The Ducks of Sweet Earth Orchard

This month we have welcomed our first resident animals, to be incorporated into the permaculture framework. We now have 12 ducks: 6 Runner ducks, and 6 Muscovies.

Instead of relying on chemicals, we let our ducks do what they do best: forage. Slugs, beetles, and other orchard pests are some of their favorite snacks. This helps protect our fruit trees and vegetables while keeping the ecosystem in harmony. The ducks get a fresh, varied diet, and our crops thrive without sprays—everyone wins.

As the ducks roam, they fertilize the land naturally. Their droppings enrich the soil with nitrogen and organic matter, creating healthier ground for our vegetation to grow. This cycle—animals nourishing the land, and the land nourishing the animals—lies at the heart of permaculture.

Our ducks might be the happiest creatures on the farm. There’s something about the way they waddle in unison, chatter to each other, or throw themselves wholeheartedly into a splash that makes it impossible not to smile. Their simple joy is contagious.