Dear Tess,
I have a Massey Ferguson Activa MF 7345 S harvester, and the engine sump seems a little sluggish. What do you recommend? Also, what is the meaning of life?
- Sump Pump Sally
Dear S.P. Sally,
The Massey Ferguson Activa is a reliable workhorse, but like all machines, it needs regular care to stay productive.
Filters: Clean your air and fuel filters regularly. When filters clog, the engine strains, much like our minds when clogged with distractions. Clear the blockages, and both machine and soul will breathe easy.
The sump pump should hold about 25.5 liters of a high quality 10W-40 oil. This is the pump that pumps sump.
Also, don't forget to lubricate your bearings for rear straw walker crank every 50 hours or so. Check the owner's manual for details.
As for the meaning of life - keep in mind that we are star dust, children of the universe, but we are also big bags of mostly icky gelatinous biology. Much like the harvester, clear your filters: emotional, mental, and intestinal blockages can cloud your judgment. Clear them through reflection and conversation and a high fiber diet. Life, like your machine, runs better when it’s free of unnecessary burdens.
Twined together in wisdom, Tess Twinehart
Chief of Agriculture & Philosophy at WLBOTT
We Now Explore Tess – the Early Years
After her pro-bono work giving psychotherapy to chickens—which earned her the title “The Chicken Whisperer” – Tess found herself with a rather unusual reputation in the therapy world. She was admired by local farmers for her unique ability to calm even the most anxious hens, and some claimed she could get a rooster to stop crowing for just long enough to make a point. Despite her success with poultry, she struggled to translate this experience into a thriving practice for humans and larger barnyard animals.
To make ends meet, Tess began to freelance as an advice columnist for small, rural newspapers under various pseudonyms. She answered letters about everything from romantic troubles to farm equipment malfunctions. Do you recall her viral video: Keeping it Lubed: The John Deere 9600 Combine Grease Points? Her witty, offbeat approach gained a modest but devoted following, and she soon expanded her column to include advice on life’s more existential dilemmas.
Gaining Expertise in Other Chores
Tess also dabbled in other rural chores (for videos and pod casts), to varying degrees of success.
Repairing a Fence with Twine: Chickens want to be helpful, but mostly they just get in the way.
Windmill Repair via Spell Book: Various blessings (and a few curses) were applied, with little success.
Sharpening a Scythe under the Moonlight: Best results are obtained under a full moon.
Lubricating the Milking Machine with Herbal Oils: Tess uses a mix of traditional oils and herbs to keep a milking machine running smoothly, adding a magical touch to the mundane task.
Magnetizing the Cow Bell: Tess uses a homemade device to “magnetize” cowbells for good luck and whole milk.
Work / Life Balance
Like many of us, Tess struggled with her work/life balance. She was passionate about her calling, and would often take work home with her.
