David Nightingale

Sounds possible with the topographical clay layers as they are here, some 5-6’ thick.  I would also examine the Slope of the property, water table analysis with seasonality of rainfall ebbs and flows.   However unless you dig deeply nearby you can’t always tell how exposed clay layers will work over long term.   Hydrology inside Puget Sound is generally climatically reliable, but that is more variable with less cloudy days of late.  I’ve had had 2 professional Hydrologist at my farm and scratching their heads as they left.   Glacial overlay with thin loam <10,000 years accumulated biomass is trickery to farm on so soil conservation will help with water demand on your farm the most.  The real gold is the soil the pigs will fill the depression with over time, and you’ll have to move that or house them a distance away.  Where you feed them is where most of the soil accumulation will occur, and where you’ll want to plant,  the very reason I move pigs. More questions than answers?  I will add, thin post glacial soil is why the Vikings left the Fjords, they were looking for deeper dirt.   The Vikings often ended up on islands not an improvement soil wise, yet their farming techniques are most inventive, diverse, and illuminating.  Cheers.

Pigs, once understood become the best farmers I have ever seen.  Swine improve the soil at depth expeditiously faster than any process I’ve ever seen.  They’re ingenious, tough, loving, and protective of the farm as only a dog or person is.  They often care about the other animals, and act protective of them.  I have a bear who circles my farm regularly, but will not come anywhere near the pigs shielding the garden and orchard from thieving.   Mineralization and fermentation of food and clean water is essential for happy pigs, and with a wallow and scratch post they will love you.
1)Pigs will respect 1 wire with even medium heat (ohms). However, know your pig breeds as a few can be slower learners.  2)Use real wire, there are many useful reasons, and there is enough plastic in the world.
3)Training is the trick,, and it’s not hard.  Training pen smaller but >10x10’ plus with solid short walls with a single wire inside nose high to piglets from the start.  Once piglets are weaned or larger pigs they can be escorted to any area with 2 hot wires one low 4-5”  and one snout level with their head up.  If you feel uneasy with this or you put them close to a food source they like better than what you feed them hogwire panels on the outside can be used.  They are pricey but have many uses so will never go the waist.  I move pigs around the farm always separated away from sheep and cows, for health reasons. Im a bit over cautious with human-animal health. Swine Flu was largest modern pandemic the world has ever seen, pigs.

Pig feed, by weight for your purpose daily works best.   2 gallon bucket 1/2 Rolled barely adding mineral, with 1/2 hog ration multigrain, legumes soaked in water over night.  I add various probiotics to this beer, bread yeast, kefir, thermophilic bacteria from certain yogurts.  And of course produce when possible and talk with them, your pigs.  Oink cheers.

Is there value in a wire net for keeping predators OUT of the pig enclosure?
We have coyotes and black bears here in the area. Is that an issue for your younger pigs?
I would guess that the adult pigs can hold their own, but the little ones not so much.
Did this come up in your 'cautionary tale' past?

Humans came from nature, and the further we get from it the less happy we become.  Our Joy, is derived wholly, from our relationship with nature.  Children are an expression of our joy at our relationship with nature.  Teach them well, to farm, love, look after our home.  Myself I print t-shorts every year for me and my son withhow many tons CO2 we sequestered.  My son still thinks it’s cool, and so do I.  In case you’re wondering 24 tons in 2025, Stop driving your truck, still have a kid.

PNW coffee drinkers can be picky, we have great coffee.  Yet, the Japanese have a Dark roasted (burned) barley when soaked in water makes exceptional iced coffee.  Mixed with Argentine mate for caffeine I drink it all summer long.  Chicory is an excellent additive to lengthen a coffee supply but it can get out to control in most climates.  Cheers.

Hello, I observed the same thing in several countries from UK, Brazil, Hawaii, even Japan over the years.  I have duplicated that in a few chickens10 living in a tree right next to my house.  They roam 3-4 acres usually much closer to the house.  I live surrounded by a raptor reserve, Eagles, 4-5 species of hawks, 2 species of Falcons, even Great Horned Owls. Coyotes, American Lynx, Dogs, Raccoons and a few other ground predators.  Chickens survive because of 1 large English Game rooster 8 years old, and 1 dog 3 year old Akbash had another Akbash previously.   Chickens as all creatures live longer in a natural environment despite predation.  Types of chickens do matter but, they have an interest in their own survival and the older teach newer chickens, and turkeys.  As well a few well placed nest boxes near their home tree high enough for no ground predators they even lay eggs year round through winter.  
I have a chicken tractor which I raise chicks in till they are a year old going through my orchard.  
Birds are vital to soil fertility, and I plant certain trees etc based on where they congregate.  Hope this helps, cheers.

Money is nothing but what you say it is.  Can you think of anything people will kill for that could be a duck, rock, or car?  I find these questions too disturbing to bring up with anyone but very good friends.  People’s faith in money has replaced all, as it brings happiness no matter what… ?  Can money do this?  What guaranteed happiness is for sale? I believe this stems from a question of what you really want, and  reinforcement from others.  Important to ask as merging philosophical life with reality has become the internet’s/AI’s  scorched earth of late.  Seems AI is trying to convince everyone money is what they want, not a duck… it’s always a false choice.  

In Puget Sound we winter over field kales, Brussels sprouts, Arugula, coastal potatoes, some lettuces, a strange spinach iI’ve had since I was a kid, and cabbage. First up in February Alexanders, beat tops off the mangles, radishes, turnip tops, compost carrots, brassica rabb, and bak choy never really dies.  Experimenting with field and patch planting near fields for the grazers through late winter just have to watch the bloat, as AUS grass has helped there.

David Nightingale wrote:Rosa Rugosa.  In many forms blooms over 2-3 months.  Fun to see, eat, and smell, and they don’t mind being mowed.  Somehow, there are many to be seen in my area?  Recently I’ve seen more people walking in the evenings relative to these wild roses locations, so curious.

Ike the pike, swam into a ditch, and spied a frog on a log, with spring water so high, evening fly high on the reeds did indeed host a rose for thyne nose, at the waters edge.  
“I am haunted by waters” Norman Maclean.

Rosa Rugosa.  In many forms blooms over 2-3 months.  Fun to see, eat, and smell, and they don’t mind being mowed.  Somehow, there are many to be seen in my area?  Recently I’ve seen more people walking in the evenings relative to these wild roses locations, so curious.

Does anyone think we’ve reached the daily stress breaking point?  Any ideas on stress reduction while working.  Is weeding the garden a form of meditation?