Sorry Old Ram, it seems I completely missed the point of the book. I did not approach it with an open mind and I thought it was a track on sustainable farming. Remember I must choose my words carefully because of this forum we are using. This sustainable farming is the latest fad to appear on our farming college campuses. It sounds good when applied to one small farm but if everybody were to use it every one would have to move back to the farms and raise their own food and there would not be enough land to support the population in the inefficient methods being preached. It grew out of the Organic movement and the buy local movement and mostly appeals to those who have never farmed!
Of course a book that gets you to think about the outcome of your decisions before you put them in action is a good thing. Years ago I had an email debate with an Englishman who was switching out of waterfowl and into sheep for two main reasons; the government would give him a subsidy on the wool produced and he could pasture his sheep on the commons. I dont know if the concept of commons ever made it to Australia but it sure made it to the western USA. Our famous cowboys first worked on the open range which was our name for commons. Their employers were often rich Englishmen either back in the old country or second sons who were encouraged to get and stay out of England. The system failed for three reasons; the Homestead Act where our government would give title to common land to people who would live on the land (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Act for details. the wire fence, and the fact that no one really had any incentive to preserve and protect the common land.
I predicted to my English buddy that the same would happen to his village commons and it did. Within 4 years he was back out of the sheep business because the commons were a waste from overgrazing by people raising sheep just for the subsidy. This was in Green old England where they had all the rain anyone would want and then some.
Q What about the dogs how many do you have, just the 4 named to date?
The Church lady was from the Jehovahs Witnesses. You have them too at Ingleburn, NSW 1890. The tornado changed my opinion of the churches. Their aid was faster and more organized than even local government. I dont remember any from the J.W. but I feel I owe them (as a whole) at least the courtesy to listen to their messages. While I was up North (I sold my old house) I bought me a small plot of land to hold my ashes for my 69th birthday. Speaking of which, I need to quit and get dressed as I expect the post lady to deliver papers to me to sign and return to close the deal on the house. ~gd
Of course a book that gets you to think about the outcome of your decisions before you put them in action is a good thing. Years ago I had an email debate with an Englishman who was switching out of waterfowl and into sheep for two main reasons; the government would give him a subsidy on the wool produced and he could pasture his sheep on the commons. I dont know if the concept of commons ever made it to Australia but it sure made it to the western USA. Our famous cowboys first worked on the open range which was our name for commons. Their employers were often rich Englishmen either back in the old country or second sons who were encouraged to get and stay out of England. The system failed for three reasons; the Homestead Act where our government would give title to common land to people who would live on the land (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestead_Act for details. the wire fence, and the fact that no one really had any incentive to preserve and protect the common land.
I predicted to my English buddy that the same would happen to his village commons and it did. Within 4 years he was back out of the sheep business because the commons were a waste from overgrazing by people raising sheep just for the subsidy. This was in Green old England where they had all the rain anyone would want and then some.
Q What about the dogs how many do you have, just the 4 named to date?
The Church lady was from the Jehovahs Witnesses. You have them too at Ingleburn, NSW 1890. The tornado changed my opinion of the churches. Their aid was faster and more organized than even local government. I dont remember any from the J.W. but I feel I owe them (as a whole) at least the courtesy to listen to their messages. While I was up North (I sold my old house) I bought me a small plot of land to hold my ashes for my 69th birthday. Speaking of which, I need to quit and get dressed as I expect the post lady to deliver papers to me to sign and return to close the deal on the house. ~gd
