Pigs taking root near Old Sudbury Road

If you’re out taking a walk near the recently acquired Van Leer property on the south side Old Sudbury Road, be sure to stop by the and see how the Codman pigs are helping to improve Lincoln’s agricultural lands.

Pete Lowy, farm manager at Codman Community Farm and founder of Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds, is raising more than 30 piglets on the back area of the land (the southernmost side). The heritage breed Berkshire, Large Black and Old Spot pigs have small huts for shelter, plenty of GMO-free grains for feed, and a ready supply of water.

The pigs’ natural instinct is to root up the grass and soil searching for edibles. When an area is thoroughly dug up, Pete will move the pigs to a new area, plant a cover crop, and rotate the pigs back on the land as the crop matures to consume the forage (known as “hogging off”). This rotation will help build soil organic matter and naturally improve the soil health and biologic activity while also eliminating invasive plants. This combination of turning over the soil, planting new grasses and the deposits of manure by both pigs and cattle enriches the soil in a completely organic fashion. After several seasons of this cycle, the fields will be ready once again for a more permanent pasture.

— Peter von Mertens (co-chair, Lincoln Conservation Commission)