Gee, I never dreamed that grazing could be such a controversial subject! :o) But since it is so near and dear to my heart, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to comment, and give a little different perspective.
On my little ten acre plot, I do not consider that lamb or breeding sheep will be my "crop". My crop is grass, and my beloved sheep are my little four-legged partners in the grass farm. My wealth, if only in spirit and in health, is in my soil. As my soil becomes richer, so does my spirit, my health, and the health of my animals. It is a beautiful circle. I am the decision maker, and the sheep are the harvesters and processors. As I guide their lives according to the seasons, I must decide when the grass is ready to harvest, and when it needs to rest. As they are moved carefully from paddock to paddock, they add value to an essentially worthless crop, grass (except as hay, which is not an option for me), and add value to it by turning it into life sustaining protein, and soil sustaining fertilizer. They shear the grass at the right time, in the right amount, the grass sheds roots to add humus and balance top growth, desirable grass species are encouraged, decayed roots leave air and water channels and feed the soil microbes. Their manure feeds the soil over an evenly spaced area in appropriate amounts, they almost always have fresh, clean grass underfoot. The healthier the grass becomes, the fewer off-farm inputs are needed to sustain them, because the grazing season is lengthened both into the late summer and winter as well, as the sward becomes stronger. The grass becomes more nutritious, until a true grass-based program can be realized, with no, or little, need for grain. Carrying capacity (sheep per acre) increases so you really can have more sheep than a typical set-stocked program allows. I think it's wonderful that we all have the right and privilege to have these wonderful sheep in our lives, regardless of how or why we keep them. Beautiful pets in a small yard setting - what could be more deeply moving than to look out and see a beautiful wild looking thing resting peacefully under a shade tree, fat and happily cudding with a bellyful of good hay and the glow of health created by loving care. How at peace am I, on a still, foggy sunrise,with a fuzzy full moon hanging in the west just above the pine trees, leaning on a fencerail, watching my beautiful partners quietly go about their work. The soil stirring restlessly in its sleep under my feet, we are both dreaming of lambs and rebirth. Best regards, Barb Lee =============================================== This message is from the Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [email protected] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
