Devonviolet Acres

[Devonviolet]

Ya can burn the stumps up by putting some deisel fuel on them and let it soak into them a few hrs before lighting it up. They will burn....stumps and roots tend to smolder and not burn like the other parts of the tree....

I prefer not to put chemicals on our burn pile, for two reasons:

** With my chemical sensitivity, I get sick from the fumes.
** Since we will be using the ash in our garden, I don't want the remaining chemicals (that don't burn off in the fire) in the ash.

It's a pain in the neck, to start a burn pile without deisel or car oil, but that's the price we pay for a non-toxic environment. Maybe we will use cheap cooking oil instead.

 

[Bruce]

I don't know if it would be a difference "chemical wise" but I started mine with liquid paraffin. Of course that wouldn't likely soak into the stump as far as more volatile liquids. Maybe if you drilled a few holes in the top so the reservoirs would hold the paraffin while it soaks in.

 

[Mini Horses]

Stumps can be so tough to remove. You're lucky they haven't been sprouting new growth.

So I thought of you yesterday, Devonviolet. You and your cream separator! Yeah, your butter & cream stories have made me feel a "need" to have one. Goats will begin kidding soon so, CL had one listed -- of course I contacted the person. It looks similar to yours but does have a stainless colander part....and only used a couple times as they got rid of the goats. Go figure.

Anyway, being chatty, when I replied to his "still available", I mentioned wanting a cheese press, that he was 3.5 hrs drive and I may need shipping for the separator. He came back with "maybe this will make it worth a drive as not many people raising goats any more".........he has an equally expensive cheese press, a dehorner (used 2X), emasculator, tattoo stuff, feeders, collars & who knows what else -- all goat related stuff $200. for all, including the separator. Says he doesn't need and just get it all at one time. Hey, the creamer cost almost that much alone!! I am planning a trip to MD -- run up, run back! A day trip.

I have some of the stuff he mentions but will resell it to offset trip costs. Need the dehorner, cheese press and cream thing. My emasculator was 125 w/shipping, tattoo stuff, who knows had it forever. Never have too many collars or feed dishes, do we?

Guess this means I have to start the dreaded dehorning this year Really tough thing -- reckon it's the unknown of depth, etc. I have NO issue with castration. Nope, band, emasculator OR cut and pull! There they are!

 

[Bruce]

$200. for all, including the separator.

Quite the find!!

 

[CntryBoy777]

It sure sounds like a Trip worth while....to me!! MH....but, now just how is that suppose to fit in your very Busy schedule?....I mean ya gotta have some sleep some time....

 

[Mini Horses]

Not a problem. We set a date for April 4 -- I will have a 3.5 hr drive each way. Leave 7, arrive 10:30-11. Leave there 12ish & home 4-5. Will miss the heavy DC traffic each way...and snow will be gone. You know CntryBoy, when you get on the road you just DRIVE !

It'll be a mini vacay! And...it's DD B'day, so gotta be back for dinner. Some things ya just have to "make happen".

The posts about the butter & cream from Devonviolet has just pushed my "want" to a "need". We'll blame her for it. Besides, I really want to try hard cheeses....package deal here. I see some tasty ice cream in my future, too

 

[Baymule]

@Mini Horses that sounds like a great deal!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Some things ya just have to "make happen".

Amen, sistah!

What a good deal....now you got ME wanting a cream separator. Actually I've been wanting one for awhile...just not ready to make that leap yet.

 

[Latestarter]

Great find there Mini... That drive is a piece of cake!

 

[Devonviolet]

The posts about the butter & cream from Devonviolet has just pushed my "want" to a "need". We'll blame her for it. Besides, I really want to try hard cheeses....package deal here. I see some tasty ice cream in my future, too

WOW! You got an amazing deal, that is well,worth driving 3.5 hours each way!

Before I got my goats, I had been buying some really good, high fat cow's milk from Jersey cows. In spite the high fat content, it wasn't easy to get enough cream to do anything with. I knew the fat was naturally homogenized in goats milk. So, once I saw the cream separator, it became a need, not a want! And I don't regret the money I spent, one bit!!! It was well worth it!!!

I love making the cheeses, that I have learned to make so far. And like you, Mini, I want to learn to make hard cheeses. But, that requires a cheese press (which you are blessed to be getting in your "farm package") and a "cheese cave". Those are two more "needs" that I plan to build this coming summer. DH and I will make a cheese press and I plan to buy,a used refrigerator, that we can put a different thermostat on, to regulate higher temps. We already have a spot planned, for that, in the barn.