[goodcompanion]

The quantity of ducks or pigs I would need to do this job in a timely fashion rules it out. Six acres is too large of an area. The costs of doing the job this way would probably far exceed hiring it out. Another option is to rig my tractor for wet tillage with custom wheels but I don’t prefer this.

[goodcompanion]

Efficiency is tough to put a finger on. But if you define it in terms of “payback period,” or the number of years at the going rate of grid-purchased electricity required to recoup the investment, my design clocks in at about 10 years. For electricity. But what values you place on your time would hugely influence this equation, as would any revision of the core assumption that grid power will always cost about the same amount, or that utility net metering arrangements could change for the better or worse, and so on.

My ultimate conclusion is that for students of true local self-reliance, wind power is a tool with great long-term potential, but that electricity is not worth the bother. When it comes right down to it, just about everything we use electricity for in rural communitites we can and have done without. Mechanical power from wind is much more intriguing to me right now. My design does a pretty good job at that too, and we are moving on to an all-steel mark II for irrigation pumping with an archimedes screw.

[goodcompanion]

I would second that on the aspen. My brother used to build towers out of it for Boy Scouts. They would completely deteriorate within the year. Are there maybe some acacias or eucalypts locally that might serve, or a mahogany type wood? I don’t know too much about South African woods, but in Australia we had a mahogany-like species that they called “Queensland Maple.” It was of course not a true maple. But it was very dense and straight-grained, and widely used for making plywood, furniture, and such.

Stay away from “dimensionally unstable” woods as George said. The last thing you need is to be mowing along happliy and suddenly end up being pulled through a rift in the time-space continuum by your mower pole.

[goodcompanion]

Any number of ways to skin this cat!

I recently imported a rice huller from China. Those folks make a lot of small scale threshers, pretty cheap.

And of course there are the versions made from leaf chippers and such. And any number of ways of threshing using hand or animal power.

I have a full size farm thresher that I bought for $125 on ebay. An amazing machine, but takes quite a crew to keep up with its appetite. For this reason most small batches we have just done with flails.

[goodcompanion]

@Countymouse 27527 wrote:

It is interesting that the ecology of this type of system is a concern. I agree that is is unlikely that these planted forests/orchards would be very similar to native forests. Ecology is such a subjective word to me in general, but that another topic entirely. Either way, I think it would be more fair to compare the ecological impact of this system to the more standard corn/soybean hog raising system rather than to native forest. In other words, is it more ecologically sound to raise hogs in planted trees at a low stocking density or is it more ecologically sound to use the ground as cropland and keep the hogs in confinement. Based on rough math, the carrying capacity of tree crops is at least the same, if not more, than the carrying capacity of cropland. Also entering into this would be the power required to till, plant, harvest, and store crops each and every year. This power could be produced from animals, of course, but feeding and housing these animals would require even more land and further reduce the efficiency of the cropland-confinement system.

PS. Personally, I have only ever raised pigs in confinement. I found it suprising that this system seems so possible. Maybe it shouldn’t be, as forests are where pigs came from, but it was to me. I am trying to recheck as much math as possible because I think J Russell Smith overstates his case a bit. He said in one part of the book that hogs could be stocked at 2 per mulberry tree, which would end up with 80 per acre. Maybe for a short time, but the math doesn’t support that this stocking rate is sustainable. Still, the system looks competative with corn for total calories per acre and produces a crop every year (unlike ground for corn, which is often cycled).

I think you should try it, document everything, and write a sequel to “Tree Crops.” Seriously. This is one of those Grand Ideas people talk and talk about but who has really got the gumption to try to take a theoretically workable idea and make it into a physical reality? And the chops to collect enough data that there is some science behind what you say, so that others can model their work off yours if they choose. Bet you can do it, Andy. This would be a good conservation innovation grant through NRCS.

[goodcompanion]

And “pignut hickory” does not have “pig” in the name for no reason.

[goodcompanion]

Anything to avoid having to shell walnuts. What a godawful job, shelling american walnut. Those things don’t want to be shelled.

But has anyone actually done this with walnuts, fed them to pigs in great quantity? Walnuts are toxic. Every part of the tree, leaf, wood, nut, has this allochemical to which some people are violently allergic but even “normal” people will develop symptoms when overexposed to it–for me walnuts make parts of my mouth numb if I have more than a few. What about pigs?

[goodcompanion]

@Carl Russell 27480 wrote:

However, I have a problem with “Agroforestry” in general as the two uses are not necessarily compatible. Livestock management usually places so much pressure on a site that the inherent ecology of the forest is compromised.
Carl

The constant war of herbivores versus trees! exposing the roots, eating the bark, and toxifying the shady area with excrement when they camp out in the shade for half the day. Yeah, I have to say that I kind of like my hayfields tree-free and my woody hedgerows herbivore-free.

Maybe the issue with the agroforestry concept is that it is modeled on plant-animal relationships from a different ecosystem, like the African savannah. I’m not exactly sure why the animals don’t kill those trees like they’re killing mine, but I’m sure there must be a reason!

Grass in the northeast is a successive response to disturbance. So grass is a kind of arrested succession. Forest is the final stage of succession. Forest and field are so fundementally different that maybe you can’t really have both in one place at one time. Which is not to say that you wouldn’t get benefit from a “checkerboard” arrangement with a lot of edge effect.

[goodcompanion]

I remember that book from a long time ago. Interesting ideas. Don’t hear often from folks who’ve had great luck implementing them. I should pick it up again though. I think it’s still on the shelf somewhere!

[goodcompanion]

Well it seems to me that Prommata has interest in reaching out to the English speaking world too, it would be fun for me to work with them for whoever could benefit.

[goodcompanion]

I received a reply back from Prommata:

Bonjour,
Vous allez recevoir de la documentation par la poste.
Vous pouvez en disposer comme vous voulez.
Si vous les traduisez, nous aimerions en avoir des exemplaires car cela
nous intéresse d’avoir notre documentation traduite en anglais.
Nous pouvons envoyer le matériel par transport maritime mais cela coûte
cher !
Je transmets votre message à l’ensemble de l’équipe de PROMMATA.
A bientôt, Valérie

Translation:

Hello,
We’re going to send you materials by mail.
You can do whatever you like with them.
If you translate them, we’d like to have some examples because we’re interested in having our documentation translated into English.
We can send equipment by sea but it’s expensive.
I am forwarding your message to the entire PROMMATA team.
Til later, Valerie

I think this dialog is worth translating and posting on the forum because Prommata has done such outstanding work and over such a span of time, trying to devise implements to improve the lot of small farmers throughout the developing world. Early trials were done on four continents! Promatta is still active in at least two continents. In my view there is a huge amount that we as DAPNet members could learn from them, both in terms of the equipment itself and in their general experience. Probably they could learn from us too. If there is something other members would like to know, please post and I will try to find it out.

Personally it’s long been my wish to serve as a link between the draft power movements of the French speaking world and the northeast. So I continue to try to find a way to do so just because it’s interesting to me.

[goodcompanion]

Bonjour mesieurs et mesdames de Prommata,

Je vous ecris comme adherent de l’association DAPNet, une organization a but non-lucratif pour avancer l’utilization des animaux de trait et l’agriculture et silviculture durable. Nous nous sommes formes recemment, et nous maintenons un site de ouebbe (http://www.draftanimalpower.com) en anglais, mais nos membres sont partout dans le monde, mais plutot les anglophones.

Certains de nos membres s’interessent des techniques de Prommata beaucoup! J’ai commande le livre de Jean Noelle et bien sur c’est remplit avec renseignements tres importants. Je comprends que c’est le but de Prommata de distribuer le savoir y dedans partout dans le monde, donc j’imagine que ca ne poserait aucune problem si je traduis quelques chapitres pour mes collegues, pour seulment les buts non-lucratif et educationels. Mais je voudrais bien savoir si vous de Prommata reservent certains droits de traduction et dissemination.

Aussi, j’imagine que il y aura des clients qui voulait commander des equipements. Il y a quelques annees, vous m’avez envoye queques feuilles avec equipements et leurs prix, mais je l’ai perdu, dommage. Mais peut-etre vous pourriez me dire si des machines de Prommata fait en Europe sont toujours disponible, et si les fabricants sont capables de les preparer et les livrer pour transport maritime.

En general, notre communaute des adherents a beaucoup en commun avec la votre, et j’espere que nous pourrions travailler ensemble pour avancer l’interet du animal travaillant. Je serais tres content de vous render compte de nos activites dans le nord-est de l’Amerique, et boucoup d’entre nous sont egalement interesses en les votres.

Veuillez pardonner l’absence d’accents car ma programme de couriel n’en est capable.

Amicalement,

Erik Andrus
boulanger, et fermier aux chevaux de trait
Canton de Ferrisburg
Vermont, USA

Basically this email describes DAPNet and mentions that certain members are interested in the work of Jean Nolle and Prommata, mentions that I’m translating some text for educational purposes and asks if this is okay, asks if Prommata equipment is for sale and can be shipped overseas, and expresses hope for future collaboration. I wrote this just as a member, not from any position of leadership or what-have-you.

[goodcompanion]

Here is Plate 87. Let me know if this chapter is useful. Translating it is hard work! Subsequent sections of this chapter include the tool array and toolbar system, alteration of the wheel arrangement for different jobs,reversible and double-gang plows using this platform, cultivators, subsoiler, rake, furrower, seeders of various kinds, disc, hiller, beet-lifter, sicklebar mower, brushhog, cultipacker, land leveler, land plane and more. There are also complete metric plans for this platform.

[goodcompanion]

Chapter 5
The Tropicultor

From Machines Modernes a Traction Animals, Jean Nolle. Translated Erik Andrus

Before speaking of why I chose to begin the work of creating the Tropicultor in its current material form, it seems to me important to explain that in 1961 I was still in the same state of grace as I was in 1954, despite the hardships we’d suffered since Independence. My desire always remained the same:

To make an ox-powered tractor in order that the forgotten small farmers may have, in their lives, opportunities equal to large farmers.

This is why the request of IOSTA in France came at the right time to give me a chance to make a start. And it was also in the month of August that I found myself back in Kaboul with a Hippomobile forecart equipped with a cotton seeder, and also a furrower and a cultivator.

At the beginning of the year 1962 I was in Madagascar without the forcart but with publicity materials. As I distributed them, I surveyed the largest number of operators I could regarding whether they thought the research worthwhile. I became convinced it was as soon as I learned that a local blacksmith was trying to copy the machine I had designed. I am sure he knew that he was giving me the response I had hoped for.

From the big island, I came back to Europe via Uganda and Kenya where I carefully studied the land and the methods of farming, thinking of how my next machine would work. Having accumulated a lot of observations, I drafted my Tropicultor in the month of November as a variant of project C in plate 20 as I spoke of earlier.

Fabrication went on through April 1963 because I insisted, as is my habit, to bring the prototype about with my own hands without any help from the state.

And the thing the journalists would later call “the poor person’s tractor” was presented for the first time in the tropics in September 1963, with its cousins Ariana and Sine*, in Senegal, where, five years earlier to the day, I had successfully introduced my three first-generation implements. I was almost able to believe that I was finally becoming credible. But not entirely. Those who had taken up use of my implements but hadn’t been able to make them work did not want to be made known publicly!

Later I changed the name from tropiculteur to Tropicultor when I realized that the French vowels are unpronouncable in English and in Spanish.

Plate 87. The Chassis 822

The Chassis 822 is a fleshed-out version of Project C, shown in plate 20 in relation to the horse forecart. The “bridge” form of the chassis is obtained by bending two tubes 50 x 60 at 90 degrees on each end and by welding them, each facing the other, at a 50 degree angle in gussets with a shape matching the contour of the tubes and with the axle embedded. This vis-a-vis arrangement is very strong–the force received by each tube are cancelled out by the others.

On the top, the two tubes A are tied together by two brackets D welded equally at each end, so that the upper surface serves as a seat, and the vertical faces serve as support for the connection point X for the lever system that runs from one side of the implement to the other.

On the top, on the rear tubes, we’ve welded a stem F, bored with three holes, with which, no matter which way is needed, the attachment of the pole end bracket U can be adjusted to different heights in order that the front of the pole (T) can match the height of the oxen. Traction is applied to the front tube (A) by means of a hook welded under the pole. (Skipping a sentence here that I can’t figure out, correction later).

Such is the first version of the Tropicultor chassis created in 1963, and which would be perfected in 1972 after my trials in Honduras. This improved chassis (which wasn’t any different in terms of dimensions, was numbered 928. It is shown in plate 91, but the tool array is depicted in the next plate also refers back to it.

*translator’s note: Ariana and Sine are earlier platform systems designed by Noelle

[goodcompanion]

@Ixy 27401 wrote:

Yes plenty of silaging going on here too from the dairy boys.

I’ve managed to get some grazing for my bullocks – they’re going to our local church as they have a nice lot of grass there! We were going to send a bull and some cows but we were worried he’d topple gravestones!

My oxen are also going out on ‘the long acre’ (road verges) as there’s plenty there and the council will only mow it if we don’t make use of it and needs must…not sure what DEFRA think of that but we’ll worry about that later…

I’ve always thought the use of verges in Britain being an excellent idea in practice. So many thousands of acres are mown in the US and left to bleach in the sun along our roads and interstates. Nobody benefits, and the taxpayer pays for it.

[Author]

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