Every Animal has a Job at Keppers

Everybody has a job here. Pigs dig. They are four legged rototillers. They clear garden spaces, fence lines, and future fields. They bring rocks to the surface (we haven't trained any pigs to pick the rocks yet). They turn leaves destined to be future compost. One year we did a side by side comparison. Leaves without pigs took one year. Leaves turned by pigs looked the same as the first pile in half the time.

Geese are the lawn crew. They also act as backup to watch dogs. Our geese successfully fought off a fox. Chickens eat weed seeds and insects - especially ticks. Their bedding is one component of our compost.

Dogs manage large rodents. Jack has killed raccoons and he has even killed skunks without getting sprayed - quite an accomplishment!

Cats take care of the small rodents. Mice and rats steal grain, and they chew tarps and egg cartons. In summer they will eat garden produce. We have two cats. Smoky is the younger, outdoor recruit. He believes that people come here to pat and fuss over him. He also likes to ride on a shoulder like a parrot as one of us goes about the place.

Hazel, the older calico spends her semi - retirement close to a warm cook stove or in a sunny window. In her day, she killed weasels- a good thing when there are chickens on the farm.

As Ken says, "Each animal should be working the farm."