[Riverbound]

Fair Winds Farm workshop in Brattleboro, VT. Thanks to the Bailey family! They laid a great foundation that gave me the safety, skills and confidence to jump in. Plus great food, too!

[Riverbound]

Thanks everyone for your input. These are definitely settled mares at 18 years old. Using a smooth snaffle bit. And, they have performed well at the task for a couple of hours, being led. And leading them for this is probably just fine, especially in light of the get it done mentality we’ve got to have this time of year. But, driving them might indeed be a better choice in the long run. One of the two gets the concept while being driven, the other gets frustrated. The roles are a bit reversed when being led. Also, just a thought, they are not well matched in terms of size, and therefore have different strides and getting them to walk in step in difficult. I do have a gelding who is matched well with one of them, but I haven’t tried him on this job yet, because of his general disposition. But, I can get him and the mare walking in step with the lines, and it wouldn’t be the first time he’s surprised me with greatness, so I’ll have to give that a try.

I did see a video of David Fisher and his transplanter in action. And, I consulted him before getting our transplanter. He really seems to have it down with that team. Its tough to get the balance between “hold back”, “woa” and “step up” in terms of the lines. Like I said, one of mine got it, not the other. Anyway, I’ll keep working at it and will get some video to share when we get it just right (or right enough). Here’s a couple of photos for the curious:

Also, for the really curious or maybe just a little bored or addicted to the screen, photos at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverbound-Farm and
http://www.riverboundfarm.com
Brian

[Riverbound]

I guess I won’t be getting oxen real soon, but that’s an interesting point. I think I might need draft tortoises from the Galapagos for this job. Generally I like the pace of a horse’s walk, in fact now that I think about it, it’s one of those things that draws me to working with them. Just this job in particular is a challenge. Thanks for the thought, though. I do like bovines.

[Riverbound]

Good question. How can I tell? Its has IH hoppers on it, as someone pieced a couple together.

[Riverbound]

Thanks. Maybe its time for a real torch. HEAT not heat. I’ll try the atf/acetone too. I knew I came to the right place.

[Riverbound]

Just planted corn this evening! 2 acres of sweet corn (well a little popcorn in there, too). Ours is 40 inches, not adjustable. It’s a JD. The big thing for us is that it matches the width of the cultivator.

[Riverbound]

I have a mare who does this when she is cycling. If I hook her with our gelding, the object of her unrequited love, its much worse. Also, although it can get tiresome, I found that “see-sawing” the lines Doc Hammil style helps, so that I can give an exaggerated line tug on her side when she turns in, without messing with her teammate too much.

[Riverbound]

Hello,
Wondering if Mike will be making it to Fort Ransom Sodbuster Days next weekend. I’ve bought a buckrake and overshot stacker from a fella over that way and he tells me it’s a great event. Anyway, I just wanted to connect with someone else up here in the Great.Plains. Mandan, ND

[Riverbound]

As a green teamster and recent moderately successful fulltime small acreage vegetable farmer, in a land I’m a stranger in, but married into, this thread is near to my heart. Naysaying is right up there with hail, frost and broken equipment as far as obstacles to choosing the road less travelled. It’s validating just to know we’re not alone. My latest strategy in dealing with the inevitable incredulity is to avoid discussion of economics, practicality, sustainability, etc. and focus on enjoyability. I like what I’m doing. I want to do it because it pleases me. Can’t argue with that. Then they can witness genuine success: choosing one’s path and sticking to it.

[Riverbound]

Thanks. The seat is just clamped to springs, so moving it isn’t a big deal, not convenient either though. I’ve got it as far forward as it will go. I do have fairly fat tires, not the old tall narrow type, and I see what you mean about that.I’d like to hook it to a spreader, too, and am wondering how that will affect it. It seems like any added weight in the back will make it worse. Will tightening the breast straps help? I’m going to weld a guard on the front and the added weight may help a bit. Maybe an Easter cruise is in order.

[Riverbound]

Thanks for the welcome. I’m in Mandan, ND, right on the beautiful Missouri River. I’ve got two runners and a cross piece to start the sled with. I’m just going to keep it at two runners and build a platform. I’ve got a pole, but not only does it not match the configuration of the sled, it is also pretty well rotten. So, its the pole and pole to sled junction that has got me stalled. Add to that there’s really very little wood around these parts, and what you get at the lumber yard isn’t really up to snuff (maybe doug fir at the best). I was thinking a steel pole, perhaps. Do you think the pole needs to articulate up-down-left-right, or could i get away with just up-down? I just want to get this team in shape!

[Author]

Posts