Greetings from the Pirate-Farmer

[Robert MoonShadow]

Hello to all – I’m Robert; new here… I live outside of White Bird, Idaho; on the banks of the Salmon River. I farm an acre for produce, with a donkey on the way up from Texas: we’re both going to learn how to drive at the same time. 😮
I also work in the Nat’l Forests & wildernesses building trails, using 2 mules and a device known as a “trail ace”.
About the ‘pirate-farmer’ >>> no, I’m not stealing the ‘farmer-pirate’ title from Lynn Miller; although it IS a variation on it: I’m blind in one eye – wear an eyepatch – and when I take my produce & baby goats into the (new!) farmers’ market in Grangeville, the kids named me that. {Also met one little 3-year-old girl who says the goats talk to her :confused:}. Anyways, I’m glad I found this place, and look forward to learning from my elders… regardless of their age.

[jen judkins]

Nice to have you, Robert…characters welcome;).

Do you have any photos of your trail machine at work? I’d be interested to see it. Jennifer.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Hey Jennifer ~ Thanks for the welcome. No, I haven’t gotten any photos of the trail ace in action… camera died halfway through the first 15-day hitch & haven’t replaced it yet. I’ll see if my boss has any laying around. It’s pretty much a cross between a cultivator & a plow = chews up the soil so that it can be leveled for trails >>> takes our big mule (Belgian) to really dig down in & get the rock to move. she’s known as the “1800 lb. ballerina” as she can turn around in her own tracks on a narrow mtn. trail w/ a full pack on. {Ever try to LOAD a pack onto a 16.5 hh mule? :(} If Bonner doesn’t have any photos, I’ll borrow his camers & take some photos (after the storms break hereabouts & can asseble the thing)

[HeeHawHaven]

Robert,

I’m new here too! Check out my intro…..

Love the Whitebird area – that section of 95 convinced me to get a bigger truck! I do know what it’s like to put anything on a mule that big….my profile pic is of Bubba – a full 17 hands! I think he’s out of a Tennessee Walker! Can’t wait to see your pics!

Also, can’t wait to hear how you do with the donkey! We have 2, but haven’t done much with them. The old Jack, Elvass (40ish) supposedly can drive….I’m sure he won’t freak….he doesn’t even move with the tractor loader pushing his “donkey”! D’Leary Ass is going to get a job this year. As I train my new Fjord mules to drive, he’ll learn too! He will also learn to pack this year! He has to earn his keep!

Good hearing from another Idahoan!

Dave

[Robert MoonShadow]

Well, Bonner can’t figure out how to operate his fancy new digital camera his kids bought him, so here’s the best I can do: http://www.trailbuilders.org – click on ‘contractors by location’, click ‘Idaho’, click ‘Bonner Brumley TrailAce Construction’ –> good pictures of our (his) trail ace & ground scoop in action… and yes, it’s as hard (and fun!) to operate as it looks… but in the wilderness = no motors allowed = “Mule Power!!!” {cuz I ain’t pulling the thing!}
The guy there is Bonner (sorry ladies, he’s happily married – as for me, however… 😉 ) & that mule is Stumpy, now resting under the pasture.

[jen judkins]

Thanks, Robert. Neat photos and interesting devices…would be a neat demo at NEAPFD…though a tough drive for you:rolleyes: Jennifer.

[Robert MoonShadow]

Jennifer ~ I don’t even know when or where the NEAPFD are… although I’ll take a wild-haired guess & say it’s somewhere in the North-east?? :p As for it being a “tough drive” –> ANYthing’s possible… for homemade cherry pie!!

With ice cream.

From a pretty girl.

Or two.

😀 😎

[dominiquer60]

Welcome Pirate-Farmer, if you go to the top of this page you will find this link http://www.animalpowerfielddays.org/. DAP, this discussion group, is the direct result of a brainstorm idea at the first annual NEAPFD in 2007. Carl Russell and wife Lisa McCrory of Earthwise farm are responsible for getting the event and this online forum started, they are wonderful people.

[jen judkins]

@Robert MoonShadow 4752 wrote:

Jennifer ~ I don’t even know when or where the NEAPFD are… although I’ll take a wild-haired guess & say it’s somewhere in the North-east?? :p As for it being a “tough drive” –> ANYthing’s possible… for homemade cherry pie!!

With ice cream.

From a pretty girl.

Or two.

Well, I’m not so sure about the ‘pretty’ part….perhaps in a hardy, nordic way:rolleyes:…but I make good pie! So mapquest the Tunbridge fairgrounds in VT and start driving, say about late Sept:D.

[Robert MoonShadow]

*In an accent eerily similar to the one in “the good, the bad & the ugly”*
“Mapquest?! I don’t need no steenking mapquest!”
I’ll leave now, and ask directions along the way. :rolleyes:

[dominiquer60]

We would love to have you, 90 east to 91 north in Mass, it’s 5 miles from the highway. There are usually a couple great food vendors at this event, pulled local pork, great soups and deep fried cheesecake! Not to forget Erik’s great breads and baked goods too!

[jen judkins]

@Robert MoonShadow 4770 wrote:

“Mapquest?! I don’t need no steenking mapquest!”
I’ll leave now, and ask directions along the way. :rolleyes:

Now I seriously hope you will come! Anyone that can make me laugh out loud at work is certainly worth meeting!

[Robert MoonShadow]

Jen ~ You get paid to read my postings on DAP?
“Kuul” 😎
*walks away mumbling: ‘How the heck can I get in on that?’*

In the interest of equality between the sexes: You can always come out to the SFJ auction in April in Oregon & stop by here. {Um, bring that pie with you, will ya?} 😀

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