Goats – Redemption Permaculture

Listen To The Podcast On this podcast episode, I answer a question from a listener by sharing my thoughts on how to clear underbrush from a piece of land using goats to make it useful for other livestock or anything else he might want to do with it. The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 102 – August 13, 2018 – Using Goats And Other Methods For Clearing Land. Homestead Updates: The tomato harvest is just now really coming in full swing.Rabbits starting to have their litters, been holding off this summer.This is the time of the year when most homesteading activity takes place in the kitchen. Question For Today’s Podcast Episode: Edward asks: What is your take on clearing wooded land to use for livestock? Our 38 acres is about 3 acres of nice lawn around the house and 35 acres of forest. About 2/3 of the 35 acres is thicker older growth, which I don’t plan to do much of anything with other than keeping clear of deadfall…but the other 1/3 (maybe 10 acres total) is a forest that had been previously logged, and so its thick with low growth/saplings, etc. I’d love to start slowly opening some of that up to use for more livestock in the future. I’ve heard that goats are a great way to clear underbrush? If so, are there any particular breeds that are better than others? Do you have any idea of how many goats/acre it would take X amount of time to do some noticeable clearing? If not goats, any other animals that could do the job? Or is the only real way to do this to pay someone to come in with heavy machinery? I’d like to leave what mature trees there are in place, it doesn’t need to be a 100% clear-cut pasture….but all the underbrush would have to go and grasses planted to be of much use. I had hoped our guinea hogs would put a dent in it but in the past few months I’ve noticed they’re really quite picky, they’ve eaten a lot of grasses but don’t seem to bother with the rougher brush so much. Thanks, really appreciate the podcast, keep up the great work! I Discuss: The ideal underbrush situation for goats.Benefits of using goats to clear underbrush.Best breeds for the job.How many goats to do the job.Possible issues you need to be aware of.Other ways to clear the land. Recommendations: Storey’s Guide to Raising Meat Goats, 2nd Edition: Managing, Breeding, Marketing (Storey’s Guide to Raising) – https://amzn.to/2vzKrWvTrident Electric Goat Netting, 164′ – https://amzn.to/2MjTaFP Trident Electric Sheep/Goat Netting 10/42/7 - Green, 164' 9 Conductive Lines7" Spacing between linesDouble spiked step in posts make installation simple42" High4 Corner stakes included $175.95 More Information Last update on 2021-08-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API The Homestead Life: A segment where each episode I share something that’s better in my life because of homesteading. Snapping green beans. We’ve been picking and processing a bunch lately and every time me and my wife sit down to snap beans it always brings back memories of doing this as a kid, it was literally a family event. We would all gather on the front porch, each with their big bag of beans, and get to work while we had conversations and told and listened to stories.