People who love pigs – and believe it or not, there is a significant number of them.

In the style of Living with Chickens, with gorgeous full-color photographs, the definitive guide to raising pigs.

Chuck Wooster raises sheep and grows organic vegetables on an old hill farm in Vermont. At night and in the winter, he is the associate editor of Northern Woodlands magazine.

Geoff Hansen, a photographer and editor at New Hampshire’s Valley News, took photographs for Living with Chickens and Harvest. His work has appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe. He lives in Tunbridge, Vermont, with his wife and daughter.

“Here’s the moment when I was truly smitten by living with pigs. It was near the end of our first summer raising them. My sister’s wedding reception was to be held on our farm, and I was tidying things up and making a final pass with the lawn mower when, out
of the corner of my eye, I saw unexpected movement. I looked up
to see our three, 250-pound hogs casually sauntering across the lawn, headed straight for the party tent. They had somehow managed to unhinge the metal gate on their pen, cross an intervening pasture, and come over to get a leg up on the festivities.
Although my immediate concern was keeping the pigs separated from the hors d’oeuvres, I couldn’t help but notice how those pigs carried themselves: confidently, with enthusiasm, heads held high, and ready for a night on the town. They all but had their party hats on. Here was an animal that knew how to enjoy life. I’ve been a big fan of pigs ever since.”                          —from Living with Pigs

Pigs are adorable, clean, friendly animals. So it’s no wonder that you’ve thought about raising them as companions. But if you also happen to love bacon, and don’t like the reports of pollution and cruelty in the pig pork industry, you might consider raising your own pigs as meat animals as well. Keeping pigs happy in either situation means understanding their needs and temperaments. Living with Pigs teaches you all about what pigs need, how to raise them, and which breeds make the best bacon.

 

Chuck Wooster’s friendly advice and appealing anecdotes help you: 

 

Choose what breed of pig or pigs is best for you.

Provide the best shelter and food for your pigs.

Train your pig.

Treat your pig’s injuries and illnesses.

Butcher your pig and make your own bacon.

 

Illustrated with Geoff Hansen’s beautiful full-color photographs, Living with Pigs serves as a great introduction if you’re considering owning one or a whole herd of pigs, as well as an essential guidebook if you already own a few.

Imprint: The Lyons Press
Distributor: The Globe Pequot Press
Publication Date: 07-01-2008
Pages: 208
Measurements: 9.00in X 6.00in