The Market Garden
The Benefits of No-Till Gardening
No-till gardening is a sustainable and innovative approach that revitalizes soil health by eliminating the disruption caused by traditional tilling. By preserving the natural structure of the soil, this method encourages a thriving ecosystem of microbes, earthworms, and beneficial fauna that contribute to nutrient cycling and improved fertility. The practice reduces soil erosion and enhances water retention, which diminishes the need for frequent irrigation and chemical fertilizers. Additionally, no-till gardening lowers labor and fuel costs while promoting carbon sequestration, making it an environmentally friendly option that contributes to the fight against climate change. Embracing no-till methods not only produces healthier, more resilient plants but also lays the foundation for a more sustainable and eco-conscious agricultural future.
What Came First?...
At 7 Anubis Farms, the egg came first. We ordered our chicks online from a reputable hatchery. The issue we were running into, was the hatcheries being out of stock or the weather just being too darn cold for us to receive healthy happy chicks. We need to start our meat birds so that they can be ready for the summer Farmer's Markets. Now we have incubators running from early March through early June making sure that not only do we have plenty of chicken, but also an abundance of large, fresh eggs.
All of our chickens are cage-free and our meat birds are raised on pasture with plenty of sunshine, water, field grasses, legumes, and a supplement of hearty grains. And, let us not forget the smorgasbord of the bugs that they love. They not only get the benefits of pasture living, but we get the benefit of the chickens (and the pigs) helping to regenerate our pasture with their manure.
The Guard Dogs...erm...Geese.
Even though our RIRs are a tough and hardy breed, we still hired some bodyguards for them. Meet the Toulouse Geese. This is our flock, and these seven cuties will be out in the pasture protecting the flock from would-be predators, mostly of the flying type.
Production Toulouse geese are distant relatives to the dewlap Toulouse but are much more common. They are probably the most popular backyard farm breed of goose. They are wonderfully docile, hardy, excellent layers, brooders, and parents. They are good foragers and do well free-ranging, but they also are content living in a yard. They reach a weight of 18-20lbs and are pretty spicy when they feel threatened, so that makes them the perfect pasture companion.
The OTHER Guard Dogs
If you thought the geese were loud, wait until you hear the Guinea Fowl. They don’t care if it’s a deadly predator or a friendly neighbor, they’ll alert you in the same way each time. Screaming and clucking. Great for knowing when someone or something is on the property. Guinea hens produce a two-syllable, “buck-wheat” sound, while guinea cocks make a one-syllable, trumpet-like call. The vocalization can be a helpful clue.
The guineas love foraging for bugs and will occasionally take out a pesky mouse, lizard, or snake. Guinea hens are great at hatching eggs, but not as good at being a momma. We gather the eggs when they have a large clutch and incubate them ourselves to prevent any deaths.
