Dear Editor, I have been reading about the recent problems the
Santa Clara County is having with the William F. James Boy
’s Ranch in Morgan Hill. Here’s a possible solution to
consider.
Dear Editor,
I have been reading about the recent problems the Santa Clara County is having with the William F. James Boy’s Ranch in Morgan Hill. Here’s a possible solution to consider.
I grew up on a dairy farm in the Central Valley, and now, at 81 years of age, I say they should use some common sense in handling the boys who are guests of this well-known ranch. I know quite a lot about running a dairy farm and also a bit more about boys – since I had three brothers.
I suggest that 25 to 30 cows be purchased and a small milk barn built. They would need three or four of the boys every day to do the milking. Cows have to be milked twice a day, seven days a week, so there would be plenty of time slots available to the boys. They would not actually be milking by hand, of course. It would require an electric milking machine system and possibly a stainless steel storage tank.
One of the perks would be that the boys could have fresh, cold, organic milk for breakfast every day. Next, they should buy 20 to 25 hogs and let some of the boys take care of them as well. Next, you could have about 50 to 60 chickens for them to care for and the Ranch would have fresh eggs every morning for breakfast, too. There is no better tasting egg than a fresh egg. My brothers and I would eat six to seven eggs every day at breakfast after milking the cows.
I don’t know how many acres there are on the Ranch, but they could use one to two acres for their garden. They could grow most of their own vegetables. There is a creek nearby too that runs all year in which they could put a small pump to irrigate vegetables.
This Boy’s Ranch could be self-sufficient. I was 11 years old when I started milking cows and it did not hurt me a bit. In fact, I thank God every day that I was raised on a farm. It teaches you to be a responsible person.
Also, it shows you that if you want to eat, you have to work. I was 40years old when I quit farming, because in today’s world, the small farmer cannot make a living. But, the Boy’s Ranch would not be that kind of an operation.
The Santa Clara County spends millions of dollars every year on the James Boys Ranch and the boys are not learning a thing. I would be glad to discuss this proposal with the county or whomever is running this operation. I’m only 81 years old and I still have some good ideas. Give me a call, my phone number is 779-1234. I’m retired.
John Dossetti, Morgan Hill
