The relationship between the cows, the chickens, the gardens and us is interesting. We all put things into it and we certainly all benefit.
We feed the cows and provide shelter and water and scratching when needed. The cows give us milk and eventually beef. They also give us physical activity and entertainment in ways too few people get to enjoy. Its a bit like playing with your food.
The chickens give us eggs and meat, they are bug and small rodent control and then they are our mini-tractors in the gardens. We give them shelter and basic food....not as much as if they were in a coop, they do an amazing amount of foraging and have the cow manure spread everywhere they see it.
From patties in the fields to the piles of barn cleanings in the gardens, they are the hardest working of all our animals.
The relationships between all creatures on a farm are intertwined, what too many people do not get to see is the way each farm is a bit different.
Our young hens catching bugs on a load of wood. Pest control thats fun to watch and non-toxic to us.
The cows grazing along a fence and keeping the pastures healthy.
I think we all need to pay attention to the way our animals, gardens and families work.
Do you have your own version of a symbiotic farm?
I'm heading out to get some of my chores done. I have to get some more manure piles for the 'crew' to plow.
Take care and God Keep you safe.
