[Robert MoonShadow]

Thanks, Jason; I’ll look forward to learning what you think of it. I’m presuming that if you increase the animal’s speed (I’m looking at my fat donkeys, here), you’ll get a corresponding increase in cycle rate?

Your “old stallion”…is that, um, Rudy?? A really stout Suffolk?

For such a high step-up, maybe a shorter ‘stepping stool’ or short ramp would help? ‘Cuz at 2 ft. high, on my 50″ & 52″ donkeys, it’s pretty much a ‘jump’, not a step, up. :rolleyes:

[Robert MoonShadow]

Sure, you can stake a goat out w/ a collar and chain (it’ll chew up any rope); PROVIDING IF: you take the time to move it several times a day, provide water, and very importantly –> make damn sure there’s no dog or predator that can get to it. As for electric netting: I buy mine used at 1/3 the price of new from the local big-time outfits (competing exhusband/wife) – they use miles of the stuff, and rotate it out every 3 years. Perhaps you can find a similar source. But the new stuff, you can get at about $1 a foot (in 165′ rolls) – with one goat (I recommend 2, as they’re herd animals) you can get a large enough area that it’ll take it/them about 3 days to eat down. Portable fencing is just that – portable. A fence charger (battery – make sure it has at least 2 joules) can cost anywhere from $130 on up. Mine set me back $180 from Kencove.com. Figure that one roll of netting, a charger, a deep cycle battery & a trickle charger. All new, it’ll set you back 4 bills…but will last you 10 years, ‘cept the battery. And whenever you’re not grazing the guy on your own stuff, rent him out as “custom grazing” –> you’ll find all kinds of people that need small patches cleaned up {I know, because even out here, not everyone needs or wants Ray’s 9,000 head or MaryAnne’s 800 :eek:}. You get fresh grazing for not just free – but put a little cash in your pocket. Rented out for even just 60 days total over the season, you’ve got a new roll of fencing or a winter’s hay for the little brushmower. 2 words of caution: 1) “It takes a strong fence or chain to starve a goat” 2) If you DO chain it out, NEVER in the ditches alongside the roads…usually toxic weed spray’s been sprayed, but actually the main danger is from the fact there’s some people who just can’t seem to bypass such a tempting target for their guns/beercans/rocks. Oh, and caution #3 = Spend any amount of time watching the antics of one of these critters (especially when they’re young) and you’ll be hooked for life. :p Just ask Jennifer…she knows. 😀 But I’d recommend the full-sized breeds, rather than her little guys, for this; you want them to get up as high as possible on that nasty old thornbush. They’ll even eat most of the thorns for you…ain’t that just sweet of them?

[Robert MoonShadow]

Jason; That Athens HP-powered log splitter = any idea how fast it works? I like the premise, but am concerned w/ the operational speed: I need to be able to split 3+ cords per day, for it to be feasable {read ‘profitable’}.

Also, in reading this thread: what is “TSI”?

[Robert MoonShadow]

Out here, we have multiflora rose, and yellow starthistle (a noxious/invasive & nasty little thing with thornheads), as well as puncture vines (AKA “goatheads” for the shape of their thorny seedpods).
People here hate all three…my goats love ’em = I throw up my electric netting; turn the girls loose; and wait about 4 days…pck up my $$ for ‘custom grazing’ and away I go.
Sounds like your solution might be to buy a couple of wethers (castrated goats) – they make good eating when you’re done w/ every thorny thing you can find for them to eat. Or rent them out = I charge $5/day for the entire herd; not much money, but it adds up = I made right about $800 this season from the little sweethearts. Bought me 2 donkeys, plus extras, with it. Even if it’s something they won’t eat (those thorns of yours), they’ll clear enough leaves off, and the rest of the brush, so that it’ll be a heck of a lot easier for you to get in there & cut it out, or whatever.

[Robert MoonShadow]

@Joel 12275 wrote:

You better hope the farm has insurance otherwise do donations only.

Perhaps a signed waiver, instead? Or in addition to? Probably need an attorney to give it the once-over, to make sure it’s comprehensive, yet simple.

[Robert MoonShadow]

@lancek 12295 wrote:

OOO YEA!!! we should all take up the spirit of the great punkin and give of our selfs lol 😀

Speaking strictly for myself here:
If I don’t live out my spiritual beliefs in my actions, I’m a fake. I just taught 17 kids the value (and pure fun) of;
Random acts of kindness
Anonymous acts of giving
Deliberate acts of love

It cost me $2.50 for the pack of seeds. 😉

You’ve got something better to do? :confused:

[Robert MoonShadow]

As you said, Scyther – most mainstream jobs aren’t really secure, anyways – methinks a lot of people are learning that, lately. It’s actually my main point; I look back at what my grandparents & their generation went through during the last great depression/recession {I really like the lessons to be gleaned from history}, and from this tired old brain of mine has come up with is this: those who had land, and knew, or could figure out how to, grow their own food & provide their needs from the land & extended environment around them, made it. A seldom mentioned tidbit from those days is that there were actually quite a few people who didn’t make it; starvation, disease, “street” violence = a lot of people died, during that time. Those who made it, had enough – actually the same amount as everyone else, but the difference, from what I can discover from listening to old folks, was the attitude. They didn’t fail to survive – to even have & raise children during those times, because they never quite felt that they wouldn’t = “failure is NOT an option”. Like my grandpa used to tell me; “You can come up with at least 99 reasons why you’ll fail…but you only need to find one reason to succeed”. My grandparents never once mentioned the word “sacrifice”, about those times.
These are just some things I try to keep in mind, when I feel I’m caught “between a dollar and a dream”. I’ve heard a lot of people say “I’m living my dream – I wouldn’t trade it for a million dollars!” >>> but I’ve never, ever heard even one person say “I’ve got a million dollars – I wouldn’t trade it to live the life of my dreams”
‘Nuff said?

[Robert MoonShadow]

Hey, now…I didn’t post this for focusing on me –> I’m hoping that some here will catch the feeling, and get motivated to do something similar, themselves, and perhaps post about it – to motivate still others. 😉

[Robert MoonShadow]

@Julie Clemons 11096 wrote:

She is a fast learner but a slow rememberer.

Hey! That describes ME, too! 😮

{BTW, Carl; I like the way you explained it: not getting her to walk faster, but KEEPING her at the faster pace…makes me consider that idea in other situations, as well – thanks for the insight!}

[Robert MoonShadow]

@Rod 12245 wrote:

No, I don’t think we have turned the last chapter with the donkeys yet but but I do have nice 1973 IH Loadstar truck for sale.

Yeah, well, it was just a thought…
As for the truck, that’s probably one of the bif ones, from the size of it –> too big to mail out here, and it’s too far to hitchhike to this close to winter. 😀

[Robert MoonShadow]

Rod ~ If you’re not using them…any consideration to selling them (the harnesses) to someone who will use them; oh, say, like…me? :confused:

[Robert MoonShadow]

Thanks, Rod – that’s the thread I was trying to find…and the contact info. How has the harness worked out for you?

[Robert MoonShadow]

Ixy ~ I would call those ‘unmet needs’, not “sacrifices”. Perhaps just semantics, but what I focused on were the examples given by others; such as vehicles, etc. Yours, I would truly call needs (although with long blonde hair, you probably look just fine, without a haircut ;)). But if the haircut leads to a positive attitude about oneself, then it is a need.
I was trying to point out that it’s mostly a matter of attitude, on whether it’s a ‘sacrifice’ or not. I shop mostly secondhand stores for my clothes and household items; partly because it’s what I can afford, but also because I see no reason not to…it’s usually just as good as anything I can buy for anywhere near that price. My Datsun p/u doesn’t haul or tow near as much as what that big Ford deisel does, but it does what I need it to…and with my attitude about it, it’s not a sacrifice, just a wise decision >>> I don’t need Navistar = I know how to use & fold a map. :rolleyes: That extra money can be used to spend on country-girls w/ long blonde hair. :p

[Robert MoonShadow]

Kevin ~ Where do you live at? ‘How to sell farm produce legally’ covers a lot of ground…most places I’ve heard of, are similar to here (Idaho) = farmers’ markets are primarily regulated about 3 things: 1) weights/measures = need to either have a state-certified scale or post “all weights approximate” 2) food safety = here, you can give out samples of almost any produce EXCEPT melons. This info can be found at your local health department and/or dept. of ag. 3) sales taxes = they want “their” share of what you make. I just figure the tax into my per-unit sale price & don’t bother to collect the pennies – just figure the 6% sales tax out of the year’s gross & send it in.
These simple regulations are usually also all that’s applied to roadside stands, although local codes differ, of course.
As for HOW to grow things: apprenticeship with someone who’s doing it. Rural Heritage has a system set up with just that info.
Or, do as I’m doing; learn by doing, while keep on working at a paycheck-providing job.
The true learning will really come from the land, anyways, if you learn to listen to it. Preparation is important – especially with young ones about – but the circumstances will never be ‘perfect’.
One last “secret” = the seed companies have great motivation to see you succeed with their seeds: and lots of (usually) friendly people that will give you advice to ensure that your growing attempts are successful. Use them…they know how to grow their product.
Enjoy each step – forward or backwards – that you take, in and of itself.
I’m no expert at all…I just like to dig in the dirt. 😀
Hope this helps, and sorry that I got so long-winded.

[Robert MoonShadow]

My selection (so far) =
1) ‘Keeping Livestock Happy’ – the USDA 1942 yearbook. (I’ve also got the 1923 & 1925 yearbooks) – a whole chapter on each animal (including horse/mule) and even dogs/cats. Perhaps outdated, but still lots of little nuggets in it.
2) ‘The Definitive Donkey’ – A textbook on the Modern Ass; by Betsy & Paul Hutchins >>> the founders of the American Donkey & Mule Society and the magazine The Breyer. This book, which they sent to me free, when I wrote from prison and asked them the price, IS as the name says: Definitive. Breeds, uses, training (including differences in donkey/mule/horse training), feeding, breeding; covering from miniatures to mammoth jackstock. A complete section on defining the colors, which are differently named from horses. This book also convinced me that “donkeys can do”…and that I can do, with a donkey. Even has a chapter on ‘flapjack races’ and other fun things to do. If you need to know about donkeys, it’s probably in here – and I’ll gladly loan it out.
3) “Donkeys for Development” by Peta Jones. The other book ADMS sent me free in prison – I was trying to learn about using donkeys for actual farm work; this book is written by Peta, who is a white woman in Zimbabwe (or whatever that country’s called this week), and S. Africa, who teaches humane & effective ways to use donkeys for farming & hauling… including a rural taxi service! Very pragmatic, as you might expect when dealing with the reality of farming in an impoverished nation: if it’s not VERY effective, they don’t have time to experiment with it. Case in point: when one donkey dies (or a goat) = it describes how to utilize the skin as a harness for the other donks. She also focuses on the reality that most of the farm work and the actual caretaking of the donkey falls upon the woman…and teaches them how…and WHY… to handle the animal humanely & safely. LOTS of insights that get you thinking on how to adapt or ‘make do’ with what you actually have on hand. {Even without duct tape! 😮
4) The Draft Horse Primer – hardcover edition.
5) 3 large boxes of ATTRA/NCAT publications about sustainable and organic agriculture. These are sent free (it’s independent of, but supported by, the USDA) – and can also be found online for free downloads, as well as a weekly newsletter/email.

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