Lillegården

Terroir pigs nourish the organic crop rotation at Lillegården

In the southwest of Funen near Svanninge Bakker, Hans Erik and Kirsten raise terroir pigs that roam the fields in a picturesque landscape with small forests, shrubs, and bushes.

The primary task of the pigs is to be a part of Lillegården's crop rotation, and they graze in the fields every 3rd year. It's ingenious to have pigs in an organic field as they provide nourishment for crops such as grains, grass, and the like. All the crops grown for the pigs also contribute positively to carbon sequestration in the soil.

Organic farming and agroforestry

In addition to pigs, Kirsten and Hans Erik also cultivate organic grass seeds (for football fields and grasslands), clover seeds, cereal fields, and agroforestry with apple trees.

Robust pigs with dark meat and intense flavor

At Lillegården, they have both English and German breed pigs, as well as traditional pigs with a significant proportion of Duroc pigs. The commonality among the pigs is that they are robust and have great taste. The outdoor-raised pigs grow slower, have denser musculature, more flavor, and a darker color in their meat.

The pigs are fed a diet of grains, horse beans, chicory, lupines, peas, grass, and clover from the farm and neighboring farms. They roam freely in the landscape and can root around with their snouts for earthworms, tubers, and anything else they can find.

Lillegården is located in Jordløse, where there are also hiking trails and bridle paths in the scenic surroundings. In the spring, they have open house events where guests can go on a "Sowfari."