I brave the rain to expound the benefits of “green” fencing!

All too often, and for very good reasons, barbed wire is used extensively in our countryside to fence off fields and houses from trespass by man and beast. It is affordable, and effective. However, in the course of time it rusts, and poses a danger to living things.

Live fences are an alternative adopted by our forebears for centuries. It is simple, effective, and costs nothing. Most importantly, it contributes to the greening of our environment. It is pleasant to look at, and if tended, can last for years.

The most common material used for live fences are sticks cut from the prolific Gliricidia tree (Gliricidia sepium).  Giricidia is found in abundance in villages around the country. It has the additional property of repelling rodents.

Its branches grow straight and true and can be cut to lengths between 5’ to 6’. The sticks are planted to a depth of 8”-10”, an inch or two apart, to form the fence. At mid level, more sticks are attached horizontally and tied to the verticals with natural vines or coir rope.

If planted at the beginning of the monsoon rains, the fence will flourish within weeks, as seen in the video. At Far Cry we plan to systematically replace old barbed wire fencing with live fences, and line with our commitment to sustainability.