Hello from Cambodia

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  • May 25, 2009 at 1:51 pm #40592
    Fermentation
    Participant

    Hello from Phnom Penh in SE Asia. I’m An American working abroad, but have decided that I want to come home soon (USA) to farm, i spent a year organic farming in Escondido California in 2006/7, about two years ago and haven’t been happy since, despite the huge pay increase. I’m a big believer in peak oil, so I want o learn and promote more ways of sustainable farming. I worked in Pakistan and Afghanistan and saw the locals use big Oxen, I was always intrigued, beautiful sentient beings. They also have em out here in Asia, but the ones in Pakistan are something fearsome, plus they make good yogurt. Looking for a good internship,let me know if you hear of something. Hard worker and love to learn. 😉

    May 26, 2009 at 8:34 am #52676
    Carl Russell
    Moderator

    Welcome. We’ld love to hear more about what you’ve seen for draft animal power in those regions. I’m sure you’ll get some contacts through this site. Good luck, Carl

    May 26, 2009 at 5:21 pm #52683
    Fermentation
    Participant

    @Carl Russell 9069 wrote:

    Welcome. We’ld love to hear more about what you’ve seen for draft animal power in those regions. I’m sure you’ll get some contacts through this site. Good luck, Carl

    Thanks Carl,
    ‘
    Funny you mention this. I was just talking with my GF about it yesterday. When I was in Afghanistan, people used donkeys with great profiency. Later I moved Pakistan to help out in the big quake. While there, I saw lots of water buffaloes, the people were devastated. Those buffaloes did everything for the people living in the mountains. Without you buffaloes, you can easily die. Buffaloes were used for milk, butter, yogurt, and farming. They also cut down and bring huge blue pine for building down from the hills with those buffaloes ( I’ve seen it, and still don’t understand how they manage it). Don’t forget transport. See if I can fetch some pictures for ya. I couldn’t find the pics of the buffaloes,they’re on a different computer, but here are some pic anyway. Enjoy.

    June 4, 2009 at 6:38 pm #52682
    Robert MoonShadow
    Participant

    I’d be very interested in knowing more about the working donkeys.
    And welcome aboard!

    July 6, 2009 at 5:45 am #52684
    Fermentation
    Participant

    They mostly work donkeys in the wheat fields, at least thats where i see them a lot. Although I see people using with carts near some markets, but mostly in rural areas. i thought I was going back for a quick consultancy, but not sure anymore. If I make it back, I’ll inquire a lot more, and get more pictures.

    July 15, 2009 at 9:06 pm #52678
    bivol
    Participant

    Welcome!:)

    always good to have people with experiences from different parts of the world concerning working animals! please do describe what and how local people work their animals.
    and especially concerning the nose-rope system of control of oxen, i want to learn about it.

    ironically, the peak oil should not happen because of shortage of oil, but because of the solar wind. no hear-say, New Scientist wrote about it. in short, every electrical device burns out. electric pumps pumping the oil too. internal-combustion engines too. it’s supposed to happen in 2012.

    anyway, glad to have you!!! X)

    July 16, 2009 at 12:23 am #52681
    OldKat
    Participant

    @bivol 10038 wrote:

    Welcome!:)

    always good to have people with experiences from different parts of the world concerning working animals! please do describe what and how local people work their animals.
    and especially concerning the nose-rope system of control of oxen, i want to learn about it.

    ironically, the peak oil should not happen because of shortage of oil, but because of the solar wind. no hear-say, New Scientist wrote about it. in short, every electrical device burns out. electric pumps pumping the oil too. internal-combustion engines too. it’s supposed to happen in 2012.
    anyway, glad to have you!!! X)

    Not saying the solar wind thing can’t or won’t happen, but it does sort of remind me of the hysteria surrounding “The end of the world as we now know it, or Y2K”. I don’t think I am going to build a solar wind shelter, but will get back to you closeer to 2012!

    BTW, bivol; did they happen to mention in what part of 2012 this would happen and why 2012 and not sooner or later? :confused: Just curious.

    July 16, 2009 at 9:02 pm #52677
    bivol
    Participant

    well, they (scientists) said fall 2012. why not sooner? i think it has to do with natural cycles of solar activity, in 11 year intervals. i don’t know much about it, but they know that the Sun has its plasma currents, like the ocean currents on our planet, and by calculating where these may erupt, they said the year…
    …. and, the solar wind harms no living creature, i think it doesn’t cause (big?) burns, being heated particles, but harms electrical devices by overloading them….

    hm, now that i think, they mentioned power plugs and power transformers because they are always on…. wonder if it harms turned off cables and such:confused:
    also, i don’t think it could cause damage to an engine or cable a few feet under the surface.
    and about all these theories about the end of world and such, i’ve never payed much attention to them, they even annoyed me, but if it comes from a science magazine, and is written cautiously, i think it’s worth paying a little attention. not panic, but maintaining a healthy caution. anyway, today it’s still to early to see how the governments will react, but i’d keep my eye on the events just in case…

    but hey, it doesn’t overload oxen and horses, this is probably the forum with people who will, even in the worst scenario, fare the best, in the situation:D

    July 17, 2009 at 1:01 am #52680
    OldKat
    Participant

    @bivol 10042 wrote:

    well, they (scientists) said fall 2012. why not sooner? i think it has to do with natural cycles of solar activity, in 11 year intervals. i don’t know much about it, but they know that the Sun has its plasma currents, like the ocean currents on our planet, and by calculating where these may erupt, they said the year…
    …. and, the solar wind harms no living creature, i think it doesn’t cause (big?) burns, being heated particles, but harms electrical devices by overloading them….

    hm, now that i think, they mentioned power plugs and power transformers because they are always on…. wonder if it harms turned off cables and such:confused:
    also, i don’t think it could cause damage to an engine or cable a few feet under the surface.
    and about all these theories about the end of world and such, i’ve never payed much attention to them, they even annoyed me, but if it comes from a science magazine, and is written cautiously, i think it’s worth paying a little attention. not panic, but maintaining a healthy caution. anyway, today it’s still to early to see how the governments will react, but i’d keep my eye on the events just in case…

    but hey, it doesn’t overload oxen and horses, this is probably the forum with people who will, even in the worst scenario, fare the best, in the situation:D

    Actually, bivol, I was sort of making a point by asking why not sooner. The point being that it is a cyclical deal. Maybe this one will be worse than all the others; maybe it will end life as we know it. Since it happens, as you have pointed out, every 11 years or so it is hard to imagine that this one is going to tip the scales too far and the whole world is going to go belly up.

    I’ve read a little about this issue, too. Some publications put this in the grave danger category, others say it is a totally overblown issue. Truth is probably somewhere in between. I’m with you, the “end of the world” scenarios don’t merit my attention as; 1) I generally can’t do anything about them and 2) well, see # 1 above. I do think that widespread coverage about such possibilities is okay, but I wonder how much productivity is lost by people worried about things that probably won’t happen and can’t be changed if they do.

    Oh and I was just kind of messing with you, my friend!:p

    Have a good one …

    July 19, 2009 at 11:13 pm #52679
    bivol
    Participant

    i know, no prob:D

    i don’t know who said it, maybe Dalai-lama, but don’t know for sure: “if you worry about something you can change, you’re worrying for nothing, because you can change it. if you worry about something you can’t change, you’re worrying for nothing as you can’t change it whatever you do. either way, there’s no use in worrying”

    but he never told to ignore. so, i’ll drop my ear from time to time, just to be on the safe side here…

    …and i will, thank you;)

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