Over-Thinking Brunch

I spread a flake out for the horses to munch in the yard this morning, then went to let them out one by one.. I started on the far end with Dun. Everyone had seen me carry the flake and spread it in three spots. Dun went to the gate right off and hesitated only momentarily, considering the hay truck that I had parked nearby an hour or do previous... I encouraged her with presence and a cluck, and up she trotted to the first bunch.

Then I let Chopo out who veered a little more for the hay truck at the last moment, but again my arms raised and present encouraged him to keep movin in the direction of the spread hay. When i let Dozer out he first went yo the next door pen, no food in that bucket, so he tried Dun's pen. None there either... He went past Dun's pen and back again, standings with rented eyes looking toward the hay truck... The eyes glinted and before he make up his mind I went over to direct him. He trotted over to his own pen and looked at me from within. I took his jaw and led him to rhe gate. He so gently was with me. Pecos Needed no such encouragement.

Funny how Dozer misses things. He knew I had brought food out- but why was it in no feeders?

Use Your Words

My parents taught me growing up never to suffer fools- those fools anyway that push and walk all over you. Take no flak and soon none will be given to you...

As our role in the new paradigm unfolds and clarity is needed for peoples of different experiences to come to conclusion upon the same page I hear, from my parents:

"Use your words".

Which is just what I've spent this past week in Albuquerque at the 11th annual Quivira Coalition Conference working on... Gathering words together to illustrate the methods and methodology we use and the reasoning that diverse cultures of herbivores (and carnivores) and plants are interdependent.

To heal, to manage and to improve the soil you need animals. Our goats (and horses and dogs) have been studying this Natural RangeManship alongside us for over 10 years now under a variety of climates and conditions as well as circumstances...

They are a Vegetation Management Machine! A powerful tool honed to fill the role of roaming herbivore across scapes of land from the remote to urban; improving soil fertility, plant diversity and reinvigorating farmland, rangeland and your backyard.

So I will use my words as well and as often as possible, because it would seem that our work is absolutely integral to the health and longevity of humanity.

Balance is key. Always remember that plants and animals evolved together.
It is that simple.

Sun Shine on Goat Trek

The wintertime scouting trips have begun. Long treks through rough country yield winter feed in the form of brush. Sage emanates sweetly from the herd as they pass through cañons and over mesas...