The Return of the Cotton Patch Crop Steward

I discovered Cotton Patch Geese in late 2020 while researching animals to add to our farm the following spring. I was captivated by the breed's story and its cultural relevance. I got my first pair of Cotton Patch in mid-2021 from Frank Norman. My gaggle has since grown to 7, one having hatched on the farm in 2022.

I am an active member of the Cotton Patch Goose Society. The group is an endless source of knowledge and support and I have had the opportunity to interact with the best breeders.

Project Goal

When we purchased the property that we farm, there was a very young orchard including 2-3 year old plum, pear, and apple trees. Within our second and third seasons, we planted additional semi-dwarf apple, plum, peach, cherry, and pawpaw varieties.

I have spent years working in the orchard, testing solutions to disease and pest pressure and researching ways to improve fruit quality and reduce maintenance. The most informative resource I have found is "The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way'' by Michael Phillips. The book focuses on managing an orchard as an ecosystem, including the soil. While I believe this is the best book on the market about orchard management, Phillips doesn't address integrating grazing animals into the orchard ecosystem. Around the same time, I was also researching regenerative agriculture and permaculture principles, so we decided to try integrating animals into the orchard system.

In 2021, we brought Cotton Patch Geese, chickens and sheep onto the farm to improve diversity and soil quality, improve fruit quality and reduce pest and disease pressure. Our initial intent was to have sheep graze the grass and cover crops in the orchard, followed by laying chickens for fly control and geese to act as chicken guards. We quickly changed our plans when we realized that we wouldn’t be able to allow the sheep to graze the root zone of the trees without major damage to the low branches and trunk of the semi-dwarf trees. In 2022, we began a program to rotate the Cotton Patch Geese through the orchard, to graze grass and weeds and add fertility to the orchard floor.

This proposed project will aim to expand upon this program.

Our aim is to demonstrate that Cotton Patch Geese can effectively be integrated into, and rotated through, an orchard system and make a positive impact upon tree health, soil health, and fruit quality. We expect the following outcomes:

1. Minimal damage to trees and minimal soil compaction

2. Less time and money spent mulching and weeding to mitigate grass

3. Improved soil health and fruit quality as the result of manure

4. Elimination of cover crop mowing

To demonstrate these outcomes, we intend to test the fruit and the soil it grew in for nutrient levels in October/November 2022. These tests will be conducted in partnership with the Bionutrient Institute. Results will be shared as part of the project. We will also catalog disease and insect pressure through the 2022 growing season.

In 2023, we will purchase 2x100 ft of Poultry Net Plus from Premier 1 to create multiple paddocks for rotational grazing. This will be similar to mob grazing ruminant animals where the aim is to add fertility strategically and feed more animals per acre. Throughout the growing season, we will catalog any damage to the trees that resulted from the geese and we will catalog pest and disease pressure. We understand that any correlation between pest and disease pressure will be anecdotal.

In the fall of 2023, we will retest the soil and fruit for nutrient levels to gauge the impact of the geese. The Bionutrient Institute conducts soil and crop testing to determine nutrient levels. Samples of fruit and the soil it was grown in are sent into their lab and tested. Results are made available and are compared to their entire database of test results for that fruit. https://www.bionutrientinstitute.org/cropandsoiltesting. I will use this data as the primary evaluation for the project.

We will also audit and catalog insect damage to the trees we are testing in 2022 (baseline) and again in 2023.

Many orchard managers introduce sheep, goats and other grazing animals into the orchard ecosystem to increase fertility and keep unwanted grass at a minimum. I’d like to demonstrate that Cotton Patch Geese are a low-maintenance and low-cost option for grazing orchard cover crops and removing unwanted grass from tree root zones. They forage for most of their food and they are generally healthy and easy to keep healthy.

Finding employment for heritage breeds is important. It is challenging to find market outlets for geese or their eggs as they are not a staple in the American diet like chicken and beef. Being able to market Cotton Patch Geese as low-maintenance “orchard stewards'', could help to brand them as working animals. Roman Tufted Geese have found a modern role on homesteads and farms as guards. Similarly, the Shave ‘em to Save ‘em program has given heritage sheep a modern job. I hope that Cotton Patch Geese can reclaim their role as crop stewards.