Reference Document Permaculture Report 131998 98121 5

Pig systems

The existing orchards are monoculture orchards and do not have enough biodiversity,
biomass production and healthy ecology to be a long term sustainable system. Currently
external inputs are required to keep these trees productive.
We recommend pig tractors running between the existing orchard rows. Pigs will prepare
and fertilise the soil between the existing orchard rows. Chicken systems can follow the
pigs to prevent long term pathogen issues. After the chickens have prepared the soil and
composted the pig manure, the area can be planted out with a diverse green manure mix
to add biodiversity to this area. This mix can be harvested for the pigs, chickens or
chopped and dropped under the fruit trees.
Staple carbohydrates can also be planted in this system, possibly after chopping and
dropping the green manure.
We recommend the pigs are moved regularly eg. every one or two days to ensure they
prepare and stimulate the soil but do not do any damage to the soil.