Hi Frank: Good morning . Yes that white slavery can keep one down. Where are you writing from? No cow? Having good weather? Let me explain my choice of words and intimate is also very appropriate. The process that one undergoes in that relationship with the cow is at once intimate and (one doesn't realize it real early on) altruistic. Dictionary definition of altruism,- selfnessless. Letting go of self is definitely part of the process and right relationship with cow can help one do that. First of all, one becomes intimate with the cow(mainly through her eyes and her appreciation of your gratitude for her) and then through working with her manure, and breathing in that wonderful sweet smell she and the barn exude, a process of humility begins to take place. One is very aware that one is not in an office somewhere rather mindfully(hopefully) serving a cow. Now that process will humble anyone. So now it occurs to you that you are not who you thought you were(are) and instead, through the cow and her milk and manure you are a humble servant and your sense of self begins to disappear. Are you a humble servant only to this cow? No , through the composting,preps and all the knowledge being shared from the ethers you are part of a bigger process and a servant to all. The cow has got you meditating, got you doing that very thing you didn't accept from most of those human teachers. No need for gurus, therapists, anyone to tell you how and what to do. Just go and be with the cow and listen. She will take you on a journey not to be missed and one for which I will always be in debt. Blessings, Barbara
http://www.kootenay.com/~aurora -----Original Message----- From: Frank Teuton <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 7:37 AM Subject: Re: Milking the Home-based Compost machine Re: Soil building with plant matter compost >Hi Allan, > >To be less tied down, Gene Logsdon has written some stuff about how the calf >and you share the milking chores, allowing you some freedom you wouldn't >have if it was you in 'white slavery' twice a day.... > >No experience meself. > >I wonder about Barbara's word 'altruistic' below, I can see 'intimate' but >altruistic? I am struggling with that... > >Frank > >> Dear Barbara- >> >> We are thinking of getting our first family milk cow here. I've been >> reticent to be as 'tied down' as a wet cow makes one, but at this >> point I'm pretty much tied down anyway. (Not getting a milk cow has >> been pretty easy for this formerlly vegan household.) >> >> How many months of the year has your cow been wet? >> How much time a day do you devote to milking? >> >> Thanks >> >> -Allan >> >> >> >Hi Dorothy: >> >>From my experience and knowledge cow manure(i.e. a female bovine) is by >far >> >the best. And a home milk cow would be la creme de la creme. This having >to >> >do with female fertility and the closer the animal is to you and your >family >> >the more likely the process can be altruistic. We have observed this "the >> >whole is greater than the sum of it's parts" at Aurora Farm while >initiating >> >a self-regulating organism through the cow. >> >Blessings, >> >Barbara >
