Draft Animal Power International

[goodcompanion]

I thought I’d share a little insight into the world of draft animal power beyond our borders. While a farm intern in France, I noticed that in certain respects, effective small farm technologies are much more prevalent and available there than here. Milling equipment, for instance.

So, using the internet, I set about trying to see what is going on in Europe, particularly in french-speaking areas, with regard to animal power. There are some interesting efforts that mirror our own.

On the whole I’d have to report that there is relatively little serious animal-powered farming, probably because spatial limitations encourage a mentality of full-blown, up-to-date exploitation of every scrap of agricultural land. While here, there are thousands of acres of marginally used, wild, and/or neglected lands, so it’s not a direct affront to our national food production numbers if some kook chooses to farm in a way that is less “efficient.” But in europe, there is greater pressure to conform in one’s agricultural practices.

Nevertheless, horse logging is gaining a foothold in some of the more rugged regions, and there are some dedicated animal-powered farms as well. For instance, in the Loire, some vintners use horses for cultivation in lieu of rototilling, chemicals or flame, and have developed a label, “equusvinage,” to up-market the wines that come from farms using such practices.

Another is Promatta, a not-for-profit foundation aiming to promote appropriate technology for the third world in the form of clever implements for donkeys and the like. You can read about them, kind of, at this link:

tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/…/%3E%A0%3Cbr%20/%3E%A0%3Cbr%20/%3E

by cutting and pasting into google translator. You’ll get the idea.

Promatta actually gave me an invitation to come to France and tour member farms, but other things got in the way. Maybe someday. Anyone like to come along? Or have other things to share about the state of DAP in lands far away?

[Carl Russell]

I received info last fall about the International Coalition for the Protection of the Polish Countryside. They held a conference last fall, and are working to promote small scale animal powered traditional land-use and sustainable initiatives. They have a great website including a photo gallery at http://www.icppc.pl
Carl

[goodcompanion]

Wasn’t 1939 the last time they tried using horses to protect the Polish countryside, and it didn’t work out all that well?

No, seriously, I certainly will check that out.

[cxb100]

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