Denny Hunt

OK Thanks everyone - these replies are very helpful. Got the loppers. I have two kinds of machetes that I like to use. I could use the exercise. I like hanging out with the pigs anyway. Got a good spot to relocate a survivor or two because we do pick and freeze them. Cheers and thanks again - Denny

I put 4 feeder pigs in on our blackberries in an area about 40’ x 80’ where about 1/3 of the area is covered in blackberries. They are quite high and growing up against an old chicken house that will be restored. I have two Tams and two Berks. No goats in there and I am hoping the pigs will root out all the blackberries. I notice they are working on the roots on the edges, but have not yet gotten into the areas where the vines are taller. They eat some of the leaves too. Of course it has only been since Nov 5 and they only a little over 9 weeks old now.
I am feeding them rolled barley soaked in whey with cooked parts from pasture raised slaughtered chickens and cooked potatoes that I cannot sell. Also they get some found food from the containers behind grocery stores where I sell my potatoes. Soon I will be adding SEA 90 to their diets. I suspect I either need to get goats or go in there with a machete and clippers to give the pigs better access to the blackberry root zone.

I am trying to regulate their feed and get the berries out by the time the pigs grow out to weight for the freezer. I am interested in feedback and suggestions. Thanks in advance from Denny in Sebastopol

I work for a company that makes airflow measurement devices and to do it accurately in high temps is expensive.  We use inconel or hastelloy probes (for high temps - up to about 1900 deg F) that utilize Pitot Averaging technology in conjunction with ultra-low dp transmitters.  For a system that is set up correctly you can expect 2-3% accuracy.  The problem is that you need a measurement location that has a uniform air velocity profile.  This is easier with small ducts, but you still need about 4 diameters of straight duct run upstream of the measurement location.  Also you need to consider the losses with venturi type devices. 

The more I study these rocket stoves and other similar rocket stove type applications, the more I am convinced that the simpler approaches give the most bang for the buck.