Animals
Domestic Animals
In a small homestead in arid Southern Africa, people often keep a variety of animals that can provide valuable benefits to the…
Animals & fodder · 2 Guides
Animals
Chickens to cattle, and what they eat
Cattle 4 Feed 25 Fish 6 Goats 2 Horses & Donkeys 2 Poultry 4 Rabbits 1 Sheep 4
Start with: Domestic Animals then follow the Guides in order
Cattle
Holistic Rotational Grazing
Photo by ArtHouse Studio: Introduction to Holistic Grazing. Holistic grazing is a land management approach and agricultural practice that aims to mimic…
Cattle
Mobile Electric Camp/Paddock for mob grazing
Building small mobile enclosures with electric fences for mob grazing can be a practical and effective way to manage livestock rotation without…
Aquaponics
Fish feed
We can grow all our own fish food. Photo by Alexey Demidov: Feeding fish in an aquaponics system is a critical part…
Chicken
Which chicken?
Which chicken should you keep? There are hundreds of different races to choose from. If you want to produce both meat and…
Chicken
Using your Chicken as workers :)
Photo by Christian West: Chickens are incredible workers on a homestead when we use permaculture principles. Permaculture is all about working with…
Chicken
Humane slaughtering of chicken
Slaughtering chickens humanely is essential to ensure their well-being and to respect the animals' lives. Here's a simple explanation of humane ways…
Chicken
How many chicken do you need?
How many chicken should you keep to feed your family or village? Photo by Lukas on. Here we give simple calculations based…
Chicken
Chicken: Sources and Resources
There are many popular websites and YouTube channels where you can learn about chicken keeping for a homestead. Here are some of…
Chicken
Chicken House (Coop)
Photo by Brett Jordan: On farmsteads, various types of chicken houses are used to provide shelter and protection for the chickens. Each…
Chicken
Chicken Feed
chicken feed. Grow your own chicken feed. Growing your own organic chicken feed on a farmstead in arid South Africa can be…
Chicken
Feeding the chicken
Photo by Kirsten Bühne: Here are some common weeds that can be grown as chicken feed without needing much water: Purslane (Portulaca…
Chicken
Caring for Chicken
Taking care of chickens on a homestead in arid South Africa is an exciting responsibility. Photo by Magda Ehlers: Here's a simple…
Chicken
Brooding
Photo by Alison Burrell: Brooding chickens means taking care of baby chicks when they are young and need extra warmth and protection.…
Fish
Freshwater Prawns
Photo by Tom Fisk: Let's dive deep into each step of growing freshwater prawns in an aquaponics system, including growing your own…
Poultry
Pigeons
Keeping pigeons can be beneficial for smallholder farmers in various ways, and feeding them homegrown feed can be cost-effective and rewarding. Here's…
Goats
Goats
As our rainfall gets less and more erratic, more of our rural farmers will turn to goats and sheep, which are currently…
Poultry
Geese
Keeping geese on a small permaculture homestead can be super cool and beneficial in many ways. Let's explore why geese are great…
Fish
Catfish
Catfish can be a great addition to an aquaponics system. They are hardy fish that can tolerate a range of water conditions,…
Poultry
Ducks
Ducks are also easy to keep, taste great and they can be integrated very well in the permaculture garden to control pests…
Cattle
Dairy Cows
Photo by cottonbro studio: Keeping a few milk cows on a homestead can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Here's a guide…
Fish
Tilapia
Keeping tilapia in a Southern African backyard aquaponics system can be a rewarding experience. Here's a brief guide: Keeping Tilapia in Your…
Poultry
Turkeys
Keeping Turkeys on a Southern African Homestead: Photo by Kranthi Remala: Keeping Turkeys. Raising turkeys on a Southern African homestead requires careful…
Cattle
Beef Cattle
Photo by Vlad Chețan: Keep a few cattle for our own consumption and milk production. Aim for a mixed breed so that…
Feed
Purslane
Photo by Sharath G.: As a food. Of course! Let's explore the wonderful world of purslane—a versatile and nutritious plant that has…
Sheep
Sheep
Photo by kailash kumar: Keeping sheep in a homestead or village setting can be a rewarding and fun experience. Here's a simple…
Feed
Sugar Cane
Photo by FRANK MERIÑO: Let's dive into how to grow sugar cane in an arid desert and explore its benefits for a…
Chicken
Deworming chicken
Photo by samer daboul: What is Deworming for Chickens? Deworming for chickens is a preventive and essential health practice aimed at controlling…
Feed
Alfalfa – Luzerne
Source: Wikipedia. About Alfalfa. Let's explore what alfalfa is and how it can be useful on a small farm: What is Alfalfa?…
Feed
House fly maggots & meal
Photo by cottonbro studio: Making House fly maggot meal. In short, house fly maggots can be easily grown, fed as maggots or…
Feed
Spekboom
Growing spekboom. Spekboom is a fascinating plant that has become quite popular for its environmental benefits. It's also known as the "elephant…
Feed
Sorghum
Photo by Breno Cardoso: Let me tell you about sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in a way that's easy to understand. What is Sorghum?…
Chicken
Chicken Manure
Using Chicken Manure. Permaculture emphasizes creating a loop and avoiding waste. So, what can you do with chicken manure in a permaculture…
Intensive Farming
Intensive Sheep Production
Intenstive sheep production on only 5 ha using barley sprout fodder. The video is in Afrikaans with no subtitles unfortunately. Here's a…
Chicken
Regenerative chicken farming
Photo by Guillaume de Germain on Unsplash. Regenerative Chicken Farming. Regenerative Chicken Farming with Rotational Grazing in Chicken Tractors or Eggmobiles for…
Feed
Opuntia farming
Prickly Pear Cactus. Opuntia farming. Opuntia farming and its benefits. Opuntia, commonly known as the prickly pear cactus, is a genus of…
Horses & Donkeys
Horses
Photo by Vladimir Kudinov: In the realm of sustainable and regenerative agriculture, permaculture stands as a beacon of hope, offering innovative ways…
Horses & Donkeys
Donkeys
In the realm of sustainable and regenerative agriculture, permaculture is leading the charge towards creating resilient ecosystems that work in harmony with…
Rabbits
Rabbits
In the realm of sustainable and regenerative agriculture, permaculture stands as a beacon of hope, offering innovative ways to create harmonious ecosystems…
Feed
Leucaena (Wonderboom)
The wonderboom. Wonderboom (Leucaena leucocephala). Description: The Wonderboom, scientifically known as Leucaena leucocephala, (some incorrectly spell it as "Leuceana" i…
Feed
Salvinia molesta (Kariba weed): a careful, contained option for village feed in dry Namibia?
Okavango Delta, Botswana - 2019/08/05: Hippopotamus along the Khwai River. Invasive salvinia vegetation surrounding hippo. - found on Facebook. Kariba Weed (Salvinia…
Feed
Lablab
Lablab (Lablab purpureus) in Arid Namibia: A Resilient and Multi-Purpose Crop. Lablab (Lablab purpureus), also known as hyacinth bean or dolichos bean,…
Feed
Kalahari Melon (Tsjammas) – A Namibian Treasure for Food, Oil and Income
Kalahari Melon, Tsamma. Introduction. The Kalahari Melon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides)—known locally in Namibia as Tsjammas, Tsamma, or wild watermelon—is more than…
Feed
Tree Lucerne – Tagasaste
Tagasaste - Tree Lucerne. Introduction. Tagasaste (Cytisus proliferus), also known as Tree Lucerne, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree originating…
Feed
Insects for Homestead Chicken & Fish Feed
Why insects? Insects turn low-value organic leftovers into high-value protein and fertilizer, closing loops at village scale. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae,…
Feed
Atriplex saltbush: assess a fodder planting
Identify the species, check livestock water and test a small protected planting before expanding saltbush as supplementary fodder.
Agroforestry
Faidherbia albida: the ana tree in a productive landscape
The ana tree, Faidherbia albida, can contribute shade, fodder and habitat to a large landscape.
Feed
Brachiaria forage: turn a promising recommendation into a local trial
Brachiaria is a familiar name for forage grasses now often classified under Urochloa.
Feed
Poisonous veld plants and hay: identify the plant before feeding
When a suspected poisonous plant is mixed with grazing or hay, drying is not a reliable safety test. Stop using the suspect feed, identify the plant and speak to a veteri…
Chicken
Chicken manure: record nutrients, bedding and use
Chicken manure can contribute nutrients and organic matter, but one bucket is not equivalent to another. Bedding, moisture, storage and composting all change the material…
Chicken
Poultry bedding: keep deep litter dry and workable
Bedding in a poultry house should give birds a dry, comfortable surface. A deep-litter approach needs regular observation, adequate ventilation and prompt correction of w…
Feed
Crickets for feed: begin with a small contained trial
Raising insects for poultry or fish feed can be interesting, but a living colony requires management and a reliable market or use. Start by testing survival, labour and f…
Chicken
Termites as poultry feed: local observation and a cautious trial
Chickens readily investigate many insects, including termites. That observation does not make termite collection a complete feeding system. Consider species, contaminatio…
Feed
Cactus fodder: identify the plant before feeding it
Known fodder cactus can be useful in a dryland feeding plan, but “a cactus” is not a feed identification. Start with the species, cultivar and animal. An animal eating a…
Feed
Cactus pads: keep useful establishment records
A small, labelled cactus planting can answer a useful question: which known planting material establishes reliably on your site? Keep the identity, purpose and source att…
Feed
Cactus drip irrigation: turn operating time into litres
An irrigation schedule becomes useful when it states how much water reaches the planting. “Once a month” leaves out the flow, duration and number of emitters. Convert you…
Feed
Black soldier fly larvae: record the feedstock and harvest
Black soldier fly production is easier to evaluate when incoming material and harvested larvae are measured. A successful demonstration is not enough to establish feed sa…
Feed
Tilapia feed: keep the bag label and measure the ration
A feed bag is more useful when its label becomes part of your fish records. Species, fish size, feed formulation and storage all matter. Avoid buying a large quantity mer…
Fish
Prepare a pond before stocking catfish
Prepare the water, treatment system and daily care routine before buying fish. A pond that looks clean may still be unsuitable. Establish the species, stocking plan and a…
Aquaponics
Choose crops for a recirculating growing system
Recirculating water can be useful, but the crop still needs light, nutrients, space and care. Choose a crop to fit the system you can maintain. Start by distinguishing aq…
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