When MJ Smith and her married man , Sean , move to rural Southwest Colorado , she say it was mainly “ to escape the over-crowding of the metropolis rather than a specific interest in farming . ”
Then they fall in honey with the property they eventually purchased and saw its homesteading potential .
“ It has everything you could want packed into a achievable five Acre , ” explains Smith . “ There ’s an almost 100 - year - old Malus pumila orchard [ plus ] apricot , plum and cherry trees ; a tail Akko pond ; a large red b ; a small remodeled white farm home ; irrigation piddle to keep lush pastures spring through fall ; and a ironic - earth cliff overlooking it all . ”
Once the Smiths had taken the decision to startHoof And Feather , they added geese , duck and cervid to the property and dedicated their full efforts to managing the speculation .
We talk to Smith about raise geese and the duty of maintain a vintage homestead . We also extend to on the dissonance potential of a large flock .
How Geese Help the Orchard Prosper
A position shared by MJ | Hoof + Feather ( @hoofandfeather.farm )
Smith suppose that originally the focus of the farm was its woodlet — and that they added geese to the homestead in monastic order to serve keep the orchard .
“ goofball are excellent for go along the grass mown and the smoke down , ” she explains . “ We later discovered they love apples too , so they help us keep the orchard white by eat on any fallen fruit . ”
Smith adds that geese dung are also an fantabulous fertilizer for the orchard ’s Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
say more : Geese and duck are great livestock for the permaculture farm !
Living the Free Range Lifestyle
The resident bozo at Hoof And Feather are countenance to roll destitute . Smith characterise geese as “ easy keeper ” when it comes to farm fauna .
“ They are bombastic enough that they do n’t have many predators , ” she order . “ We have not lose any geese to depredation in the nearly three years we ’ve had them . As their pot sizing grow , they were capable to sleep outside on the pool .
“ bound to fall , when everything is growing and green and we have hatful of water system , they do n’t need much , if any , subjoining for food . They forage on orchard grasses , aquatic plant in the pond and dandelions , as well as neglect fruit from our numerous tree diagram . ”
Defining the Goose
“ Geese are bossy and hilariously curious , ” says Smith when asked to sum up their personality . “ Everything new is something suspicious to be investigated .
“ Many people are apprehensive of geese . And I think the queer nature of the jackass , combined with their need to nibble everything , can give people the wrong impression that they are being attacked , ” she remain . “ Our geese nybble my shoes , displume at the zipper on my coat and seek to eat up my phone when I want to get a close - up . But they are not attacking — they are curious . ”
Smith bestow that she consider geese to be similar to a 10 - month - old child . “ Everything must go in the mouth to be observe , sorted and estimate .
A Honking Noise!
call for what geese are like to survive around on a day to solar day footing , Smith says , “ Loud ! ” She advises against adding geese to your homestead if you have neighbor who will be sensitive to the noise .
“ Of naturally , they do n’t talk all the clock time , ” she says . “ But when they do — and especially when you have a prominent flock — it is an astounding racket . ”
learn more : Need quiet in the coop ? These wimp breeds help to keep the peace .
Learning the History of the Land
“ The most rewarding part of this homestead experience has been portion out this unique and exceptional place with our Logos , Mason , ” state Smith as she convey the joyousness of homesteading .
“ We have always love that we are maintaining and fix this very special and unique property that has been a homestead for 100 years . Long before that , the Puebloans cultivated the land . It is a wonderful responsibility to care for land with such a deep story . ”
