[Michael Colby]

Thanks everyone. DAP rocks (again).

It’s nice to know you can throw something like that out there and get such an informed (and instant!) response.

[Michael Colby]

Thanks, Carl. Got a photo by any chance? And how long are your tie-chains?

[Michael Colby]

Everyone I voted for lost. But, then again, that’s been the case for me for years. Socialists just don’t seem to win elections around here. Yet.

The American political experience has become an ugly spectacle in my opinion. All superficial, all hype, all marketing and two parties laughing all the way to the bank.

Until enough of us step outside of the two-party duopoly, we’re doomed for more of the same every two/four years.

But thanks for asking.

[Michael Colby]

Farmer Brown’s videos are good. But, better than that, find someone who’s doing it in your area and watch/help/learn in real time.

[Michael Colby]

Thanks to those who inquired. The positions is now filled.

Welcome aboard, Claire.

[Michael Colby]

Thanks. He looks great. I’ll be in touch.

[Michael Colby]

It sounds like I’ve got one of your “ideal horses.” I’ll drop you an email to tell you about him (3 YO Belgian/gelding). But you can reach me by phone at (802) 229-6750. I’m in Worcester, Vermont.

[Michael Colby]

Wow. Thanks for that — I really needed it.

I’ve been struggling all day long with the news about the leaders of the U.S. war machine blaming WikiLeaks for “damaging the nation’s reputation in the Middle East” and for having “blood on their hands” for “putting our troops in danger.”

Good luck with that.

Old George’s rant puts a lot of things in perspective. May he continue to rest in peace. As for the rest of us, may we wake up soon. Really soon.

[Michael Colby]

Wow. Thanks for the link. The fella running the mill — Frank Foster of Walden, VT — was my neighbor for ten years. What a man. And what a family. In fact, I still use his son, Terry, to truck wood for me when the need arises. The Fosters had some amazing draft horses in their day, Brabants especially.

I could listen to those accents all day long.

[Michael Colby]

I just bought a fixer-upper one-horse Osborne mower. I’d be very interest to hear about where you bought/found parts for your mower project — especially the knives and guards.

Donn: Shafts and a single tree are attached to the stub-tongue. It’s operated with one horse at an offset to the mower side. I’ve seen the photos but am still very curious about the weight on the back pad.

[Michael Colby]

The first thing that comes to mind are the words people are always telling me (which, of course, I ignore): Aim for the happy medium.

And, no, I’m not referring to your swimsuit size….

[P.S. Thanks for the chuckle. I needed that.]

[Michael Colby]

Hey Jen. Your dilemma sounds all too familiar. And, unfortunately, so do your soil/rock conditions. Rocky soil plus sod plus one horse plus rookie-plow-person equals frustration, for sure. It would be Herculean to pull it off so quickly.

My solution was to “cheat.” I rented a tiller for my tractor, broke the sod up, and then used my single horse to harrow repeatedly before planting a cover crop. The next year, he/we broke the ground/cover crop up with much less effort and much more understanding of the task.

Sure, I had to take a year off my “petroleum-free” tally, but I didn’t have to buy a new horse, totally confuse and frustrate the horse I had, and/or abandon the project altogether.

And the best news — for me, at least — is that the colt I was waiting for to be the new teammate for my single horse is now ready to roll as a well-mannered three-year old. Oh boy, new adventures.

Hang in there.

[Michael Colby]

Nice work, Jen. Ted’s the best. I worked with him driving sleighs in Stowe the last couple of winters. Fine man, great horseman.

[Michael Colby]

Some suggestions that helped me: Get Farmer Brown’s plowing video, attend this spring’s plowing matches, visit an experienced plowing teamster, get an experienced plowing teamster to visit you. If you’ve got a nice quiet team, you’ll be plowing in no time.

[Michael Colby]

I tapped today too. I tested a few taps this morning and was pleasantly surprised by the flow. So off we went to get the job done. There’s nothing like a day of tapping with family, friends and neighbors. Ah, spring…

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