This is a Pre-conference day long workshop of the Organic Growers School’s 26th Spring Conference. Pre-conference registration is discounted with full conference registration, but weekend attendance is not required to attend/register.
Two of the drastic results, over the last 50 years, of taking the animals off the farm are confinement animal feeding operations (CAFO’s) and massive use of chemical fertilizer (for plants), both of which produce environmental disasters and unsatisfactory conditions for all involved. Livestock production was historically integrated on the same farms that grew vegetable crops. These elegant systems provided a closed loop for animal, plant, and human nutrients that cannot be replicated in any other way.
The solution to environmental and economic disasters? Bring the animals back to the farm and homestead! Join author, farmer, butcher, and activist Meredith Leigh and learn to re-integrate plant and animal agriculture, on the homestead or the commercial farm. The day-long workshop consists of these components:
Designing your Integrated System: Discover pastured animal systems including rotational grazing, silvopasture and others; animals and breeds to choose for health, vitality, and smooth integration into your current system; rising consumer demand for grass-fed animal products; and other production techniques and tips.
Building Soil: As farmers we are primarily soil builders. Learn to assess the many tools we have for remineralizing soil, from no-till to compost teas to animal impact. All while keeping in mind how to keep the balance of saving our backs and our bank accounts.
Tools & Skills: Walk away with tools for managing land with animals using systems thinking and practical information about cutting edge production techniques. Most importantly, growers will be provided with support and tools to juggle the real world implications, and power, of raising both plants and animals in a world that needs them now more than ever.
Integration of animals not only supports the production of local, healthy, humane, and grass fed meats and milk but also promotes healthy soil and better nutrient cycling at every stage of the growing life cycle, including human nutrition. Get started with animals now!