All Flesh Is Grass: The Pleasures and Promises of Pasture Farming

by Gene Logsdon

Overview

Amidst Mad Cow scares and consumer concerns about how farm animals are bred, fed, and raised, many farmers and homesteaders are rediscovering the traditional practice of pastoral farming. Grasses, clovers, and forbs are the natural diet of cattle, horses, and sheep, and are vital supplements for hogs, chickens, and turkeys.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780804010689
Publisher:	Ohio University Press
Publication date:	08/18/2004
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	14 Years

About the Author

Gene Logsdon (1931-2016) was the author of more than thirty books and countless magazine articles on agrarian issues including small-scale farming and sustainable living. He is the author of four Swallow Press/Ohio University Press books: All Flesh Is Grass: The Pleasures and Promises of Pasture Farming, The Man Who Created Paradise: A Fable, Wyeth People, and The Last of the Husbandmen: A Novel of Farming Life.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
	Giving Thanks	xi
	Acknowledgments	xiii
1	Pasture Farming, the Newest and Oldest Agriculture	1
2	How I Came to Pasture Farming	21
3	Some Commercial Grass Farms	37
4	A Pasture Garden	53
5	Good Fences Still Make Good Neighbors	60
6	Water in Every Paddock	74
7	Pasturing Horses, Mules, and Donkeys	84
8	Sheep on Pasture	90
9	Milk and Beef from Pasture Cows	108
10	The Rising Farm Interest in Goats	118
11	Root, Hog, or Die	123
12	Chickens, Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys Love to Graze	133
13	Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and White Clover	147
14	Alfalfa, Red Clover, and Ladino Clover	155
15	Legumes of Regional Importance	168
16	Other Noteworthy Pasture Grasses	174
17	Grains for Grazing	189
18	Other Plants with Pasture Potential	203
19	Weeds-the Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful	209
20	Making Hay and Silage	226
21	Trees in the Pasture	236
22	A Walk on the Wild Side	245
	Annotated Bibliography	253
	Index	255

Editorial Reviews

Logsdon (The Contrary Farmer) mixes philosophy, opinion, farming specifics, and practical advice in this provocative look at the age-old practice of grassland, or pasture, farming. The author describes this method-in which cattle, sheep, and other livestock are managed in paddocks (plots) of bluegrass, clover, alfalfa, and other mixes of grasses and legumes-and even discusses pasturing horses, mules, and donkeys, a healthy alternative to the common small, manure-filled shed with a barren dirt lot. Logsdon relates experiences from his small Ohio farm and tells the stories of other successful grass-farming operations. For urban refugees in the country, he stresses the ease with which pasture farming can be accomplished on a small acreage with only a few animals and demonstrates how well it fits in with traditional gardening and lawn care. Recommended for public and academic libraries where there is an interest in back-to-the-land books.-William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

"All Flesh Is Grass explains the immense benefits of taking our livestock out of the feedlots and raising them in a natural setting on their native diets. It's all there: the history, the politics, the practices, and the passion."--Jo Robinson, creator of eatwild.com and author of Pasture Perfect: The Far-Reaching Benefits of Choosing Meat, Eggs, and Dairy Products from Grass-Fed Animals

"In an era of growing concerns about our food, Gene Logsdon offers a practical way to steer American agriculture in a direction that ensures a livelihood for family farmers, takes care of the land, and provides fresh, healthy food for all. All Flesh Is Grass is a how-to manifesto for family farmers and food activists alike committed to taking back control of our food and farms."--Willie Nelson, president and founder of Farm Aid

From the Publisher