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Robert MoonShadow
ParticipantPardon my ignorance, but what is a “New England style cart”? Also, will it work for a single (standard) donkey? I’m thinking that a small dump cart that can be converted to a team would be nice & handy.
Rod – if you think this cart you’re building would (or could, with modifications) fit what I’m after, I’d be interested. But I have no idea what autocad is, nor if my poor little dialup system would handle it… can’t do videos, for certain.ParticipantI don’t expect much from Obama – or any government official… and so far, that’s what I’ve gotten – not much. I don’t see anything different about him. I’ve heard so many people say he’ll be different, and when I ask what makes them think so, they usually say something along the lines of “He’ll change things… he’s the first black president…” So I merely point out that having preconceived expectations of someone’s actions based on their race is defined as racism. The conversation usually ends about then. As I said; he’s a politician: I expect the same from him as any other politician. I think I’ll base my hopes for the future & the recovery of the ills of this world on me – you – us – the common citizen of this little place we call Earth. I choose to learn to farm with animals. Not merely because I like animals; but because, to me, it makes economical, ecological & moral sense to do so. I don’t need to feed the world. I just want to feed my neighbors. That’s plenty enough to accomplish, in my lifetime.
Just my opinion.Participant😀 (and this is just his first one….)
ParticipantWell, I can see that I’m not going to be sharing the name of my donkey with you…. :p
{Some people shouldn’t be allowed to play with loaded puns.}
Oops.ParticipantErik: I hear you… I’d like to see someone with better orginization skills than myself to put together a ‘lending library’ system, so that perhaps people could pitch in & buy books & we could send them around to each other by mail. Don’t know if it’d be too expensive in postage, but I like the idea -> often I canread a book, get the ideas from it & not pick it up again for a couple of years. I bet there’s a lot of books sitting on peoples’ shelves/attics/etc. that would give me just the solution or idea I might need. Shared resources & all that, you know? I know I’ll never pay $82 for a book, but $10 & the postage when my turn came up on the list…? Hhmmm… maybe we should start a new thread on this & see what others think?
ParticipantAmanda ~ Check out http://www.attra.ncat.org It’s an organization devoted to supplying information on sustainable & organic agriculture. I’ve seen information in it on how to add or subtract acidity in soils. I think part of it will have to do with the type(s) of soil & moisture amounts you have. It’s a good place to start,with lots of links & referrances to other sources. It’s primary source is the NSAIS. It’s subsidized by the USDA, but isn’t a part of it, so it’ll give you information that isn’t just mainstream in content. I hope this helps, and good luck!
ParticipantThanks, Jean
ParticipantJen ~ What type of dog is he? Oh, and Nell thinks he’s quite the handsome guy. (She likes to flirt, even though she’s fixed – strictly a platonic relationship).
ParticipantJean ~ What does that mare do, once she IS with the new one? Whip them up, or just says “howdy”?
ParticipantMy border collie x Aussie dog Nell doesn’t WANT to come inside… every morning, I get frost on my hands saying “good morning” to her -> her fur frosts up on the ends of it, but she makes a dandy hand muff when my hands get too cold chopping out the ice in the tubs for the goats. My last encounter w/ “those people”, I asked them if PETA stood for Please Eat Them Animals –> a farmers’ rights activist group. 😮
ParticipantCarl, you should be flogged for that one. Since it’s her intro –> Anne, do the honors? 😮
ParticipantTevis: Sweet. Keep me posted, will you, please? Even if it doesn’t work out… that, too, can be learned from.
ParticipantDonn ~ Is that thread on blinders you mentioned here in ‘equipment’? I’ve checked just about every one but couldn’t find it… yet.
My thoughts on blinders so far: Based on the experiences I’ve had w/ my pack donkeys, I’d prefer that this donkey I’ll be training up be able to see as much as possible, and he’s totally untrained, so won’t have the experience of blinders to ‘unlearn’. Hey – with only 1 eye, myself, having that pair of eyes up front that has better peripheral vision on the right side has got to be a good thing! 😮 Donkeys aren’t prone to startling, if they can see things long enough in advance to think about the situation. So, a driving harness can be used for light ‘work’? For such as a walk-behind cultivator, disc harrow, etc? I’m not sure what the breakover point would be between ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ work in this regard -> how to tell BEFORE he’s injured or something breaks, if the work or draft is too much. Much of the equipment I’m going to try to be getting will be single-horse & walk-behind, mostly for cost & the fact I’ve only 1 donkey (for now). But I don’t want to sacrifice his well-being to save $$. More accurately; I WON’T sacrifice it. Are there any specific questions I should be asking of this seller about the harness? I’m mainly hoping to use it to train him up in & get a heavier harness when he’s trained, in shape, and I have a better idea of what’s needed. IF I can do so without undue risk to him, me or the equipment. Sorry for being so drawn out on this, but it’s important to me that I don’t make any unneccesary mistakes, especially since he’s the one that would suffer the consequences.ParticipantMike~ This info is pretty much learned at ADMS -> a mule = donkey father / horse mother. Hinny = the reverse. Many jacks actually WON’T breed but one or the other (jenny or mare), depending on which it’s raised with. Some, however, will. Probably the same problem w/ the stallions. Also, donkeys having the fewer chromosomes, it’s harder for the jenny to concieve a hinny. The suggestions I’ve seen in the Brayer (the ADMS bimonthly magazine) say that if you have the problem you are, then use a teaser mare to “get them in the mood” & switch them out pretty quickly. Also, they recommend that the two being bred be within 4″ (6″ max) & somewhat close in body style & weight type. {For ease of birth}. The ADMS has article reprints on breeding, etc. – usually for less than a buck – and are always willing to help w/ advice. Their website is: http://www.lovelongears.com Their email is: lovelongears@hotmail.com
Hope this helps, and if you do get a couple on the ground, don’t forget pictures, okay? I’d love to see them.ParticipantI’ve just come across an opportunity to buy a driving harness (no collar); pretty fair shape, for about $100, that should fit my standard donkey… everything but the bit. I’m wondering: is this suitable for using for teaching him to pull a cultivator, small cart, etc.? Is it possible to add a collar or is that a bad idea? – that I should get a collar-type harness when I move up to that? Actually, the harness I’m referring to is on eBay, item #180321612044, if anyone felt up to checking it out & giving me their opinion(s) on whether this would work. Also, I’m not real fond of the idea of having blinders on it… can those be removed w/out destoying the bridle? Please include the reasons you have for your opinion –> strictly so that I can understand & learn. Thank you to any & all that can help me with this decision.
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