Visit by Paul Starkey, Drew Conroy and others - April 16th 2004 (

[Guest guest]

Syamasundara Prabhu,

 

All these accounts are quite interesting. It sounds like both the TAWS

workshop and the visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor were productive both for

the other participants/guests and for yourself.

 

On one hand, it sounds like Paul and Drew were open minded and gentle

about offering advice -- but also quite interested to see what you had

to offer. And it sounds like you valued their input and were ready to

consider how to incorporate various suggestions to improve the program

at the manor.

 

From the perspective of ISKCON, it appears that you have attracted the

attention of a group of international experts who may be able to offer

advise to various ISKCON projects around the world. Thanks so very much

for making sure they received ample prasadam from the Deities!

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

Syamasundara (das) (Bhaktivedanta Manor - UK) wrote:

 

>Haribol Prabhus,

>

>following is a report on the visit today to BM of some influential persons

>in the field of ox implementation.

>

>

>Paul Starkey and Drew Conroy visit Bhaktivedanta Manor 16th April 2004

>

>As a consequence of participating in the TAWS workshop on the 15th of April

>2004 Paul Starkey, a consultant specialising in animal traction, and also an

>Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre of Agricultural Strategy, University

>of Reading, requested a site visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor for the next day.

>Accompanying him was Drew Conroy lifelong ox teamster, prolific writer on

>working oxen, International ox trainer PHD and lecturer in Dairy science.

>There was also Jorg Bremond from Germany with knowledge of Padded Harness

>for oxen and as well as Cozette Griffin-Kremer from the French centre of Ox

>History and Techniques.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Syamasundara Prabnu,

 

Please accept my humble obeisences. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Srila Prabhupada asked Nityananda prabhu many years

ago".....................so, how you are working the bulls?"

 

Not only are you working the bulls but your are representing Srila

Prabhupada in 1st class practically applied preaching. This presentation at

the Manor is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE in that these dedicated men in the field

of animal traction, specifically oxen, are seeing that in ISKCON there is

progress and intelligence being applied to the task of working the bulls.

 

Thank you for the report. It is very good news. Im glad the weather was

great for the event.

 

Repeated dandavats at your Lotus feet as well as all the assembled 2 and 4

legged vaisnavas in your service.

 

Any pictures???????????????????????????

 

yr servant,

Balabhadra das

 

Visit us at: www.iscowp.org

 

 

> [Original Message]

> Syamasundara (das) (Bhaktivedanta Manor - UK)

<Syamasundara (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

> Cow (Protection and related issues) <Cow (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

> 4/16/2004 2:50:05 PM

> Visit by Paul Starkey, Drew Conroy and others - April 16th 2004

(BM)

>

> Haribol Prabhus,

>

> following is a report on the visit today to BM of some influential persons

> in the field of ox implementation.

>

>

> Paul Starkey and Drew Conroy visit Bhaktivedanta Manor 16th April 2004

>

> As a consequence of participating in the TAWS workshop on the 15th of

April

> 2004 Paul Starkey, a consultant specialising in animal traction, and also

an

> Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre of Agricultural Strategy,

University

> of Reading, requested a site visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor for the next

day.

> Accompanying him was Drew Conroy lifelong ox teamster, prolific writer on

> working oxen, International ox trainer PHD and lecturer in Dairy science.

> There was also Jorg Bremond from Germany with knowledge of Padded Harness

> for oxen and as well as Cozette Griffin-Kremer from the French centre of

Ox

> History and Techniques.

>

> The weather was a perfect setting for the Manor to host such distinguished

> guests in the field of animal traction. Surya showed himself in pleasant

> spring glory.

>

> On arrival the group was shown around our current farm facilities where we

> explained the method of farming practiced and the philosophy behind it.

The

> numerous farm implements were shown and we explained how we were

interested

> in using modern machinery as far as possible that complemented the working

> of the oxen. There was quite some interest in the ox mill that we are

> manifesting at the Manor and Paul Starkey was able to give some global

> insight into the practicalities or not of such a system. Whew! He knows

his

> stuff.

>

> In the barn we displayed the main oxen in the team and Drew shared his

> extensive knowledge on the subject of suitable breeds and their

> characteristics. At this point we demonstrated the hitching of the oxen

and

> drew commented that the yoke we were using could be more comfortable with

> additional sanding along the neckline. He expressed that it didn't seem

> rounded enough for the best comfort. We confirmed we would address this

> concern. We mentioned how castration and nose rings fitted into our system

> and during the yoking of two of our oxen we were able to show how we

harness

> to the nose ring. Drew mentioned some of his experiences where nose ropes

> had been placed in young bulls and then not replaced when the bulls grew

> which led to damage and discomfort to the respective animal. He had

concern

> particularly in this case when the rope was made of nylon because they

never

> broke.

>

> From this point we took the ox team out and hitched them to a wagon where

> our guests sat comfortably whilst we transported them some 500m to the

> ploughing fields. Drew noted how the yoke sat on the shoulders and how the

> bows were not fully utilised by the oxen. Later he commented that the

> materials they were made from would bend if they were to be used in the US

> teamster style. He was able to identify that the oxen had neck

developments

> as a consequence of hauling out and he gave his own experience of how he

> would train his oxen to stop doing it by tying their horns together. When

> they walked normally he would untie them and again when they hauled out he

> would tie them again and in this way they learned not to do it.

>

> On reaching the ploughing fields the oxen were transferred to the plough,

a

> ride on sulky plough imported from the USA, wherein numerous photographs

> were shot by everyone armed with a camera. We ploughed a few furrows and

> then to everyone's surprise drew took the seat on the sulky plough, took

the

> reins (oh yes, but he asked us not to tell the New England teamsters with

a

> smile on his face) and ploughed one furrow encouraging the oxen on with

his

> calm and yet commanding voice. At this point we posed for group

photographs

> and then remounted the ox wagon to return to the farm. During the trop

back

> Paul mentioned to us that the primary reason why oxen and other animals

are

> displaced by tractors is prestige. He explained that generally tractors

> don't make economic sense on less than 50 hectares (125 acres) yet people

> were adopting them because governments were subsidizing them for

prestigious

> reasons. It is just not so impressive for most governments to be known to

be

> dependant on animal traction. Paul mentioned the success of Cuba in animal

> traction were it was valued by the leader Fidel Castro who awarded prizes

> for the best Ox teams. He also mentioned that were horses replaced oxen

was

> because of the speed consideration and because of the profile of horses

over

> oxen. He said that when people are given a tractor and it brakes down

after

> 5 years or so they have forgotten how to use the oxen and therefore they

> seek another tractor, which makes no financial sense. His point is that

they

> should have stayed with the oxen.

>

> With time pressing our guests we invited them to take a meal with us and

> showed them around the Manor and into the Temple room. During the Prasadam

> there was much discussion on ox training and working with animals around

the

> world. They wanted to know about how we were placed within Hinduism, how

> does Iscowp connect with ISKCON, how does the farm work financially. In

turn

> we were able to ask about animal traction around the world. We explained

how

> Vaisnavism fits into Hinduism, and how iscowp is a parallel charity run by

> devotees who oversee the world of Cow Protection within our ISKCON

society.

> We were able to explain how there is an internal economy for the products

of

> the cows and bulls and how there was vibrant charity support from the

> visitors to the Manor.

>

> We received books from Drew and from Paul and in reciprocation we gave

them

> going away gifts of Prasadam and a vegetarian cookbook and a mantelpiece

> ornament of Lord Krishna.

>

> The day went exceptionally well and will I am sure be the springboard of

> future collaboration and sharing of advice and resources. Drew invited our

> participation on the yolk discussion he was going to start as a result of

> the TAWS meeting he had attended the previous day.

>

> All in all it was a very worthwhile day to be able to host such important

> people in the world of animal traction. We must thank Hare Krishna prabhu

> for her insight into this initiative and approach.

>

> Ys syam