No winter, yet, so we’re keeping right at it. Yesterday, we got the rest of the pig pen and pig house finished, except for the flap on the door. To make it nice and cozy, we stuffed the pallets with straw, packing it down with a piece of scrap lumber. Soon, we’ll trailer the pigs down to their new home. I know they’ll like that!



Meanwhile, I’ve been tying screen around our fruit trees in the orchard to prevent damage to the trunks from voles. Voles tunnel under the snow and eat all the bark around the trunks, which kills the trees. You don’t know about it until spring, when the snow goes away and all your beautiful baby trees are dead, dead, dead. We sure don’t want that to happen! It also protects them from chewing rabbits. Even though our orchard and garden are totally fenced by 2×4-inch welded wire fencing, I’ve seen cottontails go right through it! Sorry bunnies, we need our trees. I’ll give you some scrap apples when the trees get big.

Will is taking a few hours a day to work on the bridge over the creek. It is now in place, and he’s hauled big boulders down there for rip-rap, to prevent the creek from washing the bridge out when spring break-up comes or we get hit with a big rain. Slowly, it’s becoming a real bridge; he’s got a few temporary planks on it now so he can run the four wheeler and wheelbarrow over it to dump rock on the other side. Big projects like this and the barn take quite awhile to finish but if you don’t give up and keep on working, it gets done. — Jackie

8 COMMENTS

  1. How did your pigs do during the winter, Jackie? How cold did it get there? We are heading into winter here with snow on the mountains but not yet on the ground and we just added 3 young pigs to our farm. We’re still working on their winter pen and I was wondering what size of house you would recommend. The outside open area is 28 X 38 feet. The plan is to build a staw bale winter den for them and secure it on the outside with pallets and rebar. I’m picturing in my head how much room a 200 pound person would need to lay down X 3. Any suggestions? Thanks. Shannon in Chickaloon, Alaska

  3. ALL,

    Our pig pallets are sitting in a shallow trench and are screwed together with pieces of 2″x4″. Neither Will or I have had trouble with pigs digging under our pallet fences, although I’m sure they probably could. What rooters!!! An electric wire run along the bottom of the fence would sure stop that, but we’d need two solar fencers and can only afford one, right now. Soon the ground will freeze and NOTHING can dig in that; the frost goes down 8′ here on some years! Piggies are happy now, as we moved them down two days ago. Boy did they play, bark and dance!

    Jackie

  4. the pig pen and shelter look great. are the pallets that make the walls of the pen just sitting on the ground? i was under the impression that if they can get a snout under something they could lift and get under and out.

    Thanks
    dean

  5. Oh my goodness…if I was a Pig…..I would be in pig-heaven in their new pen! Lots of work, but it sure is a doozie!

    Can’t wait to see the new bridge.

    Voles and bunnies…yep, you can do with out them all!

    Tell me, when do you rest?

  6. Your pigs do not root under the fence line? I see no snap line. Without a snap line my pigs would be everywhere!

  7. I am moving pigs into my garden area this year as I have had no garden to speak of for a couple years because of almonds. Tall weeds so I will let them mow them down and next spring I am trying the strawbale garden and my brother-in-law will keep it watered and I will work on it between fairs. Hope to have more to can next fall that way.

  8. Wow! It’s all looking great Jackie & Will. Congrats!
    The pig yard and house demonstrate excellent use of the free pallets. I especially like the idea of insulating the pig house by stuffing the pallets with straw. I would imagine the straw, coupled with the body heat generated by the pigs, would keep them warm, even cozy, over the winter.
    You guys are a great inspiration, and a source of good ideas…but mostly I admire the work ethic and positive attitude you guys inspire. Thanks for sharing the photos.

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