James Pritchard of the Associated Press has picked up the story of using hogs in organic apple farming. He did his story specifically on Jim Koan at AlMar Orchards, but it’s the same technique used by June Bush at Apple Schram Orchards. It’s nice to see these techniques getting press in mainstream publications!
My favorite line? “I think if my granddad was alive today and he saw how excited I am about doing this and this information that we’re gaining on this,” said Koan, “he would just look at me and say, ‘Jeez, you’re stupid. You didn’t know that?’”
Ed Whibley said,
March 5, 2008 at 5:50 pm
This article reminded me of the book Omnivore’s Dilemma (http://www.michaelpollan.com/omnivore.php) which I just read and highly recommend. In it, Pollan describes a farm in Virginia that uses natural methods to keep his farm clean of pests.
The farm is called Polyface: http://www.polyfacefarms.com/ The particular part which I was reminded of was his use of chickens to police the manure of his cattle. In one line of the book Pollan says something to the effect of Polyface is not only not taking from the earth where he is farming he is adding to it. That’s not a direct quote, but you get the idea. It is a wonderful book.