Comments on: City Slickers on the Farm http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/ Common Sense In A Ridiculous World Thu, 17 May 2012 21:35:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Roseagain http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Roseagain Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:10:23 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-459 I would pay for my 2 daughters to stay a few days with you, this summer, after they're out of school. They're 17 & 25, and don't know much about self sufficiency. We've been trying to learn, since last fall ~ but as I'm sure you know, that's not very long. But until then I was completely what I've since heard called a 'sheeple' ~ totally buying into the system, and asking few questions. We've started gardening, food storage and canning, minimal self defense, and what I'm able, of potentially needful medical supplies. Both girls love animals, and have some experience with working at vet's and horse-riding (English). I think they could learn a great deal, from spending even 2 or 3 days with you. Not sure if you've ever considered such a thing. I would pay for my 2 daughters to stay a few days with you, this summer, after they’re out of school. They’re 17 & 25, and don’t know much about self sufficiency. We’ve been trying to learn, since last fall ~ but as I’m sure you know, that’s not very long. But until then I was completely what I’ve since heard called a ‘sheeple’ ~ totally buying into the system, and asking few questions.
We’ve started gardening, food storage and canning, minimal self defense, and what I’m able, of potentially needful medical supplies.
Both girls love animals, and have some experience with working at vet’s and horse-riding (English). I think they could learn a great deal, from spending even 2 or 3 days with you. Not sure if you’ve ever considered such a thing.

]]> By: Michael Mauldin http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Michael Mauldin Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:48:28 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-156 In response to "We don’t make nice with things that are going to be on the table". We run a small cow/calf operation in the Texas Hill Country (Black Angus bull with Beefmaster cows). We name all our cattle so we can keep straight who needs what care. How can you eat something you've named? Depends on the names... Some of our herd: Sirloin, Beef Tip, Fillet, Strip, Flank, Ribeye, Brisket, Fajita, Medallion, Del Monico, Chili, Barbie (Queue), Chuck, TBone, Kabob and bull Porter (House). Whenever we run out of names we go the local steakhouse and get ideas from the little map of meat cuts on the placemat. That way you never forget what the cows are for :-) In response to “We don’t make nice with things that are going to be on the table”.

We run a small cow/calf operation in the Texas Hill Country (Black Angus bull with Beefmaster cows). We name all our cattle so we can keep straight who needs what care.

How can you eat something you’ve named? Depends on the names…

Some of our herd: Sirloin, Beef Tip, Fillet, Strip, Flank, Ribeye, Brisket, Fajita, Medallion, Del Monico, Chili, Barbie (Queue), Chuck, TBone, Kabob and bull Porter (House). Whenever we run out of names we go the local steakhouse and get ideas from the little map of meat cuts on the placemat.

That way you never forget what the cows are for :-)

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Linda Brady Traynham Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:13:06 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-18 Dear Oliver: Thanks for the great post. I agree: boots, blankets, beans, bullets, B-vitamins, and silver should be purchased BEFORE gold is. Gold is to protect assets excess to your needs for, say, a year. (How I wish I had "rich text" to underline that.) SILVER and trade goods (coffee, toilet paper, peanut butter, hot cocoa mix, cigarettes, alcohol, spare tooth- brushes,and so forth) are to be scheduled AFTER the essentials. They are to get you the things you need or want most when the world has turned to unthinkable chaos. Perhaps we have underestimated how much olive oil we need, or how many nails...we must have something to barter with if the current fiat currency has all the value of the Zimbabewe dollar or Weimar Republich Reichsmarks--which is EXACTLY where we D&G types think we're headed. Sci-fi and Western fiction fans are ahead here because we have been thinking for years about what we would need to stock a rocket ship or a wagon train. What will you want most? What will the budget cover? What can you carry? What will you NEED most? First? Longest? No... gold is definitely not first on the list, although it may be very useful for bribes, and you never know when you may need a bribe. (I never have, but it could happen.) What you want FIRST is a place of refuge. Ideally it should be one you have stocked and protected by now, a place where you have at least a few chickens and a milk goat or two, where you have basic agricultural implements and seeds, and a guaranteed source of water. To go first class, you should have an agreement with family or friends and should be stocking a central location. I urge those who ask to buy first...an older, used motor home or pull-behind travel trailer if they have a truck! Why? Obvious: that becomes your shelter, your cooking and bathing facilities, and your traveling suitcase. It doesn't have to be fancy, and it doesn't have to travel more than a couple of hundred miles, probably. If you keep that stocked and ready to go and have a destination in mind AND leave immediately if riots break out, you will probably get through the worst of what transpires "if." If the worst happens. If the cities go up in flames. If the 18-wheelers stop running. If The Greater Depression blankets the land and there are few jobs, goods, and services available. I'm willing to discuss this fascinating subject at any length you or others wish because I've been preparing for almost three years, now. I have turned almost EVERYTHING I have into durable goods that will be incredibly valuable "IF." If I'm wrong--and I'm not, frequently. How I wish I were, but my inner "Cassandra" and my training as an analytical project report writer are SCREAMING that anyone who has not prepared will suffer the consequences, along with some of us who have--then "the worst that can happen" is that I won't be in grocery stores much during bad times and we have all sorts of useful stuff to ranch with, build with, grow with, play with... Lordy, Lordy, I'm a sweet little old lady who just wants to ranch in peace. Don't want to be hassled by governments, don't want to be declared a criminal for milking a goat or slaughtering a hog to smoke, don't want to feed nameless hoardes who do nothing but vote for my oppressors...Nobody asked what I want. They haven't since I first voted for Barry Goldwater. What's so dreadful about enjoying giving away eggs and milk, and looking forward to growing big gardens? Please write again, Oliver, and let me know if there is anything you would like to see an article on. If I know, I'll write it, and if I don't, I'll go find out. How refreshing it is to see a comment that asks a serious, sensible question. My last task, on another site, was dealing with a couple of people who resent everything we here at the Ring stand for and do. That really is the difference, you know: THEY want to hurt, hate, insult, and rob us...and we just want them to go away and leave us alone. They think I'm evil and I think they're crazy. Hey, I live in the country so that I don't have to deal with noisy neighbors who don't invite me to their parties, and city councils that insist the grass has to be cut just so and you must have a neat garage...what IS this drive so many have to sheep herd others around? Laissez faire! Live and let live. It's a lot easier when you get out of the city. Chuckle...I'm a homeowner's association of one, with only two rules other than common sense and courtesy: don't throw cigarette butts down in my pastures and don't shoot anything that belongs here without my permission. I had a lovely 4400+ square foot house in San Antonio's pretty nice Redland Woods. THEIR Homeowners' Association threatened me with an injunction over putting in three windows without asking permission, and demanded that ALL of my vehicles be moved every day. They freaked out over a truck and trailer I was using once. This is TEXAS. Ain't nuthin' purtier than big trucks an' cattle trailers, is they? yup, Green Acres is the place for me, and I hope you can find a few, too. Cordially, Linda Dear Oliver:

Thanks for the great post.

I agree: boots, blankets, beans, bullets, B-vitamins, and silver should be purchased BEFORE gold is.

Gold is to protect assets excess to your needs for, say, a year. (How I wish I had “rich text” to underline that.)

SILVER and trade goods (coffee, toilet paper, peanut butter, hot cocoa mix, cigarettes, alcohol, spare tooth- brushes,and so forth) are to be scheduled AFTER the essentials. They are to get you the things you need or want most when the world has turned to unthinkable chaos. Perhaps we have underestimated how much olive oil we need, or how many nails…we must have something to barter with if the current fiat currency has all the value of the Zimbabewe dollar or Weimar Republich Reichsmarks–which is EXACTLY where we D&G types think we’re headed.

Sci-fi and Western fiction fans are ahead here because we have been thinking for years about what we would need to stock a rocket ship or a wagon train. What will you want most? What will the budget cover? What can you carry? What will you NEED most? First? Longest? No… gold is definitely not first on the list, although it may be very useful for bribes, and you never know when you may need a bribe. (I never have, but it could happen.)

What you want FIRST is a place of refuge. Ideally it should be one you have stocked and protected by now, a place where you have at least a few chickens and a milk goat or two, where you have basic agricultural implements and seeds, and a guaranteed source of water. To go first class, you should have an agreement with family or friends and should be stocking a central location.

I urge those who ask to buy first…an older, used motor home or pull-behind travel trailer if they have a truck! Why? Obvious: that becomes your shelter, your cooking and bathing facilities, and your traveling suitcase. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and it doesn’t have to travel more than a couple of hundred miles, probably. If you keep that stocked and ready to go and have a destination in mind AND leave immediately if riots break out, you will probably get through the worst of what transpires
“if.” If the worst happens. If the cities go up in flames. If the 18-wheelers stop running. If The Greater Depression blankets the land and there are few jobs, goods, and services available.

I’m willing to discuss this fascinating subject at any length you or others wish because I’ve been preparing for almost three years, now. I have turned almost EVERYTHING I have into durable goods that will be incredibly valuable “IF.” If I’m wrong–and I’m not, frequently. How I wish I were, but my inner “Cassandra” and my training as an analytical project report writer are SCREAMING that anyone who has not prepared will suffer the consequences, along with some of us who have–then “the worst that can happen” is that I won’t be in grocery stores much during bad times and we have all sorts of useful stuff to ranch with, build with, grow with, play with…

Lordy, Lordy, I’m a sweet little old lady who just wants to ranch in peace. Don’t want to be hassled by governments, don’t want to be declared a criminal for milking a goat or slaughtering a hog to smoke, don’t want to feed nameless hoardes who do nothing but vote for my oppressors…Nobody asked what I want. They haven’t since I first voted for Barry Goldwater. What’s so dreadful about enjoying giving away eggs and milk, and looking forward to growing big gardens?

Please write again, Oliver, and let me know if there is anything you would like to see an article on. If I know, I’ll write it, and if I don’t, I’ll go find out. How refreshing it is to see a comment that asks a serious, sensible question. My last task, on another site, was dealing with a couple of people who resent everything we here at the Ring stand for and do. That really is the difference, you know: THEY want to hurt, hate, insult, and rob us…and we just want them to go away and leave us alone. They think I’m evil and I think they’re crazy. Hey, I live in the country so that I don’t have to deal with noisy neighbors who don’t invite me to their parties, and city councils that insist the grass has to be cut just so and you must have a neat garage…what IS this drive so many have to sheep herd others around? Laissez faire! Live and let live. It’s a lot easier when you get out of the city. Chuckle…I’m a homeowner’s association of one, with only two rules other than common sense and courtesy: don’t throw cigarette butts down in my pastures and don’t shoot anything that belongs here without my permission. I had a lovely 4400+ square foot house in San Antonio’s pretty nice Redland Woods. THEIR Homeowners’ Association threatened me with an injunction over putting in three windows without asking permission, and demanded that ALL of my vehicles be moved every day. They freaked out over a truck and trailer I was using once. This is TEXAS. Ain’t nuthin’ purtier than big trucks an’ cattle trailers, is they? yup, Green Acres is the place for me, and I hope you can find a few, too.

Cordially,

Linda

]]> By: Oliver K. Burrows III http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Oliver K. Burrows III Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:12:34 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-14 When the coming economic re-adjustment hits full force . . . we will likely see an attempt to corral the mass of the population for "security" reasons . . . which will effectively prevent a mass exodus to rural areas. All those who are investing in and storing gold in order to have some appreciating assets . . . will find themselves want some of the consumables . . . called food and clothing. It may be yellow . . . and it may be pretty . . . and it may be worth who knows how much an ounce . . . but it won't keep your stomach full . . . or your back warm . . . or your biological or spiritual kin protected. By then, we may be remembering that "these boots are made for walkin'". When the coming economic re-adjustment hits full force . . . we will likely see an attempt to corral the mass of the population for “security” reasons . . . which will effectively prevent a mass exodus to rural areas. All those who are investing in and storing gold in order to have some appreciating assets . . . will find themselves want some of the consumables . . . called food and clothing. It may be yellow . . . and it may be pretty . . . and it may be worth who knows how much an ounce . . . but it won’t keep your stomach full . . . or your back warm . . . or your biological or spiritual kin protected. By then, we may be remembering that “these boots are made for walkin’”.

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Linda Brady Traynham Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:23:20 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-8 Thanks another way, Bob. You provided a learning experience on our new system. I like your line of thought, about the ignorance being both educational and cultural. Modern children don't see many animals or even gates they can open and close. Education cuts both ways: the government school system imparts less and less knowledge, and fewer and fewer parents impart character traits and practical knowledge. Gardens are coming back out of necessity but won't be seen in ghettos. 4-H is still big in rural areas, but space and teachers are needed to be TAUGHT to care for animals. Daddy had a degree from Texas A&M in Animal Husbandry, "WHAT?!" in a world of computers, hotel management, and minority studies. How do we get back to basics? That's a subject for a long article, and I'll go write one as my thanks for giving me the idea and a different take on the problem. Welcome to the Ring, and please come back! Linda Brady Traynham Thanks another way, Bob. You provided a learning experience on our new system. I like your line of thought, about the ignorance being both educational and cultural. Modern children don’t see many animals or even gates they can open and close. Education cuts both ways: the government school system imparts less and less knowledge, and fewer and fewer parents impart character traits and practical knowledge. Gardens are coming back out of necessity but won’t be seen in ghettos. 4-H is still big in rural areas, but space and teachers are needed to be TAUGHT to care for animals. Daddy had a degree from Texas A&M in Animal Husbandry, “WHAT?!” in a world of computers, hotel management, and minority studies. How do we get back to basics? That’s a subject for a long article, and I’ll go write one as my thanks for giving me the idea and a different take on the problem. Welcome to the Ring, and please come back! Linda Brady Traynham

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Linda Brady Traynham Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:56:48 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-7 Dear Bob: I'm an old hand with this, and experimented. Sure enough, it looks as though the spam filter is looking for the BIG ones, which means long answers. I guess it thinks we can't get up to mischief if we don't write much. What a terrific comment by you! Thank you. I think the divide has much to do with the increasingly urban population. I was born in the war years (WWII, not Spanish American!) and remember reading stories about visits to the farm. (Daddy was a Naval officer before and afterwards.) Kids these days think food comes from Walmart. How does it get there? Uh...big trucks? And before that? Long pause. Factories? Some don't even know chickens come out of eggs! Pushing it, Bob, BRB. My gosh! It really did let me edit! LBT Dear Bob: I’m an old hand with this, and experimented. Sure enough, it looks as though the spam filter is looking for the BIG ones, which means long answers. I guess it thinks we can’t get up to mischief if we don’t write much. What a terrific comment by you! Thank you. I think the divide has much to do with the increasingly urban population. I was born in the war years (WWII, not Spanish American!) and remember reading stories about visits to the farm. (Daddy was a Naval officer before and afterwards.) Kids these days think food comes from Walmart. How does it get there? Uh…big trucks? And before that? Long pause. Factories? Some don’t even know chickens come out of eggs! Pushing it, Bob, BRB. My gosh! It really did let me edit! LBT

]]> By: Linda Brady Traynham http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Linda Brady Traynham Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:46:56 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-6 Dear Bob: I see that my reply didn't post. Probably it was caughgt by the spam filter and is waiting patiently for a human to come free it. Laughter...I thought, suddenly, of Tony's story. Around here we call those "Fabulous Fables for Modern Times." Instead of catching fish, we trap replies and our 'Net of course, is electronic. It, too, can break and is taxed...Clever, clever Tony. Dear Bob: I see that my reply didn’t post. Probably it was caughgt by the spam filter and is waiting patiently for a human to come free it. Laughter…I thought, suddenly, of Tony’s story. Around here we call those “Fabulous Fables for Modern Times.” Instead of catching fish, we trap replies and our ‘Net of course, is electronic. It, too, can break and is taxed…Clever, clever Tony.

]]> By: B. Brown http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-4 B. Brown Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:20:56 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-4 As delightfully humorus as this story is, may I make a less amusing observation. A six year old child, raised on the farm, has six years advance knowledge over an adult with no farm experience. I would no sooner turn a farm child loose in a non-farm environment to figure out what any child raised in that different environment already knows, than I would turn anyone, child or adult, loose on the farm to figure out how it works with just a simple telling of what to do. I would take even and perhaps especially, a rocket scientist, by the hand and tell him what to do, show him what to do, tell him again what to do and explain why, guide him as he did what I had already explained and showed to him, watch him as he did it several times, and then turn him loose to do it, checking occasionally to be sure he was still doing it as I wanted it done. Oh, and by the way, I would try to be humble enough to listen to his suggestions about how to do things differently, without immediately dismissing them out of hand, on the off chance that a fresh perspective might have a really good idea. Most people without a true calling will reveal very soon, why they should not be working on a farm until or unless true want drives them to pay attention to what they are taught. Only those driven by overwhelming passion or need can handle the work necessary on a farm. Naming, shaming, and blaming the inexperienced worker will weed out those with a calling from those with an immediate need, to be sure, but will be expensive in the long run both in wasted time for the farmer and a burning resentment from those who feel ridiculed for their ignorance. Their minds will close even further and they may become the farmer's most dangerous foes somewhere down the road...if there is any road to be down in the future. Farmer Brown As delightfully humorus as this story is, may I make a less amusing observation. A six year old child, raised on the farm, has six years advance knowledge over an adult with no farm experience. I would no sooner turn a farm child loose in a non-farm environment to figure out what any child raised in that different environment already knows, than I would turn anyone, child or adult, loose on the farm to figure out how it works with just a simple telling of what to do.

I would take even and perhaps especially, a rocket scientist, by the hand and tell him what to do, show him what to do, tell him again what to do and explain why, guide him as he did what I had already explained and showed to him, watch him as he did it several times, and then turn him loose to do it, checking occasionally to be sure he was still doing it as I wanted it done. Oh, and by the way, I would try to be humble enough to listen to his suggestions about how to do things differently, without immediately dismissing them out of hand, on the off chance that a fresh perspective might have a really good idea.

Most people without a true calling will reveal very soon, why they should not be working on a farm until or unless true want drives them to pay attention to what they are taught. Only those driven by overwhelming passion or need can handle the work necessary on a farm.

Naming, shaming, and blaming the inexperienced worker will weed out those with a calling from those with an immediate need, to be sure, but will be expensive in the long run both in wasted time for the farmer and a burning resentment from those who feel ridiculed for their ignorance. Their minds will close even further and they may become the farmer’s most dangerous foes somewhere down the road…if there is any road to be down in the future.

Farmer Brown

]]> By: Bob http://thetexasring.com/2009/10/02/city-slickers-on-the-farm/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Bob Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:46:06 +0000 http://thetexasring.com/?p=11#comment-2 It really is interesting to note that in many instances the segmentation of talents differ so greatly from those who produce the food to those who consume it. As the education and cultural divide increases so does the ignorance of where and how food gets to the table. It really is interesting to note that in many instances the segmentation of talents differ so greatly from those who produce the food to those who consume it. As the education and cultural divide increases so does the ignorance of where and how food gets to the table.

]]>