Shifting priorities require the adaption of existing resources to create new functions. Raising strong and healthy goats and sheep has become an increasing priority for us. As all Paleros know, both of these animals are important and vital within the munanso. Finding healthy, vibrant, well raised animals can be very difficult in the "market" that is out there, with the increase in animal brokers who keep these animals in bad conditions that are full of diseases.
It has come to the point that we decided to repurpose some of our pigeon coops as well as a large pergola, to allow us to create some good long term shelter for the goats and sheep. They need this shelter specifically during winter. During the spring, summer and fall, they will be on the pasture, and also assist us in clearing out invasive weeds.
We begin here with the goat nanny house. Our boer nannies (does) are meat goats, originating in Africa. They are large, horned, and very friendly. We will be breading them for the first time in the fall and expect the "kids" in early spring. Their shelter allows them interior space as well as a large porch where their hay bale sits.
A small coop of pigeons lives in the same barn and can be seen from this angle, the other half of the goat barn houses white roller pigeons.
Goats love to be up high and the raised barn is perfect for them to jump up and feel safe. There is also an old table that they like to jump up on. Goats are very friendly animals and each one has a very distinct personality. All our boer nannies have one grandparent or great grandparent that is a milking breed (Nubian or Alpine) which makes them better mothers, and increases their milk yield slightly.
These goats are much more than just produces of goats for the Munanso or to sell or eat. In the summer they will be excellent helpers to us, eating thorny bushes and poison ivy. Their goat milk makes excellent cheese and yogurt. We look forward to being able to produce most of our own cheese and dairy once the herd builds up.
We have had a pergola up on our hill for over 10 years. It had become a space we really had not used in a number of years. We decided to build a sheep barn for our ewes. Using boards salvaged from some old fencing we had removed, plus boards and roofing salvaged from an old shed we had taken down, we adapted the pergola to be a sheep barn.
The sheep barn has two stalls in the back where we put the moms once they have their lambs so that they can bond well before having to go back to the herd. However, since sheep are herd animals the stalls are designed so that the isolated sheep can see her herd mates, so that she does not get anxious.
The sheep, like the goats, also have a porch where their hay goes. They munch the hay all day long, eating as much as they want to.
The hay is very important for the functioning of their digestive system. Whatever hay they leave, as well as the bedding from their barn will be used for mulch for our Conucos. The manure will add fertility and the hay will add organic matter and these will build the fertility of the Conucos and create healthy environments for the soil life.
We have come to realize that the choice of breed of the sheep or goat is very important. Some breeds are very prone to parasites, or are not good mothers, or have problems with the birthing process, have issues with summer heat and so on. We selected the Barbados Black Belly Sheep because they are "hair sheep" meaning they will not need to be sheared, and they naturally shed their winter coats. They are hardy, they are good mothers, they give birth easily, and they like to browse on various invasive weeds. Their meat is excellent. Because they are Caribbean sheep they deal with summer heat without any problems.
In our herd we have two "pure bred" and two with a "wool sheep" ancestor. The pure bred are more flighty and nervous, so it seems the wool sheep influence is somewhat stabilizing and we are appreciating its influence.
When it is time to move our ewes from one place to another we simply call them and they follow us. They are very intelligent and fast. In fact we discovered through a neighbor (about 1/2 mile distant) that our sheep were traveling through the forest and to his corn field every day and every night on a schedule. He discovered this through his trail cameras set up to look at the deer. We thought they were simply free ranging on the Ceremonial Grounds and were surprised to discover that they were sneaking out every day and night to eat corn!
For much of the year the rams are with the ewes, however we moved them once the ewes started lambing. They have their own area, which we are currently upgrading (again using salvaged materials). The rams do not come when they are called, and have to be caught. They are very protective of the ewes and more distrustful than the ewes.
Sheep and goats are amazing animals, and have taken up vital roles on the land. Their behaviors are fascinating and give us insight into their roles within the Munanso. They provide us with meat, milk, gardening assistance, laughter, and education. Inside of the Earth Changes that are upon us, these animals have become very important elements in our response to Earth Changes. They are also a stabilizing element in economic terms due to their contribution to the table, to the fertility of the Conucos and pastures, to the Munanso, and because we can sell any surplus. We are delighted to see how they are thriving, and the task of interweaving them with the Conucos, forests, and fields in a sustainable way that restores Mother Earth's fertility is a fascinating challenge.
