The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: chickens on February 17, 2008, 07:30:09 am
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Hello
We are aiming to grow all our produce to feed our animals so that we do not have to buy anything and can get nearer to our aim of being completely self sufficient. We have pigs, sheep and poultry (soon to be cows) - have studied loads of books etc but just wondered what you all thought - any ideas on what is best to grown and where is it best to buy the seeds as it is bulk (this is probably more apt for those in france as we live in france).
Thanks very much in advance for any advice.
Nicki
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Apologies if this is trying to teach granny to suck eggs, however pigs need a lot of protein in their feed, how would you add this. You would need to grow maize and possibly soya as well as wheat which would all need to be ground for feeding. Pigs can be fattened on a diet of cooked potatoes and milk the emphasis being on fat. This would not be suitable for breeding stock. Also you would need to add a mineral supplement. I dont know if its the same in France in the UK you need a licence to mix the feeds (Honestly). Pigs need protein. Its good to grow various veggies to substitute the expensive protein feeds such as beets and carrots. Even the grazing kune kune needs some protein to keep it healthy.
Hope this does not read as too didactic. HM
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Morning Chickens - I dont have a lot of room on my area so cant grow as much animal feed as we would need - so all the protein etc. comes direct from bought feed - but to supplement this and therefore cutting back on bulk feed and reducing our food bills we have bought mangel seeds for this year with the view of growing as many beets as we can in the side vegetable patch.
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Thanks everyone for your advice really kind of you. I was thinking of growing soya and maize we can grind as we have the machinery to do so but I had better try and find out if I need a licence. Surely I would not if I am growing it for my own animals?
Any idea where I can get some mangel seeds or what they are called in french and one more question (really sorry) what is the name of the person who comes to your home to kill your animals in french?
Really grateful for your help.
Thanks
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Hi chickens - i got my mangel seeds via a link on another topic at www.organiccatalog.com - of course these are based in uk not France but may be able to help? I was recently in Paris but alas never came across the french for the chap who slaughters your animals perhaps its" l'homme du mort !! :D " hope the mangel answer helps , im not so sure about the other though!!!
bon chance
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Hello Nicki,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/100gm-box-Fodder-Beat-Vaurica-8-000-seeds-Vegetable_W0QQitemZ140195721369QQihZ004QQcategoryZ1512QQcmdZViewItem
I bought a box of these and they are good seeds. There is a posting further down the vegetable list, about them .There is also a link for organic ones from chase organics. Another thing I want to find out about this year is cow cabbage. Years ago the farmer next to where I lived grew them . They grew huge, I mean like you couldn't get your arms round one huge!!! He fed them to his cattle right off the field, no storage problems. I know some ordinary cabbage get big , but nowhere near that size. Does anybody know about these ? I would really like to get hold of some seed .( It isn't the cabbage that grows very tall ,18', ).
cheers
Russ
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Chickens did not mean to put you off, if you can grow soya and maize no problem you will be providing protein. I dont know if a mixing licence is necessary here, its not hard to get, in UK as far as I know its an application to local council. If you are in France doubt it would be necessary. Check with local mairie.
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Try "abattoir" at least that's what it is around here, I don't know how different European French might be.
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Beatrave plants - (mangle wurzels) can be bought at the markets. Every year in Brecey lorries/containers on one particular day arrive in the town full of them, and every farmer turns up with trucks and trailers to buy their lot. Might be worth asking the Marie or a dairy farmer local to you what date this falls on. Seeds not sure, sorry. It might be worth locating a dairy farmer who actually grows them. In our area they sell their surplus to the likes of us very cheaply. It might be more cost effective to buy them rather than take up space on your land to grow them. Our pigs love them.
Re the butchers that come to your home for slaugtering and processing your animals. There are sure to be others in your area that use them so try the AI forum for recommendations.
Kate
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The Organic Catalogue sells mangel seeds (p34) £1.49 for 200, sow late April until June.