[goodcompanion]

There is a little-known dark side to breathatarianism. That is that in order to live on breath alone, you have to grab ahold of other people, children, small animals, and just suck the living breath out of them. Turns out breath just isn’t nutritive enough if all you have to live on is your own. Most breathatarians are not ready to own up to the human cost of their practices and guard this secret very closely.

I came by this knowledge the hard way, having been assaulted by a starving breathatarian while I was changing a tire on the highway. He left me for dead with two collapsed lungs. But miraculously I survived, and lived to tell about their sinister habits. Watch out for these people.

[goodcompanion]

A lot has changed since my last post on the thread, Robert. Now, looking at the rising prices in our local supermarket, I am increasingly convinced that I can compete on price for many of the things we make so long as (1) I sell everything retail, and (2) I have some people to help me for cheap or free. (The dilemma of cheap apprentices giving their labors in return for education has been discussed elsewhere on this board).

Also, I am betting that members of my extended family will be showing up on the farm looking for a situation within a year or two. I have two sisters pursuing ph.d’s now–what kind of job will there be for them in the wide world when they graduate? Probably none, but they can come here and be pulling weeds, carding wool, milking cows by hand.

In short I think we are looking at a decline or collapse of labor prices in the face of rising unemployment. This is to the advantage of all operations that depend on lots of labor to function. It is to the disadvantage, however, of the general public’s ability to pay, at least in cash. But everyone has to eat, even without a job to pay for food. My hope is that the collapse of currency will pave the way to non-monetary exchange.

Pre-1945, most bakers worldwide did not sell their goods for money day-in-day-out. They did so for barter or credit. In France an elaborate system of tally-sticks was used for this purpose. Even “cash customers” generally didn’t have year-round possession of real currency–their personal integrity and position and work in the community was the security on their credit.

But back to the question of animal power in promoting the effort. I think that using animal power is for selling/delivering goods is a fantastic symbol. Here in my town we have been having a muted, vermont-style culture war for some time, the crusty locals versus the yuppie environmentalist flatlander transplants. I see the animal-powered farm as a way to wed the best of both world-views. It has the ecological sensibility for the over-educated flatlanders, but also the suggestion that native vermonters’ seemingly forgotten family histories (grand-dad milked ten cows, had a team of horses he was mighty proud of and never sold even after he and everyone else got tractors..etc.) may be of practical, frugal necessity in the present.

I had tabled my horse-drawn farm/bakery wagon until just a little while ago. But now I’ve changed my mind, by God we’re going to build that sucker and send it out on duty in the spring. Hope you build yours too.

[goodcompanion]

@Ira 5350 wrote:

Hi Amanda, What does “trinqueballe” translate to in english?

I think that would be “trink ball” in English.

Actually, it’s not in any dictionary I have. Look at those pictures–that there is a trink ball. As far as I can tell, “trinqueballe” makes as much sense in French as “trink ball” does in English (“trinquer” means to clink glasses, “balle” means ball.)

I do like “big wheel” too, that name has good associations for me. Noisy, but good.

[goodcompanion]

@Biological Woodsman 5301 wrote:

Cool that someone is Europe is digging these devices out of the past and using them today. I suspect there aren’t many wheel wrights that could make one today.

Witmer Coach Shop in New Holland PA could probably make one for as cheap and as good quality as anywhere. They offer all sizes of wheels.

[goodcompanion]

Ouch. Machines Modernes a Traction Animale is $82.00. I wish I had that kind of money for a book.

[goodcompanion]

What is a diamond bar? Hollow steel with a diamond-shaped profile?

[goodcompanion]

The “Onion News Network” (Since 1899) is entirely fake, all staged with actors all around. But done in such a professional style–check out the onion-shaped motif in the chrome decor on the talk-show set, for instance. These short little clips are all that exist of the show, there is no real network.

I also enjoyed the panel discussion, “Is Halloween becoming too commercialized?” and the documentary news piece about american parents outsourcing child care to India (using big fedex boxes).

I have been a fan of the Onion since it was a free college weekly in UW Madison in the 90s, paid for by ads for beer and wings. They have since gone big-time, but still manage to hit close enough to home to really make you wonder if it’s in earnest from time to time. For instance, early in the Iraq war the Onion ran a piece about how the U.S. govt was contracting to Fox to create a reality-show competition (all contestants living in the same NYC suite, song-and-dance-based challenges included). The winner of this contest would be installed by the U.S as the new president of Iraq. This article was picked up and reported as fact by the Chinese wire service and the second-largest newspaper in Spain.

[goodcompanion]

@Carl Russell 4812 wrote:

The trick is not to fall into a discussion with them

Carl

Couldn’t agree more. And on that note, if you haven’t watched the Onion video in the link in my first post up there at the top, you should. It’s “Today Now!” which is the Onion’s spoof version of Good Morning America. The ballonist’s T-shirt at the end is the best part.

And in the “Sea Kitten” website, read the “sea kitten stories.” The best one is the one involving a sea kitten becoming “bitter and insane” and plotting making a “land kitten soufflé” in revenge for sea kitten deaths.

My in-laws gave me a copy of Gene Baur’s Farm Sanctuary, and I have to say that it, too, really pushed my buttons. Such an asinine viewpoint, words fail me utterly. If you believe in real relationships between humans and animals for work, food, and fertility, then you can buy it and it can push your buttons too.

Incidentally, my in-laws didn’t do this to me on purpose. It was just a “farm book” in the bookstore and therefore something I would probably like. Not their fault.

[goodcompanion]

@drybranchfarm 4773 wrote:

Yes, you can start willows fom cuttings. They do pump a lot of water. It would be really interesting to find out what you learn. It’ll be several years before the trees are big enough to pump a significant amount of water, but if you have the time…

Lane Linnenkohl

I’m reading a book where agriculture is described as a question asked of nature. Maybe you don’t get an answer for 10 years. I can wait, I guess.

[goodcompanion]

Thanks Jen…that article has the finest writing on our operation I’ve read yet. The author used to work at Crown Point Bakery, so she knows the domain.

[goodcompanion]

I also liked “I am Cow” by the same Arrogant Worms.

“I am Cow, hear me moo.”

[goodcompanion]

@Robert MoonShadow 4481 wrote:

Could you supply me w/ this contact? I’m new here (DAP), and have a donkey on the way up… I farm an acre (produce) and he’s replacing the Ford tractor = need input & advice; seems like what I need, here. Thanks a bunch!!

Promatta is based in Rimont, in southwest France. They have an office with regular hours–I don’t know if anyone in the office speaks English.

At one point I was interested in forming a transatlantic draft-farming collaboration network–Promatta was interested in the idea and quickly invited me to to a tour of their member farms. But I never followed up, had two kids instead. Point is, they are very serious and professional and friendly.

Their website is http://www.promatta.org, and you can see what methods they use with the pictures there. The address and phone are:

Association PROMMATA – La Gare – 09420 RIMONT – Tél. 05.61.96.36.60 – Fax 05.61.66.99.58

email: association.prommata@prommata.org

I would be happy to translate a message if you p.m. it to me, then you can send it on.

[goodcompanion]

@Joshua Kingsley 4431 wrote:

In response to the question about our cow with out horns, she was bought in and has KILLED 2 of our jersey and shorthorn hefiers. she is a large rangy holsine and she in my oppinion needs a lesson in manners.

Yikes. Perhaps a “lesson in manners” involving a bun, pickle, lettuce, ketchup.

[goodcompanion]

On the French draft forums this looms so large that one can scarcely discuss anything else…sheesh. So yes, things are pretty civil here, thanks for that.

Hippophagie, non! Un cheval, ça ne se mange pas!

[goodcompanion]

My in-laws bought me “Farm Sanctuary” by Gene Baur for Christmas–I have read as much as I could without jumping up and howling…the whole issue of animal rescue has been on my mind anyway.

The relationship between humans and horses is different from other animals in that horses, for the majority of farming cultures past and present, are not raised primarily for food. Setting food aside, you have the work and/or leisure sport the horse can provide, plus companionship.

But what to do with the aged or very sick horse? If any form of slaughter is ruled out, the only option remaining is to bring in a vet with a syringe and a backhoe. 100 years ago there were no syringes and no backhoes, so this decision wasn’t ethically fraught. Now it is considered by many to be borderline barbarism to elect not to go the syringe/backhoe route.

Because of the companionship aspect of the human-equine relationship it seems that the discussion gets emotionally charged in a real hurry. Personally, I’d prefer that any horse of mine that was truly unwell have a swift end and that its body be used for something, the horse won’t be needing it any more. I feel the same way about my own someday decrepitude and future corpse, for what it’s worth.

But if it comes to that pass for one of my horses, I might not feel safe acting on my feelings about the matter and sending a sick horse north to Canada to be knackered…I feel like my perspective is not widely shared, and that when it comes to horses, people are very quick to judge.

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