Cats hunt rodent pests, allowing us to avoid the use of poisons for vermin control.
The ultimate agricultural system is essentially a self-contained order in which everything is recycled and the only significant inputs come in the form of sunlight and precipitation.
In striving to achieve this ideal at Cameron, animals become a critical part of the equation. Chickens eat grubs and kitchen waste, while in return nourishing the soil and occasionally providing meals to the local raptor population.
Goats eat down and eliminate blackberries, poison oak and other plant pests, eliminating the use of herbicides and at the same time providing manure for the compost pile. Whey from their milk is also used to prevent powdery mildew in the vineyard. Honey bees pollinate and encourage re-seeding of cover crops. Finally, the geese contribute levity to the whole scene so that our vineyard crew stays engaged, reducing the need for outside entertainment.
Chicken coops move up and down the vineyard rows to distribute fertilizer.