276 Facilitator’s Handbook for Permaculture Workshops
- Integration with other farming systems and community forests, including:
- Rotation systems.
- Grazing areas using legume living fences planted on contoured swales.
- Pest and weed management.
- Controlled grazing with community forests.
- Cost effectiveness and profitability.
- Good ratio of animals to land space.
- The right animals for the right environment.
- Planning for extreme climate and other conditions.
- Good animal systems also work together with communities - This makes animal
management easier and cheaper, and improves the wealth and health of the
whole community.
All of these components required for healthy animal systems can and should use local
materials wherever possible, combined with appropriate modern technology.All animals are important, however breeding smaller animals provides more benefits
than larger animals because:- Small animals breed more often.
- Small animals, including fish, produce more meat for less land, less food, and
less water than large animals. - Small animals are better for the environment.
- Small animals can be killed for meat as is needed, so no meat is wasted.
- Chickens and ducks also provide eggs.
- Small animals are easier to manage.
See exercises later in this module and in PC Book MOD 10 - Animal Systems for more
detailed information.