a “buckthorn desert”. It generally takes about three years for the toxic chemical to dissipate.

2.      An extensive seed bank from the large number of berries produced. (Although only the female buckthorn plants produce berries, the ratio of female to male plants can be as high as 6:1.) The seed bank only lasts a few years.

3.      An extensive rootstock (sometimes called a caudex) from which new shoots can arise. It took me some years to realize that the rootstock of the buckthorn can remain dormant from many years.

IF YOU DO NOTHING YOUR WOODLANDS WILL BE DESTROYED IN 10 TO 15 YEARS FROM THE START OF INVASIVE.

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Thanks guys.
To the second question, what is my feed ration.
My feeders get about 3 pounds daily of GMO free 17% Hog grower the rest is spent gains and pasture.
The heritage breeds happily eat spent grains more then your production pigs.
But the key is to make them hungry. If they have a choice they will always chose Corn base grower ver barely oat gains. So make them want it. Each spent brewer mesh will have a slightly diff protein %  but in general that is about 19% to 25%. Some claim its higher but ??
So they will fain weight because it High in Carbs. So play with it. You want a good growing pig but you want meat and nice fat not far and some meat. In the winter months if in a cold climate let them eat as many spent gains as they want. They will not have a problem gaining too much fat. They will stay warm with all that Metabolic heat from digestion.

Hi everyone. I'm a small regenerative farmer who raises heritage pig in pasture. I recently acquired a local small brewery to partner with. Each week I get 2,000 pounds of spent brewers gains. I have been fermenting then to get some additional health benefits & some fantastic flavor.
This has cut down on my imput cost Immensely & my pigs thrive. I Fulfill my goals of sustainability by utilizing this local waste product.
However here a question for anyone who has finished hogs on actual BEER.
What benefits have you seen?
Taste?
Digestibility?
If a farmer profit?
And what age or at how many weeks do you begin to finish on beer.
Last but not least has anyone found a Beer waste source. I'm in Wisconsin the capital of beer making but have yet to find outdated beer for sale.