myhobbyis
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Smallholding book review
I've bought a load of books of late because I'll really need to get some basic knowledge for the projects I'm planning.
I thought I'd review them since they may be of interest to others.
I'm still hoping to get some livestock. Raising sheep is just too difficult in Japan unless you're in Hokkaido (just getting the bought ewes back from the nearest livestock auction would have been a 2 day operation).
So I'm thinking about pigs now. Not so long ago most rural households would fatten up a pig for the winter and I hope to do something along the same lines. Freezing and curing that which the family can't eat fresh.
2 questions spring up with this:
1) Will having sows on the land attract wild boar or keep them away ?
2) Will Japanese slaughterhouses take my home reared hogs ?
That's work in progress. If any body has a clue I'd love to here.
In the meantime I bought this book to gem up.
Very good book. The authors while touching on commercial rearing very much address the situation of the family who just want one or two porkers a year.
Next up,
This, as the cover says, does have 60 plans for various animals but the problem is the plans are rarely detailed enough to be able to go to the workshop with saw in hand and just get on with it. This ultimately is where the book would have been helpful. A lot more detailed information can be gleamed
from books on individual livestock types or university extension pdf's.
Onto ducks,
I actually bought this book after buying the Storey guide book on ducks. Storey guide devotes almost half the book on a discussion of duck history, geneology, characteristics of each breed for showing and very involved stuff about breeding, all pretty unecessary for those who, at least initially, just want a handfull of ducks.
This book has a good balance for the smallholder, it's a pretty slender book but pact with basic essential information and not overwhelming on any aspect of duck care.
Bruce Aidell's complete sausage book
First off I've got to state this book is American. This means for us Brits some work
is needed to check the meaning of stuff like
Kosher salt and shoulder butt. In any case, in Japan the bigger problem is going to be translating that into Japanese.
Having said that most of the ingredients could be bought in Japan these days with a little searching.
The content is also American in as much as
the author takes each immigrant community present in the states and discusses and gives recipes for their traditional sausages.
This means you've got a fair cross section of the worlds most reknowned sausages recipes in the book.
The later half of the book is pretty good
recipes for dishes using the sausages you've made. Nice enough but available elsewhere.
In summary, I'm pleased I bought it, it's a good 'starter for 10' but not THE definitive volume on sausage making.
The Perfect Puppy
Longstanding bestseller in the UK. From the start the authors understanding of dogs shines through. It could be a bit daunting for some readers in the demands it asks of you to get your puppy on the best foot but I've just come through bringing up a baby and I know the ideal and the reality is rarely the same but good to know anyway as a yardstick!
Highly recommended.
There are a huge numbers of books on the subject from both sides of the pond. This one has come from an internationally 'famous set of Gundog Training Broadsheets' by UK trainer Eric Begbie.
The format is great, being a set of lessons laid out with clear simple instruction. The dog repeats each as needed to progress with time periods with a lot of lee way (1-2 months etc.). These lessons go from the very simple obedience type training through to specific gun dog skills like the dog not shaking when it's wet in a boat until told.
The back of the book has a large well written FAQ section.
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3/26/2008, 2:54 pm
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KenElwood
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Re: Smallholding book review
Hey myhobbyis,
Thanks much for all these book reviews.
About your questions on pigs, i'm gunna ask around. I'll be in touch.
Here's some good online reading on ducks.
http://www.newagrarian.com/homestead/ducks/index.html
ken
The New Agrarian
Last edited by KenElwood, 3/27/2008, 11:16 pm
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3/27/2008, 11:14 pm
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myhobbyis
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Re: Smallholding book review
Hi Ken,
Thanks for the link and the offer of help on my pig probs.
That's a great site. I'd looked at it before, way back, but at that time didn't have plans for ducks so thanks for reminding us of it.
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3/27/2008, 11:24 pm
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KenElwood
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Re: Smallholding book review
quote:
myhobbyis So I'm thinking about pigs now. Not so long ago most rural households would fatten up a pig for the winter and I hope to do something along the same lines. Freezing and curing that which the family can't eat fresh.
2 questions spring up with this:
1) Will having sows on the land attract wild boar or keep them away ?
2) Will Japanese slaughterhouses take my home reared hogs ?
That's work in progress. If any body has a clue I'd love to here.
Mornin' myhobbyis,
1)Found an answer here. Don't see how it would differ much here in Japan.
Animal health -
quote:
I keep a few pigs as pets, will they attract the wild boar?
- Yes they might, particularly if you have a sow in heat. Male wild boar are solitary and will range far and wide in search of a mate. Their 'mate' can be another wild boar, a domestic pig, a pot-bellied pig....they are not fussy - the cat is safe though!
2)A list of MIE slaughter house phone numbers.
http://mie.lin.go.jp/juusho/shokuniku.htm
Your answer is but one phone call away I reckon. Nihongo de Ganbatte !! he-he
I'm getting into duck research, as we've decided to keep 7 or so ducks. Let you know what I glean later on.
Cheers,
ken
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3/28/2008, 10:55 am
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myhobbyis
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Re: Smallholding book review
Hey thanks Ken,
That was a very nice surprise to find your links just now.
Once again many thanks !
I'll let everyone know what the outcome is.
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5/12/2008, 2:43 pm
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