[Ag-eq] donkey

Thu Oct 22 18:46:24 UTC 2015

Tracy:

He would be able to carry anything that would fit in the pack saddle bags.

The most important thing is that the weight is balanced on each side.  You could
put a 50 pound bag of feed on each sie, but you wouldn't want 75 pouns on one
side and 40 on the other.  It is also easier on them if the load shifts as
little as possible.

You don't have to be quite as accurate for really short trips.

I used bags of feed when training my mules to pack.  It's just easy because you
don't have to weigh everything that way.  So bags of potting soil and other
garden supplies would be good to.

Nella

Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:

> That would be great, to have a pack animal for feed and such.  I bet he
> could carry mulch for your garden too, if you were minded to buy such.
> Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella Foster via
> Ag-eq
> Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2015 1:41 PM
> To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] donkey
>
> Tracy:
>
> I could be wrong, but think that it would be pretty easy to teach Jed to be
> a pack animal.  I leaned on him and put weight on his back and he didn't
> seem to mind.  Probably the biggest thing would be getting him used the the
> cinch and the weight shifting about on his back.
>
> I used to have a small pack saddle for Jack, but sold it when Jack got to
> old and arthritic to work.  Now I wish I had it, but will start looking for
> a used one.  Sometimes you can find them quite cheap.
>
> Jed could easily carry up to 150 pounds, especially for short distances.  I
> was thinking it would be cool to walk him down to the farm supply store and
> purches a couple bags of goat or horse feed.  It is only about 3/4 of a mile
> to the store.
>
> Everything I read says that pound for pound donkeys are stronger than
> horses.
> He will need to get a little better on the lead rope before we start
> strolling around town.  So far the closest farmers market is about 6 miles
> away, but it would be cute for him to carry produce or milk.  I'm sure he
> would want to eat all the vegies there, so might not be such a good idea.
>
> Nella
>
>
> Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
>
> > He sounds great!  And Jed is a fine donkey name.
> > Could you teach him to carry things for you, like, if you needed to
> > take goats' milk to a farmers' market or something?  Or would that be
> > more trouble than it's worth?
> > Tracy
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella
> > Foster via Ag-eq
> > Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2015 9:35 AM
> > To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> > Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> > Subject: [Ag-eq] donkey
> >
> > So I went and looked at the donkey yesterday and he will be coming to
> > live here on Saturday.
> >
> > He is very friendly, walks on a halter and lets you pick his hooves.
> > He is
> > 13 hands tall and 7 years old.  He is a brownish red color with a
> > white nose and white on his legs and stomach.  He also has wonderful
> > long ears which he likes you to scratch.
> >
> > The people call him Jack, which I'm going to change to Jed.  I've
> > already had Jack the mule and he can never be replaced.  Jed is used
> > to living with horses, cattle and sheep.  He does not like dogs and
> > will chace them out of the pasture.
> >  His job will be to keep any dogs or coyotes away from my goats and to
> > be a friend for Cruiser.
> >
> > I'm going to try and train him to a saddle.  I would like to be able
> > to give my little cousins pony rides on him and he's a good size for it.
> >
> > I will keep everyone posted on his progress.
> >
> > Nella
> >
> > Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
> >
> > > Yeah, the borers killed my squash, too.  Next year, I'll have to
> > > move them or try the diatomaceous earth.  Or I think I can cover
> > > them with a fine net until some strategic time has passed.  The
> > > trick would be to stop the squash bug from laying its eggs, but
> > > allow the bees to get the flowers when they appear.
> > >
> > > I've only grown the birdhouse gourds.  I've thought about luffa,
> > > though.  If you fancy it, go for it!  Like I said, the seeds are
> > > cheap, and it doesn't take a lot of effort, unless you need to put
> > > in something for them to climb on.
> > > The best climbing support I have is made of plumbing pipe.  It's
> > > basically a half rectangle, standing up, with its feet buried about
> > > a foot in the ground.  It was a job to get the feet well down into
> > > the ground, but, once it was done, it's lasted decades.  All I have
> > > to do is periodically put new strings on the top bar for things to
> climb.
> > >
> > > My neighbors are from India, and they grow this Indian squash that's
> > > pretty scary.  It's about 3 feet long, with ridges along the sides,
> > > and it
> > spirals.
> > > I've no idea how to cook them, but the Indians love them.  They
> > > don't seem to be bothered by pests, either.
> > > Tracy
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella
> > > Foster via Ag-eq
> > > Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 10:48 AM
> > > To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> > > Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> > > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Gourds
> > >
> > > Tracy:
> > >
> > > The borers killed my squash; I just got a few and then they were
> murdered!
> > >
> > > What kind of gourds have you tried?
> > >
> > > I thought I might like to grow some loofah gourd.  You can use them
> > > for cleaning and such.
> > >
> > > Nella
> > > Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
> > >
> > > > So far as I can tell, gourds are incredibly easy, especially if
> > > > you have something for them to climb on.  My neighbor puts them on
> > > > the fence, where they tend to leap over and invade my yard and
> > > > attack my
> > > trees.
> > > > The birdhouse gourd I have is very vigorous, and doesn't seem to
> > > > be bothered by the borers that bother my zucchini.  The vines are
> > > > fuzzy and have a big smell, so maybe that stops the bugs.
> > > > If anyone wants seeds, I can send some. But there's a big variety
> > > > to be found online, and they're pretty cheap.
> > > > Tracy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella
> > > > Foster via Ag-eq
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 10:20 AM
> > > > To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
> > > > Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> > > > Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] how is everyone
> > > >
> > > > Tracy:
> > > >
> > > > I'm always amazed at the variety you have.
> > > >
> > > > I've always wanted to plant gourds, but have never tried it.
> > > >
> > > > Nella
> > > > Quoting Tracy Carcione via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:
> > > >
> > > > > Hi Nella and everyone.
> > > > > A donkey!  How exciting!  I just think donkeys are neat.
> > > > >
> > > > > We had an unusually early frost Sunday, which killed off my
> > > > > tomatoes and beans.  I was very sorry to see them go, especially
> > > > > the pole beans, which were still flowering.  I love pole beans.
> > > > > Some of my garden this year has been the definition of abundance
> > > > > for me--lots of
> > > > harvest for almost no work.
> > > > > I got a huge apple crop, and all I had to do was pick up apples
> > > > > and process them, and thank my beautiful tree.  Much the same
> > > > > for pole beans--put up supports, which I did years ago, plant
> > > > > the beans, replace any climbing strings that need replacing,
> > > > > occasionally check that too many vines aren't climbing the same
> > > > > string, and pick the harvest when it's ready.  I planted Aztec
> > > > > runner beans, and I've gotten lots of both fresh and dried beans.
> > > > > I think the flowers are purple or red, and the beans are big, in
> > > > > 6-inch long flat pods that are
> > > > very tasty fresh.  Like I said, I love pole beans.
> > > > >
> > > > > I also had a gourd that was killed by the frost.  It produced
> > > > > one big birdhouse gourd, which I'm going to dry.  It looks like
> > > > > a jug, with a big bottom, narrow neck, and fat head.  The vine
> > > > > kept trying to take over the world, though.
> > > > >
> > > > > I still have chard, kale, and turnips, which I covered with a
> > > > > cold frame when the frost came.  They should be good well into the
> cold.
> > > > > I tried planting lettuce and spinach about a month ago, but it
> > > > > never came up.  I might try it again in the cold frame.
> > > > > Tracy
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella
> > > > > Foster via Ag-eq
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 9:52 AM
> > > > > To: ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> > > > > Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
> > > > > Subject: [Ag-eq] how is everyone
> > > > >
> > > > > Hello All:
> > > > >
> > > > > The list has been pretty quiet lately so I just thought I would
> > > > > see what everyone is up to.
> > > > >
> > > > > How are the gardens?
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm still getting tomatos and peppers.  I was lazy and didn't
> > > > > get my act together to plant a fall garden.
> > > > >
> > > > > Who is planting a fall garden?
> > > > >
> > > > > Four of my goats are pregnant and will be kidding in mid to late
> > > January.
> > > > > I'm looking forward to having fresh milk again.  I can't wait to
> > > > > make yogurt and cheese.  I'm going to get a cream seperater and
> > > > > hopefully make
> > > > butter.
> > > > >
> > > > > Cruiser the horse is at a local trainer and I'm happy to be
> > > > > riding
> > > again.
> > > > > He's doing really well and we're having fun.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm going to look at a donkey today.  He's being used as a
> > > > > guardian for smaller livestock, which will be his job here.  He
> > > > > will also be a friend for Cruiser.
> > > > > Cruiser was attached to my old mule and has been a little lonely
> > > > > since his death.  Hopefully the donkey will be as well behaved
> > > > > as the owner says; if so he will be delivered tomorrow.
> > > > >
> > > > > Well, that's about all that is going on here.  I hope the rest
> > > > > of you will update on your lives.
> > > > >
> > > > > Nella
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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