Part of our homeschool involves the small family farm we have at our home. We raise chickens, pigs, and rabbits along with having a large vegetable garden. As often as possible, we try to involve the children in all the farm work so they can learn how to care for the animals as well as all the other lessons nature provides.
Today was "move the pigs" day. We believe for animals to be healthy, they need to be raised on fresh pasture. This means that every few weeks, we move the pigs to a new spot and allow the old spot to revert back to lawn. The chickens help to clean up the old spot by scattering droppings and removing any larvae along with providing some fertilizer.
This days move was a big one, the pigs were going from a spot in the corner of the yard to a spot in the middle that we needed tilled up. Pigs are amazing rototillers - or, rootertillers ;-) They root up the grass with their super strong noses using the force provided by their thick neck muscles. It doesn't take very long for a spot of mature lawn to be completely tilled by a couple of pigs. To move the pigs, we created a little chute for them to walk down.
Sam was on the lookout for any pigs that might escape the chute and head his way.
The pigs proved very stubborn today and in the end, we had to put a bucket over each ones head and then push from behind at the same time. It took us pretty much the whole day. What did the kids learn? Perseverance ingenuity, and the importance of training new piglets to go where you ask!
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