paving the cow-paths…
…in Southern Norway…
opening the doors…
It is obviously much easier to let the animals out, than to try to recreate outdoor-conditions indoors. On the other hand: we have to recreate some of the indoors conditions outdoors, as it would otherwise be too much hard work for both farmer and herd when nature starts showing its tougher sides.
It's a matter of “paving the cow-paths” so the animals can get around regardless of season and weather, creating maintainable paths/roads for farm-machines, and adjusting things so they work under all conditions. Not difficult to do, but it requires an eye for details, continuous observation, and patience to allow every part of a solution time to settle.
it's working.
Most of what we have done so far has been working well, but many adjustments have been made during the last six years, and we'll probably keep on making adjustments for years to come. Pretty rewarding work though.
Working with nature means the smallest and most insignificant changes can have enormous effects, while still being invisible or beyond understanding to outsiders. Being able to shape and reshape ones surroundings until a balance has been reached, gives one a great feeling.
paving the cow-paths…
What has just worked on heavy-loaded paths and areas over the years, is concrete slabs. We use 30 by 30cm, 7cm thick (around a square foot, 2¾ inch thick) precast slabs on top of a solid, at least 30cm (a foot) deep, layer of gravel, on the most problematic areas. Maintenance is limited to adjustment of slabs around the edges of such areas now and then, as wide slabs on a well-prepared gravel-layer are stable and easy to scrape clean.
Roads and paths are otherwise made solid by a layer of gravel, at least 30cm (a foot) thick – depending on ground-conditions, to a level well above the surrounding ground. This is then left to settle, as the cows compress the gravel and create stable paths over the years. Such gravel-roads and paths must be maintained and filled up now and then, as the cows will keep on packing them down and soon reduce the gravel-layer to half its original thickness.
fertile soil and drainage-effects.
Gravel-roads may act as drainage deep down, but the top-layer will become so mixed with dirt and compacted that water can't get through. Thus, making such roads work well under conditions like ours with lots of rain that'll turn any track into a creek, means working with nature imperative. We have to make sure the water runs off such roads and paths in the right places, and that the dirt gets washed off with it.
There's often no point in draining out weak areas along roads or elsewhere, especially when the soil is 3 meter (10 feet) deep and acting like a spunge. We simply fill such areas with enough well-packed gravel to make the road and surrounding area float on top no matter what, and keep the water in there for the dry seasons. Grass grows well in dirt-mixed gravel, and even better when it doesn't drown in water.
natural…
Anyone can level the ground and pour concrete, gravel and tarmac. Forming good looking park areas with the use of big machines isn't difficult either. It'll probably look fine as long as it's protected from nature, but it won't last long without such protection.
Having nature as chief designer demands more insight on a detailed level, lots of work and even more patience. However, having users on four legs inspecting and testing every detail of ones work day in and day out – and commenting on it in both positive and negative terms, makes it all so much more rewarding.
What we do and how we do it may only be seen as useful for us and in our time, but being of nature it'll stay as designed.
sincerely 
Hageland 15.oct.2007
last rev: 22.oct.2007
paving the cow-paths…
