[j.l.holt]

@Gulo 22140 wrote:

I noticed this old thread, and thought i’d chime in, in case anyone revisits it.

We run a horse-powered CSA. We deliver at a farm market, and sell excess produce and the shares not picked up.

I think getting the true value of food is a matter right now of access to a populace that is both a) educated, and b) relatively wealthy. This describes the folks we market to, mostly. We won’t sell locally, in fact (our market is a major centre of around a million an hour from our farm), because the people, ironically, don’t “get it” yet and still feel a dozen eggs, for instance, over $2 represents a personal insult. I say “ironically” as these are mostly the same people who would wholeheartedly agree with you what a shame it is the family farm can no longer survive.

Anyway, i do my best at market not to cave in to hagglers, in fact, I am known to say things like “yes it’s expensive, and in fact the price for you just went up” and “i’m a farmer, not a prostitute,” or “it’s less than a shot of whiskey – maybe you’d be happier hanging out at the tavern” although of course this is my final line of defense when it is obvious i’m up against truly impenetrable ignorance.

On the other hand, i find myself frequently discouraged by the numbers of farmers out there perfectly willing to prostitute themselves to the tune of two dollars a dozen for eggs, etc.

Thankfully, people are getting smarter about this issue.

A friend of mine drives the Amish to a couple of farmers markets in the D C area. When I stopped by I was suprized to see people standing in line to buy 5.00 doz eggs. Its been said if they don’t have enough of their own they just buy. Im not sure of the eggs, but a guy I know delivers a delivery van of baked goods every Sat.morning at about 2:00 to them to repackage and sell along the road and at the stock sale. they are put in un labled bags so they don’t say where they came from. Most people just assume they were Amish home made. My wife ask them one time how they could bake so many cookies,perfict not burnt. Only one offered the real story.

[j.l.holt]

I pulled a New Holland baler with a H Farmall. 1 gear lower and more throtle took care of everything I had to bale.

[j.l.holt]

My brother had a group of people called ”Mongs” (?) raiseing chickens on him for years. They had 10’x20′ pens with covered roofs. Every day they set the pen forward about 3′. the bigger the birds the farther. Had a 3gal. waterer hanging as well. They picked everything down to the roots. What grew back was the best looking grass he had. All weeds were in check and the ground was well fertlized.

He does the same thing for him self with about 50 each year now.

My wife just told me i should not call them that but don’t know them by any other name. Not meanning to slur anyone.

[j.l.holt]

I have seen pictures of farmers bringing large bundles of loose hay down from high meadows with over head cables. Could this be part of that system?

[j.l.holt]

@Tim Harrigan 40523 wrote:

That is a good idea. Potential issue: fetching water is women’s work, driving oxen is men’s work. Not sure, just guessing.

The men could drive the Oxen on a tread mill to pump water in to a holding tank.

[j.l.holt]

@gwpoky 40356 wrote:

j.l.holt,

I am a certified farrier by trade and also co-teach the farrier science short course at this collage, so hoof care is high on my agenda. 🙂 This is how I got my foot in the door for this class proposal.

Just though I would through that out there. There is a guy in my neck of the woods who logs everyday and does not shoe his horses. He can’t see that their feet are all belled out. They are Perchrons and their feet are bigger than Belgians. Says they do better with out shoes. He takes them to all the fairs and parades and even little old ladys from the city see the feet and know better. Some people just don’t see that it matters.

[j.l.holt]

@gwpoky 40354 wrote:

j.i,holt,

I would love to hear more about your system. We are in the process of buying a different farm, then its full steam ahead. Would like to learn as many options as possible.

Thank you

Rather long to take up space here and not sure if any would be interested. so if you are e-mail me at jefflholt@gmail.com.

Also if you have pubpic power, close by, that is cheaper than trying to produce your own. Produce your own if you can not get public hook up. If you want to save money, and increase the quility of you home, upgrade your doors ,windows,and insulation. A home power system that would be sellableable to the next guy might be to high teck for them to under stand. And remember high tect systems have high teck problems.

[j.l.holt]

The best thing is to incorpurate as many ways to generate power as possible. Solar panels are nice when the sun shines. But in the winter, when the power could be off from storms, your solar panels are not going to be enough. If you have harness stock, you could hook up a turn stile. Or set up a small water wheel.
I have six ways to put power to my main panel. And there is a chance to add a couple more.

[j.l.holt]

Don’t forget to hit the high spots of hoof care. And the emportance of a good farrier and regular service. Might contact a farrier and have him do a hands on demo. At the least, clean the feet every morning and night .

Good luck

[j.l.holt]

@sickle hocks 32780 wrote:

🙂 it might be a bit like that in december!
Where I’m at 210 watts gets you one CFL light bulb for most of the evening, several hours of laptop and internet connection, some stereo, an electric fence energizer, and the odd boost charge on the old 6 volt tractor. Oh, and it grinds the coffee every morning.
This year we get a water well and a neat little washing machine, so the electricity usage will go through the roof…

You can get a solar powered pump that could pump into a storage tank

[j.l.holt]

A quick and easy way to use a team to charge batteries is to sink a truck rear end into the ground and hook the generator to the pinion shaft. Some generators will charge fron zero so no gearing is necessary. Also have worked up plans for a speed bump that generates electric every time the team (or traffic) cross it.
Two head would do as good bit if hooked every day for a hour or so.

[j.l.holt]

@dominiquer60 40319 wrote:

Gordon,

Good find! From back when the USDA gave farmers information that they could use 🙂

I have no personal experience with the chain, but I have heard that it works rather well for plowing down tall crops like grass, grain or weeds. I have a suspicion that it may help some in corn ground, but that without the length of trash needed for the chain to be most effective it still may not cover the trash as well as some may like. Just a guess though, I would love to hear from someone who has tried using a chain in old corn ground.

The idea is for the chain or wire to be long enough to hook on the double tree in front and the back to be plowed under in the furrow. That way the angle works like a snow plow,forceing trash over and down. and it does not get out from under untill it is to the end, and by then it has been plowed under. I think the chain was used when the wire thing was not as common as it is now. But the chain sure would pull hard.

[j.l.holt]

I read on another site one time about a guy who claimed to use a piece of no.9 wire on a plow. Fastoned to the frame it would trail past the end of the mould board. Some how the wire would get covered and pull the tops of what ever clear over. Ever hear or try something like this ?
I have used a half of a leaf spring to make my mould board longer. Bolted it to the end by way of a couple holes that were there.

[j.l.holt]

I think they could build it as heavy as you need. I thought of turning a mounted back hoe into a loader for a dozer as you speak of.We each have our own ideas and shareing them is whats nice about this board.

[j.l.holt]

I can’t see why a good welding shop can’t fix you up. The hard part would be building the swing gear. You could use the old prentice stile ladder. You have the hydraulics

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