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Erosion
Control
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| Sheep Steps |
Initially we focused on erosion control and rebuilt the slopes, which had been
eroded with cattle movements prior to our arrival. We laid down old hay over the eroded soil and let nature rapidly compost
it to repair the gullies that has been formed. Next we redirected the path of the sheep, from one pasture to another, away
from the slope and built a sheep staircase! This stairway was built with a slight curve and each step raise was made from
salvaged barn beams. Each step was filled predominantly with sand and instead of the run off water eroding down the slope,
it was redirected back into the hillside with each step.
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| Large Water System |
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| Smaller System |
To further reduce the runoff of water and the need to
re-pump it up from the ground well, we have guttered our outbuildings and barns. The water is then redirected into two, 1,500
gallon tanks. The water passes through three screens and the initial roof run off is flushed out of the system before the
clean water is collected in the tank. This then supplies our stock troughs and gardens. We also have a variety of rain barrel
systems for water collection to supply our smaller, more distant gardens.
Aquaponics
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| Aquaponics |
We have built an aquaponics system to demonstrate a closed water environment for
growing both plants and fish in a confined space. We have also added
a pond stream system utilizing an upturned satellite dish and the natural downhill slope on our property, with future plans
to create a rain garden.
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| Worm Bins |
To assist in management of winter animal bedding, we have built four
5 1/2'
X 3' bins out of recycled boards and are now proudly have added to our menagerie, 10,000 red worms. It is inspiring to
watch the ongoing work of these wonderful creatures. We haven't come up with names for them all yet.
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