[CRTreeDude]

By law done here you have to use a forestry engineer to mark the trees – no trees are to be cut without documentation with MINAE.

But, the forestry engineers are dictated by MINAE as in what kind of trees can be cut and what will be the result to the land afterwards. It seems to be working. Slowly but surely people are learning how to manage the land – and if they don’t, MINAE will ensure they do.

[CRTreeDude]

We have a small flock (that is growing) of about 20. We use them to eat the grass between the trees. It works well. I don’t remember the breed.

[CRTreeDude]

I think when people discount working with hands they forget that power machinery has to be maintained, and that reguires a lot more work than you might imagine.

People think they are saving lots of labor by using motors, but often not. For example, for trips under 3 to 4 miles, you would be hard put to be more efficient than a bike – and the difference in time just isn’t that much. If you limited your travel to that distance, and many people can, the amount you need to work to pay for a car, gas, etc equals a huge amount of time WASTED that was not necessary.

Another good example for most people would be a snowblower. If you calculate the cost in time to earn enough to buy one and give it gas, etc. It becomes anything but a labor savings device.

Much of the reason people who use hand tools can live on so much less is that they don’t have to pay for upkeep on all the gadgets.

Another thing most people don’t know – for many, many years, computers actually cost more time than they were worth. It really wasn’t until the Internet that gains were made – and that was because of the ease of accessing information. But, how many people in the early days thought it would be wonderful to organize all their recipes on the computer? The truth is, it is hard to beat a shoebox for that.

Of course, with the Internet – I can search and get thousands of recipes in a couple of seconds, which beats the shoebox.

[CRTreeDude]

Our model might be fairly unique. The primary use of our herd (12) of horses are to eat grass. We grow trees and after a couple of years, we use the horses to keep the grass down between the trees.

This makes for some fat horses I can tell you! So, we use the horses for hauling things. Water, plants, etc. It works very well.

Now that we are in wood production, we are starting to use the horses for moving logs, etc. to position for the sawmill.

The balance of cost is this: Speed of getting the job done compared to the cost of fuel (and repair!) if we were to use a tractor or ATV. We have no food costs with the horses (we can swap them out if they work too hard), and our people know how to put horseshoes on, etc. Vet bills are very cheap here as well.

Now, if I could figure out how to harness sheep too… Well, they serve a good purpose as food. 😀

[CRTreeDude]

Yeah, the forum seems very good. There is one joker who has posted a lot even though he doesn’t even have harnesses for his horses yet!

Honest, we are in process of making them…. 😉

[CRTreeDude]

Costa Rica at 7,000 feet will have you huddling around a campfire! 😮 Cold, windy, yech!

For many, 3,000 feet seems to be just about perfect. I personally like between 400 to 1,000 feet. Usually the high is about 80, so the morning and evening is wonderful.

Very sustainable at 400 to 1,000 feet. The tropics, if you are in the right places, is wonderful, pretty much the same temperature year round.

[CRTreeDude]

Usually you can ban based on IP as well if you wish, not just the name.

[CRTreeDude]

One key component in your success – you cut out the middleman. One huge advantage now is communication (I am typing this from Costa Rica for example). You can find clients via the Internet and you don’t have to have that many.

We have a fully operational woodshop – we make doors, beds, flooring, molding, cabinets, etc from our own wood. Lots of middlemen have been cutout. Easier on the land too when you cut in place and only haul off the usuable component.

[CRTreeDude]

One thing to consider is your glue – make sure it will standup to the abuse as well as waterproof and it has to handle shocks.

[CRTreeDude]

I would love to have it but I am a little far away. I am still trying to figure out how to get one down here.

[CRTreeDude]

Not to get too philosophical too early in the morning, but…

Isn’t this issue the same as we are experiencing all over? Nothing wrong with having fun, as long as that fun is not destructive. Leave it as good if not better than you found it and no one complains. Leave it trashed, and you lose the privelege.

We could say the same about the earth – when you enter a forest and harvest its fruits, don’t ruin it for the other users. The other users are those who use its water, its product of air and of course, the animals who live within it.

In that past we have been acting like there is an unlimited amount of land to despoil.

As those who ride trails are discovering, as trails close because of abuse, it limits the number of trails – and soon there will be no place to ride except on your own private land. Just because people wanted to take with no thought to the future.

Also, when there are just a few people passing on the trail, the damage is soon healed by nature – but when it starts resembling an expressway, there is no way that nature can keep up. Each trip a little more damage occurs, and soon it looks so bad that the land owners shut it down.

Much of the problems we are currently having is due to people who feel that they are just taking a little or damaging things a little – not realizing when everyone does the same, the whole thing is destroyed.

You might say, as a race, it is time we grew up.

[CRTreeDude]

This probably is not helpful to anyone, but it might be interesting. Because a lot of the old farmers here didn’t have much schooling, there is a way of measuring a tree for the amount of wood. This is how it is done

1. Above the roots and buttresses, measure the circumference. Lets say the circumference 40 inches.
2. Take that number (40) and divide by 4 = 10
3. Multiple that number by itself 10 * 10 = 100
4. Measure off 4 varas (11 feet, a varas is 33 inches)

That amount of wood would be 100 BF roughly. Repeat until you run out of trunk.

I deals well with estimating how much wood without getting fancy.

[CRTreeDude]

Probably part of what you are dealing with is that horses are considered a luxury item up there. Therefore, if someone is selling, they are calculating in the cost of maintaince as well.

Here, the cost of maintaince generally isn’t considered. You only pay for the value of the animal – i.e. how well trained. And, since there is an abundance of horses, there isn’t much problem finding any.

What we have are very well trained horses that are trained to riding (as in work and transportation) and at times, hauling carts. I have yet to see a harness here – normally they just attach the cart to the saddle and a ride sits on the horse. It works pretty well really.

I am looking forward to building some real harness for a few of the animals. Who knows what revolution it might start down here.

[CRTreeDude]

I think we have swung way too far to the side of using oil to do everything for us. The average person is way out of shape and drives everywhere. Even riding a horse (if feasable) would be better.

I remember distinctly living behind a restaurant. At times we would go to the restaurant which required walking probably 400 meters or less. It felt weird. Regularly here in Costa Rica we will walk a couple of kilometers without even thinking twice.

Yes, it takes longer to walk into town and back, but we aren’t that much in a hurry. After all, our work is done for the day and all that remains is to enjoy our time together. Why not go for a walk?

Even though those in cities may not be able to use animal power as much, there is available one kind of “animal power” which is very efficient. It is called a bike. There are many people now who are commuting to work on bikes – 10 mile round trips aren’t that extreme. 5 to 6 miles is easy. The only fuel you need is food – and who complains about being able to eat more?

[CRTreeDude]

Since your method has worked for thousands of years and oil for merely a hundred or so, I wouldn’t think your method should be considered an alternative.

Sort of like saying to math with paper and pencil is an alternative to a calculator.

[Author]

Posts