[Carl Russell]

I have a 18″ culvert where the trail crosses the brook. 25 Years ago I built a wooden bridge, but it washed out about 10-12 years ago. I had my excavator friend take his dozer up this trail when we put in the culvert, and widen and improve drainage on the main trail. This property has a wide network of “Old” logging trails, and the main trail had become a gully with a brook at the bottom in many places. Now we have a wide trail and waterbars.

Many of the old trails, including where I am cutting now, are in places where they cut through clefts in huge rock outcroppings. I travel along a little valley between ledges, then drop down through opening with rock with feet of the edge of the trail onto a plateau of sorts, then around a corner, between two ledges, and on down. It is very attractive and challenging terrain.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

I have rarely found that balls cause regular problems to the point where I felt I needed a specific hammer. I have never seen one. I always have a hammer or axe with me for felling, so if I need to I usually use that. Most of the time the balls will break out before they become a serious problem, even without lard or sno-ball pads.

It would be good to see a picture of one though.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

near horse;25176 wrote:

It’s fine Carl – I only ask because I’m in the midst of going back over our taxes for this year.

Sec 179 is on the depreciation schedule – you can deduct up to the full value of equip etc the first year it’s put into service. The amount you deduct via 179 reduces the depreciation value by that amount.

IMO, limited as my knowledge is, the amount you use in 179 is to have immediate impact on that year’s taxes.

Arrgh – taxes.

You are right, on all counts.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Very nice. I like that design. Back in the 80’s I tried to imagine such a rotor, but never saw one put together. I hope it can perform up to expectations.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Bradbury Johnson;25172 wrote:

Jac-
I have an old set of d-ring team harnesses that came off a pair of big Brabants. They need some TLC but are still very usable.
-Brad
PS – have no idea what it would take to get them to you – might be too much to bother

Simon will tell you. He just got a set sent to him from So. Royalton, VT. I think it was pretty costly and time consuming….. at least his set was very nearly new at a reasonable price.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

near horse;25158 wrote:

Carl,

Sect 279 or 179? If it’s 279, where is that located?

Oh Shit, I was working from memory:mad: I’ll look it up to be accurate….. probably is 179???

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Marshall;25134 wrote:

Joshua, I was always under the impression that you could only deduct items the year they were purchased. I will definitly check it out a little closer. Thanks!

When you own something personally, then put it into service for your business, you can claim that as a depreciated 279 deduction, especially since even though they are animals, they are considered equipment. Draft horses used in business are like cars, chainsaws, etc., unlike livestock for rearing and breeding, etc.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Welcome.Enjoy yourself:D

Carl

[Carl Russell]

I realize that Mitch was just making a bit of social commentary when he referred to RV as “Radical”. And I also appreciate all of the truly radical work that Michael has done over the years.

The truth is that RV has never presented itself as a “Radical” organization. We have always been an agricultural advocacy group. As such we are a mass of many perspectives, some passive, some radical. There have been times when RV promoted more demonstrations such as milk dumping in the 1980’s, although to some that is hardly radical enough, and to others it is pointless.

My point is that even though RV may not be able to be as radical as some might think important, many of the members, and a majority of the current board (Will Allen is no longer on it:() are actually actively breaking laws that govern food production. Some more publicly than others.

Many of us also see radicalism as more than protest. We support a vision of agriculture that is, or has been, far enough outside of the normal that it is radical, and to pull it off will be a radical act.

With this latest initiative, there are some members of RV who are ready to tell VAA to shove it, but wouldn’t you know they haven’t tried to shut us down. Hmmmm? Lisa is holding a cheese class next week, advertised for more than a month now, she has no intention of canceling it, and she has not been approached by VAA.

As an advocacy group, supported by paying members and granting organizations, RV must take appraisal of how to make our efforts public with the greatest effect. Telling VAA to shove it would have kept them in the driver’s seat. Choosing to play victim, taking away the opportunity for people to get what they want (learning to use raw food products at home through RV cheese classes), was an agreed upon strategy to highlight how foolish and oppressive VAA is.

One of the things we are exploring is how to publicize acts of civil disobedience in a way that brings out the dogs before the act, so that we actually don’t have to put people in a situation where they risk their personal financial and physical assets.

As much as I admire those, like Mike, who put themselves in situation to highlight absurdities by being arrested, it is much different when you are breaking the law on your own property, using the basis for your livelihood as the foundation for that act. RV nor the farmers have the necessary resources to stand a legal battle (at this time). We realize that is the old standby weaponry used by agency bureaucrats, and we need to find ways to compete against it without risking personal assets, or burying the organization in legal debt.

Our current ED is an attorney with a lifetime experience in civil disobedience, and professional experience challenging public policy. I am very hopeful that RV will engage in some important battles during the next few years. We may not be getting people arrested, but we will be advancing a radical change in our current food system.

😀 Carl

[Carl Russell]

Michael we canceled the workshops so that the farmer teachers wouldn’t have to take the risk. The fact is that we got a warning months ago and we kept on holding the classes waiting for the “Official letter”. When we got it we canceled the classes to make the point that the agency is interfering with privacy rights of those concerned, and all of the media was already lined up, waiting.

There have been issues about some previous strategies, but I can assure you the current board is about as radical as RV has ever been. You may be in for some interesting activities over the next year.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

mitchmaine;25056 wrote:

…. some backwoods hippy radical evoironmental pinko commie group called themselves rural vermont trying to pull some crazy stunt like try and teach someone to make butter and cheese. ….

Now wouldn’t you know, Lisa and I are board members (PROUD OF IT).

Mitch I wear that label with F**king pride.

One of the problems is that the law actually tries to define the raw milk that can be sold, and being different from milk sold for “manufacturing”, and therefore defines it as being sold for liquid consumption only.

To Dan Scrutin’s credit, he actually admits the law is problematic, and as Erik mentions VAA is so lacking in imagination, the only way they see they can address these laws is to enforce them. If they were to admit that it could be improved, god forbid, they might appear to be supportive of raw milk.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110218/NEWS02/110217020/Vermont-Ag-Agency-halts-raw-milk-workshops

There is a lot of public consternation, and RV is doing a great job of getting the story into the media.

Carl

[Carl Russell]

Awesome Donn. It may have had frost cracks, but it also quite possibly split because the fork closed when it hit the ground. Ash is quite prone to that. That is a big jack! Thanks for the pix, Carl

[Carl Russell]

Probably Jahnes, or something like that..

Carl

[Carl Russell]

I posted this topic in the DAPNet General Discussion forum to involve all of us, and to get as much input as possible. I don’t mind if it just comes down to Geoff, Erika, and me, but I feel like we are getting close to something, and I would like to make sure that we get timely feed-back.

It is OK if you think it is good, or if you just don’t have time, but I just want you to know that your input will be valuable and appreciated.

To that end I am going to present this as our formal mission statement;

Quote:

Providing connections to resources that advance the use of draft animals, promote sustainable land stewardship, and build community.

Please consider offering input. If I don’t hear that this needs changing by this weekend we will begin to use it in our Bylaws, grant applications, membership campaign, and in the header of our newsletter to be printed by the end of this month.

Thank you, Carl

[Carl Russell]

We’re still a few weeks away from much of a thaw here. I plan to keep pulling wood, then when we get break up I will split it and saw some logs into lumber as well. I also have several forestry management plans that need to be updated before April….. and then fence to mend, ground to prepare… OMG it can’t be getting that close is it??:eek:

Carl

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