[LongViewFarm]

I’m going to have to find a copy of the original article.

I have my bio students starting a long term study of the hayfield we used for the 2016 Annual Gathering, measuring the % organic matter in the soil. My theory is that it will increase as I take measures to increase hay production, and if I make hay predominantly with animal power, then all that organic matter has a direct relationship to the amount of carbon I store. We’ll come pare to the hayfield next door, which has always been used as a hay field, and is currently harvested with conventional techniques.

[LongViewFarm]

I just sent in.

[LongViewFarm]

Welcome to to group Loretta,
Your goals are definitely aligned with the group, and certainly achievable. it’s great you are planning so far ahead. Getting set up for animal powered ag does take time. I’m in Charlestown NH not too far from you and may have an opportunity later this year and if you want to learn some this summer we do a lot then. There are lots of good farms and farmers in the Connecticut river valley or nearby.

Also the Field Days event this year is in Cornish NH Sep 29-Oct 1. There will be lots of people to meet and network with there.

Enjoy the journey,
Jay

[LongViewFarm]

We all pay an awful lot for insurance, and rarely see anything from it, but when we do it has a lot of value. It seems a second horse for you is a form of insuring that you can use draft power as a motive force. As Erika says you may have other options. In your shoes I would start looking as the likelihood of debilitating illness and injury is higher in older horses. Good care can reduce this and I know you manage her workload well.
I’d start looking, myself, maybe not too hard yet.

[LongViewFarm]

We had a nice Visit from Ed and Jane Thayer Fri as we were boiling for the first time in our new sugar house. All wood was harvested with draft power, and the sheathing and roofing 1xs were harvested and milled at the 2016 annual gathering. It’s very satisfying to see this bit of farm infrastructure up and running after help from so many.
We are boiling on a Leader half-pint evaporator my father in law bought so he can pursue and pass on the sugaring hobby. It is far better than the flat pan I used to use on a two burner stove. We’ll expand next year with a second pan and 50-100 more taps on line. We have 50 taps in this year on buckets, and have gathered about 80 gallons so far.
How is the season going for the rest of you? How long will it last?

[LongViewFarm]

I can vouch Mark’s cart is great.

[LongViewFarm]

Hi Don, Where in NH are you? I’m in Charlestown. This Sept the Draft Animal Power Fields days will be in Cornish Sept 29-Oct 2. It’s a great time to come out and meet everyone.
Jay

[LongViewFarm]

We’d be glad to have you visit up here in NH. We have a spare room and a team of percherons that we use for farm work, mostly on weekends. We’re having a specific forestry event on Dec 12th, but most any weekend you could visit. We are also near (within 30-90 minutes) of several more horse farmers that might make good day trips.
I’m happy to tell you more. We have an airbnb site that shows you our place, but not much of the horses. Also we are on facebook.
Enjoy the visits. I hoep they go well in any case.

Jay

https://www.facebook.com/LongviewFarmInc/
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5236213?preview

[LongViewFarm]

I’ve driven the cart Mark has at the gathering and it’s awesome.

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[LongViewFarm]

I was really just after an excuse to practice with the cultivator. What I ended up doing is a lot like you said Daniel, removing the center Sweep and leaving a bed in that space. I have not measured but the beds should be centered with the cultivator- not sure if that’s 36.”

I also disced the second area of plowed up land with 4 cinder blocks on the 6′ disc. It was a lot rougher and bounced cinder blocks off the disc even though they were tied on (Not well). Sarah declined to ride. More work is needed but it’s leveling out well.

[LongViewFarm]

I think Stephen Leslie wrote this up in Rural Heritage but I don’t know what issue. I’ll try to dig through this weekend

[LongViewFarm]

That was Chuck Cox. I wil ldig up his contact info and send it to you.

[LongViewFarm]

Jared, I started with a lot of google image searching for wagon plans, and then asked here about features. The thread “preferred hay wagon features” at http://flofarm.org/dap/forums/topic/preferred-hay-wagon-features/ has some good info.

[LongViewFarm]

It is coming down to the wire, with final prep and a couple of folks arriving today. And I am stuck in parent/teacher conferences till 7pm. I just can not wait to see everybody and spend the weekend learning and working with the animals. I’ll be distracted today for sure!

[LongViewFarm]

This is a great excuse to get so much done on the farm, to gave a deadline. I can’t wait to see everybody and get together for a lot of fun.

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