Cody Hahn

Samantha Lewis wrote:I raise up the young males and harvest them when they are big enough.   I do not castrate them.

Samantha, what general ages and weight ranges do you tend to butcher out your male goats at? I myself don't really align with sexually altering animals in this manner either, but am curious to know what ages and weights you're butchering males at, because I've only butchered does so far, probably in the 130-140lb range (maybe 150lb, hard to remember). They were Boer does.

Thanks.

Jadene Mayla wrote:I've been here full time for three years now. I'm fully off grid. And doing it all alone.

Jadene, very good to hear that you have been able to plug away and that things have been chugging along fairly well. West Texas is a huge place. Whereabouts (I don't mean exactly, just in general) are you doing all this, and what are the topographical features particular to your piece of land? Is your piece of land fairly flat and open? Or some elevation change, washes, basins, etc? I'm guessing by the reference to consistent tourism that you are somewhere down near either the Big Bend national or state parks, because that is the west Texas I can think of (that I've been to) that would involve tourism, as vast other expanses of west Texas would have very little to none of that going on.

Jadene Maula wrote:The community is active if you can avoid the baddies here.

Out of curiosity, what is the nature of the "baddies" you mention in this area? Are we talking more subjective politics/inclinations? Or are you referring more to issues with drug and alcohol abuse, and/or a general lack of desire to self-engage in meaningful projects, endeavors, and the general betterment of the area in one way or another? I ask this because if we are talking somewhere down in Brewster or Presidio county, I have long looked at this area as a place to eventual acquire "the right" piece of land and slowly chip away (or rather lay up, haha) at building some manner of earthen house and a general "homestead" of some sort, whatever that ends up looking like, but haven't squeezed the trigger on anything yet, and am just waiting and looking and considering, wanting to make the best choice possible, especially trying to look as far down the road into the future as I can, to eventually consider the factors that would pertain to building and raising a family, etc. It's so very much to consider and make the wisest choice.

You what is really crazy is that this series is four volumes in, and not even out of the "c's" yet.................Haha. Wild.

Daniel, dude, I myself have also been keepin my eyeballs peeled for one or more volumes of this series for an affordable price, but thus far to no avail. THE best deal I've seen on any of these was the 2nd volume that popped up a while back on an online used bookstore-can't remember which one-and that was at $90...............I've never found a better price, haha.

Man though I would love to have all four of the volumes of this series dedicated to the wild plants of Texas. This is quite an interesting subject, and even more so because of the rate at which people are flooding into Texas from other areas, buying up real estate, and so much of our land being rapidly "developed" (if you want to call an ever-increasing expanse of concrete, "speculative" housing, and slews of carwashes "improvements", haha) because there is less and less time left to take notice of some of these plants.

Keep an eye out dude, and maybe one or both of us will eventually land good deals on these books. Shoot though, they are such a niche interest, and so low overall book count, that what ones are out there are mostly owned and kept by folks, because those folks wanted them specifically because of possessing an interest in this subject.

Bumping this thread as I, too, would be curious to hear Texas and Louisiana natives' thoughts (or those who have been here long enough to have a good finger on the pulse of things), particularly as to how people feel it shakes out between the lack of income tax but higher property tax burden of Texas vs. the much lower property tax load but additional state income tax of Louisiana, as well as other matters particularly more pertinent to the owning and use of land for our purposes here, as opposed to the more purely "speculative" and "flipping" purposes of all the various and sundry "investors" we now find ourselves so inundated with.

Very nice, Ben! I don't follow the deity mentioned, but I will say, get 'em Toba, get 'em!

"Endeavor to persevere."

Oscar Daniels wrote: Hi there Cody, I'd appreciate any thoughts you had on the value of the course. I'm thinking about getting it.  

Good grief, I still need to get back in here and write-up a bit of a synopsis on these traditional building techniques courses, share some thoughts, give a rundown on Noah Bradley's educational materials, etc. I will try to remedy this situation here sometime.........

Hey Grace, not exactly the main subject of your post here, but if you don't mind me asking, what make/manner of wall tent do you have that you live in? What do you think of its construction, workmanship, materials, comfort, mold-resistance, functionality, and durability thus far? How long have you used it/lived in it? If you have used it for several years, has it held up well so far? If you have much in the way of books and electronics, have you been able to keep them stored in there safe and sound as far as elements/humidity/rain goes? Or do you have to store those kinds of belongings elsewhere for safe keeping?

I ask because I have given the wall tent option (on a deck platform) some thought as a means to actually live on-site on a piece of land while saving up for or otherwise trying to stockpile the materials and tools needed for building an eventual permanent dwelling, as well as while carrying out the building of said structure, for however long that may take. I just don't know enough about all the makes and manufacturers out there, especially from a potentially multi-year use that is as enjoyable and hassle-free as reasonably possible, to know which particular tent I will actually want to spring for, when the right piece of land can eventually be acquired.

Nice picture by the way, Grace, and nice backdrop of pasture and treeline.

Welcome to Permies, Grace! Hope you have an interesting look around the various and sundry categories of threads and discussions here on the forums. You may also want to have a look-see at the "Building" forum for ideas and inspiration as it pertains to do-it-yourself construction possibilities.

But anyway, welcome. Southwest Missouri, and the Ozarks in general, is fairly pretty. Lots of cedars and oaks, too:)

Hey Oscar! It appears that I still need to get back in here sometime and actually share my thoughts on the educational resources and videos that Noah Bradley has put together over time...................It plain slipped my mind.