Rotate the Paddocks

The top paddock looked tired. The grass was short and brown, and there were bare patches where the dirt showed through.

"The herd has been in here for three weeks," said Spike. "They've eaten it right down."

Little Thunder kicked at a dusty patch. "Can't we just leave them here? There's still a bit of grass."

"If we do, the roots get weak and the soil washes away when it rains," said Suzy. "Then nothing grows at all."

Canberra the cow lifted her head. "In my day, we moved paddocks every week. Fresh grass for us, and a rest for the old paddock."

Spike drew a map in the dirt with his paw. Four squares. "Top paddock, creek paddock, gully paddock and the long paddock. We move the herd around them like a clock."

"So each paddock gets three weeks off?" asked Little Thunder, counting on his hooves.

"Exactly," said Suzy. "That's long enough for the grass to grow back tall and strong."

They opened the gate to the creek paddock. The herd wandered in, munching happily on the long green grass.

Then Little Thunder frowned. "But what if it doesn't rain? Like in a drought?"

Canberra nodded wisely. "Then the grass grows slowly, so each paddock needs a longer rest. You might keep fewer animals, or feed them hay."

"And we never let the ground go bare," added Spike. "Covered ground holds onto water."

Three weeks later, they walked back to the top paddock. Little Thunder gasped. The bare patches were gone. Green shoots stood up everywhere, thick and soft.

"It came back!" he cried.

"It always does," said Suzy, "if you give it a rest."

Little Thunder grinned and flopped down in the fresh grass. "Then I'm resting too."