Primitive Ranching

[Moves]

I think this is correct site for this Question....

I'm looking for ideas on how to outfit my "ranch" in a primitive way.... old school...
By ranch, I mean 40 acres with no (zero) livestock on it at this point.... and no pastures, and no fences... diamond in the rough.

I made a gate out of a peeled 5" diameter pine pole as that's the look I'm trying for... rustic and primitive. (My brother hates it and likes TSC gates).

Anyway, I'm looking for a site that explores the primitive look I'm shooting for with pix and techniques, etc but I just cant find one.

Any ideas?

 

[3930dave]

You may find the older articles light on pics (that's just a time/people thing, not really to do with Whole Earth), but some of these may be worth a read.

Table of Contents

On the energy side of things, I've always liked Homepower. Recent articles are more mainstream/urban, as Alt Power has moved that way, but some of the older material concerned construction on remote sites, all over the world.

Renewable Energy & Efficiency Technologies | Home Power Magazine

Lee Valley Tools has some good and reasonably priced books on old construction techniques.

Rgds, D.

 

[dodge man]

There was a series of books, mostly about the people in Appalachia, called Foxfire. I remember they had a lot of do it yourself type stories from the old way of living, as in over 100 years ago. Lots of photos as I recall also. My mom had the books and I looked through them, but its been over 35 years ago, but I did see them available on Amazon. I remember one photo showing how they augured out straight long thin pieces of logs to make water pipe out of it.

 

[texasjohn]

It's simple. Use only hand tools and the materials you can find on your property or naturally occurring in the area. No paint, no preservatives.

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without

I grew up on a ranch founded by my great grandmother in the Texas Hill Country when there were still Indians, wolves and bears there. Husband died of pneumonia while she was pregnant.

I recommend gloves. My grandfather's hands were so calloused from work that he regularly picked up large live glowing coals to light his cigarette.

Primitive ranching..a tough life. Romantic only in the rear view mirror.

I have the Foxfire books...there were two volumes. They DO have many photos. It was a project to preserve the old ways, published in the 70's as I recall. They are, in fact, the only books I have ever seen which both describe construction techniques and way of life with photos and authentic commentary based on experience.

Foxfire (magazine) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[dave1949]

Rough sawn lumber, split shakes roof, no concrete or asphalt, no nursery hybrid varieties, no manicured lawn, Aermotor Windmill Co, well pump.

 

[motownbrowne]

The Foxfire books are great. Just spend tons of time and as little money as possible on every project. Also, work really, really hard. Anytime you could spend a little money to make your life easier, remember that that wasn't an option in the era you are re-creating. Good luck to you.

Another thought, try buying stuff from the amish, those guys still make stuff that way.

 

[DrRod]

The Foxfire books were started by an English teacher in GA. He thought it better for the students to go out and write about something than to sit in a classroom and memorize grammar. So the students went out into the backwoods and interviewed old timers about "the affairs of plain living" which they then distilled into a book. I think there were at least five volumes produced -- each from a different year's class. They are worth having even if you aren't going to implement the techniques yourself.

You might give The Mother Earth News a try. While they have moved into alternative energy and other modern techniques for living off the land, there is still a lot of material on basic, old time ways of doing things -- especially in the older issues from the 80's.

There was a reality show a few years back called Texas Ranch House [I think] where they put some families on an 19th century ranch. It was a take-off on a previous show where families had to live in houses from the 19th century. I actually applied for it -- much to the horror of my wife and kids -- but didn't make the cut. But there might be lessons to be learned from it.

And as for Amish stuff, check out Lehman's Hardware. They cater to the Amish community and you can find everything from iceboxes to harness to cherry pitters. They even have old time steel cut nails.

My place in the country is a bit of a time capsule as everything was left pretty much as it was in the 40's. We even have the kerosene lamps still mounted in the rooms and the hand driven washer in the shed. Lots of logging chains, cycles, and heavy metal parts around too. We have a log gate counterweighted with rocks on the end of the top rail. And it looks much better than anything at TSC.

 

[oosik]

I live on 80 acres. Most folks say they live in the middle of nowhere, if they are quite a distance from anywhere. Well, based upon that thought - I live on the far side of nowhere. Mile long gravel driveway and nearest neighbor is 4.5 miles away. I got the entire series of Foxfire books and decided right away that "primitive ranching" was just not for me even though I'm a long distance from nowhere.

You will find out in a hurry if its for you. Remember it means - no electricity, limited running water - perhaps, minimal indoor plumbing - maybe, no phone, no autos of any kind, no tractors - basically NO MODERN CONVENIENCES. Any working of the land will be by mule or ox team and any travel will be by horse & buggy. If you need to see how this operates - spend some time with the Amish or Hutterites.

Yes - you will find out in a really big hurry if its all for show or if you have the guts to go it.

I have used many of the ideas & concepts from the Foxfire series but I would only go all the way if I were about 50 years younger - ha,ha. Besides, I found that the concept & practice of "primitive ranching" was not my cup of tea.

 

[dave1949]

I took it the OP wants a "primitive look" not a primitive life.

 

[dodge man]

I agree, it sounds like he wants to do it more as a hobby instead of a way of life.

 

[Jimbrown]

make your fence look similar to this one.

 

[Moves]

I like it!

 

[roadhunter]

I think this is correct site for this Question....

I'm looking for ideas on how to outfit my "ranch" in a primitive way.... old school...
By ranch, I mean 40 acres with no (zero) livestock on it at this point.... and no pastures, and no fences... diamond in the rough.

I made a gate out of a peeled 5" diameter pine pole as that's the look I'm trying for... rustic and primitive. (My brother hates it and likes TSC gates).

Anyway, I'm looking for a site that explores the primitive look I'm shooting for with pix and techniques, etc but I just cant find one.

Any ideas?

Stuff like this cracks me up. No offense to the OP but you seem really worried about the look and not so much actually doing any of the things associated with ranching and having livestock. Reminds me of the yuppies who pay $4 a board foot for old barn wood accents on their McMansions up in Bozeman. Or the people who pay extra to have wood flooring dinged up with chains and hammers to make it look more rustic. Or people who buy corten roofing for their multi million dollar home so the roof looks like it came off a 100 year old barn. Or the people who pay extra to buy jeans that look like they are worn out. Seems that yuppies all want to look like they are something they are not. Big hat no cattle mentality.

 

[Moves]

No offense taken.... but try to read it again and see if you can discern the humor I tried to weave throughout the post. I didnt want to make it too obvious....

 

[roadhunter]

No offense taken.... but try to read it again and see if you can discern the humor I tried to weave throughout the post. I didnt want to make it too obvious....

I noticed. Obviously this is how many people think these days. I am fortunate to live in an area what still has many of the original homesteads from the late 1800's and many large ranches with old barns, old farm equipment, ranchers who still ride horses, etc.... So I can appreciate what you like, I just get to look at the real deal instead of fake decorations trying to look like the real deal.

I remember my dad and his wife bought a fake caribou skull to go on their lake house/cabin. I laughed all the way to the truck and told them I could never go in a cabin with a fake skull on the front of the house. Darn city slickers get impressed by a bunch of fake junk.

 

[Moves]

Now dont be calling my one-pole-gate "fake"! That's the real deal there!

I hope to drive slow cross country thru back roads one day when I retire to see and appreciate what is almost at your doorstep!

PS - Perkinston, MS residents are NOT city slickers... you'd likely fit right in

 

[SandburRanch]

Many years ago when I started my ranch my light in the barn to milk the cow and feed the hogs was a kerosine lantern but I hung it up on a nail so the cow wouldn't kick it like Mrs. O'Leary's did.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Moves, I think I understand your thoughts. My philosophy for several decades has been to spend as little as possible whilst enjoying a good lifestyle - even wrote a book about it. I use lots of modern gadgets (but draw the line at carrying a telephone in my pocket) yet still like to use the simple things. For example, my firewood supply for several years has been grubbed out olive tree roots, and I bust them up by hand. I have a couple of chainsaws and occasionally use them to shorten lengths that will split by hand, but otherwise just enjoy using my own muscles rather than buying fuel.

There is a mass of information on the Internet about "primitive" methods of doing things. Remember that in countries such as Portugal where I live there are still a lot of people who rely on animal power and do not have water or electricity in their houses. Of course there are many other countries in the same situation and if you can spend some time searching you will find lots of ideas. Countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Ethiopia have provided me with useful information. The sites are in English so no need for language skills.

There are also numerous old US sources. My computer skills are not good, so instead of trying to create links, which I would probably fail to do, here are some book or article titles that you should be able to feed into a search:-

Equipment - The operation, care and repair of farm machinery: Practical hints for handymen.
Farm that wont wear out - Hopkins.
Farmer's Cyclopedia of Agriculture, 1911.
Nepal Agric.Res.J.Vol.6,2005 - Development and Evaluation of Improved Feeders for Goats Suitable to Stall-fed Management System.
Handy Farm Devices and How to make them, Ralph Cobleigh. Available on the Small Farms site.
Home made Hydraulic Ram Pump. Details from Clemson Univeristy Extension Service.
Old Farm Tools and Machinery:An Illustrated History, Percy Blandford. On the AT Microfiche Reference Library.
The Book of the Farm, Henry Stephens.

Going through that lot should keep you out of mischief when you cannot work outside, and when you can, I totally agree that good gloves are a part of sensible apparel. I scoffed at wearing gloves until I moved to Australia in 1979 and found that it was sensible to wear them as everyone else did. Not really protection against a decent sized snake, but good against poisonous plants and insects, also the odd sharp nail, etc. Better to damage a glove than a hand.

Please keep us informed.

 

[MacLawn]

Old Moves is right about Perkinston folks, actually about all of Mississippians ain't nary city slickers. Heck, the whole state has less than 3 million people. On another note, I ain't never seen such pride as in a person who looks down on city slicks. They're worse than the slicks. Just be like old Popeye, I'm am wha's I am, and that's all that I am. Country, city, suburbs, nary difference. Only difference is when ye act like ye own way is the best. Hehehehe, done gone to preaching there.

Anyway, Moves, ye're in a good area. I like Perkinston, was just through there last week on way to/from coast. Mississippi is a great place. Just wish I could afford about 50 acres somewhere. I'd have to sell out me place in GA though, where we plan to retire. But even at me advanced age, I'd start all over, except I wouldn't build me own house. Too peaked for that anymore. Keep us posted Moves.