John F Dean

Nice work everyone.  I too am looking hopefully at the new month. I have a whole list of outside work to do.

I am very much with Carla’s observations.   I find my livestock forces me to get outside and exercise …every day…if I want to or not.  Some animals have bonded with us more than others.  Reno, our boar is a great case.  A couple of years ago my wife fell and he came charging out of the woods at full tilt …quit an impressive sight.  When he reached her, he gently nudged her to stand up. He allowed her to use his back for support in order to get up.  Of course, she rewarded him with strawberries and apples.

When my wife was under treatment for cancer, our cats took turns watching over her. They always laid on the site  with the tumor.  Yes, she had cat scans 24/7.  Amazingly, they seemed  to know when the threat has passed.  They still check on her …but not so much.

I have used straw bales and straw for about 15 years in raised beds. The main problem is finding a good source that is cheap.  A second issue is they take a good deal of water initially. I try to get them out in the fall. That way they take in the winter and spring rains. I apply manure on top between rains. Once they  are thoroughly soaked, they need minimal water afterward.  Before I plant, I spread a layer of soil across the top… or just in the holes described above …depending upon the crop.

I find them to be fantastic for tomatoes. … 2 plants per bale is best for me.  Beets, onions, and carrots also do well in bales.  I plant as many as I can rationally fit.  Potatoes do well in bales, but I tend to use loose straw for them that has seen use in the stalls.

I am in agreement with John D … but from a different angle.  Some large pieces of machinery have a reputation for people being seriously injured on them. While you can learn to operate machinery … both my wife and I did; it can be expensive and dangerous. It is not the fault of the machinery, …just the inexperience of the user. In my area Bobcats have done some amazing damage in barns in the hands of the wrong person.  I have encountered an experienced person who smashed his foot with a Bobcat by catching it between a steel post and the machine.  Backhoes are known for flipping because the user forgets to use the safety equipment.   I had an uncle have a bulldozer roll on him because he didn’t watch the Incline of a muddy hill in relation to the tracks.   Finally, if one breaks down, how will you get it repaired…and what will be the cost?

I own a small tractor with a front end loader.  It has come in handy. But I seriously doubt if the money I put into it is justified.

Has there ever been a more ruggedly handsome pig than Reno?  I had to move him into an old enclosure so I could make changes to his place.

I am at less than $50 a week.  

Thank you for the great post. It put a boot up my backside. I do really need to try get a ramp to my house. It is one of those things I plan on doing and never do.   I keep putting it off because there are several access issues…the back door is close to the basement steps.  Poor judgement could result 8n a trip to the basement.  That makes the front door the safer option. But for the front door to be a viable option, I need to get a sidewalk to it.  Oh well, I really  didn’t have enough to do.

When I taught health care, trade off was one of the topics some students had difficulty getting a handle on.  A while back I raised the question in a post regarding the “real” minimums for fat and protein…..not the recommended minimums that can be found on the back of a can in the grocery store. Let’s say I want a low fat diet. Maybe the recommended minimum is around 50 grams, but I have every intention of going below that. At what point am I putting myself in serious danger?  Of course, one of the hard core facts of life is that it is full of trade offs.   But, I agree with your point, wouldn’t it be nice if those people who are aware of the trade offs made a point of sharing them and not being so selective.

I stay on Permies.

Hi r,

We filter it …usually through paper towels lining a colander.