farm layout and work patterns

[Rod]

Our farm being built recently has by intent been designed and laid out to be efficient for tractor power operations. I don’t suppose that is the case with some older farms which once were run by animal power and may even, in contrast, be cumbersome to operate with tractors, at least in part.
An example on our farm are our wood sheds both of which are awkward to access with animal drawn carts but work well with a truck or a tractor drawn cart backed in.
Another obstacle is my road layouts and gate arrangements. Also a big one is my stock yard and round bale feeding arrangement, great for the tractor but impossible for animal power.
Winter is when I think about what changes I would like to make the following year and it occurred to me that others may be facing or have modified their layouts or work methods to accommodate animal power. I would love to see (hear) some of the experiences of others who have made changes to accomidate animal power on their farms.

[Howie]

If they can back it in with a tractor you should be able to back it in with a team. I put the big round bales in the feeder with my steers.
Step back and use your imagination!

[Rick Alger]

Years ago I read a good discussion of the older farm layouts. It might have been by Eric Sloane. The main concept was saving steps. It was the basis of the New England style of connected farm buildings.

You might talk with Les Barden about it. His place is relatively new, but it is built with the old efficiencies in mind.

[Gabe Ayers]

It seems the geography is the most important feature to laying out a farm, fields and forest.

Not that one lays out a forest in a natural setting, but allows the land to be used for what is best with the least amount of human input.
The aspect and exposure of the land dictates the best use of the land. South facing land is warmer and better for agricultural uses and north facing steeper land for hardwood or mixed hardwood/softwood forest. Cool moist coves grow high quality hardwood timber, sunny side grows softwoods best.

Drainage is an issue for building placement with he roofs draining away from the buildings and the high traffic areas like road beds being easy to remove snow from or keep in shape by dragging or grading and well drained to keep water from following the road and putting your improved surface in the ditch instead of staying on the road bed. Placing buildings such as loafing sheds and feeding shelters to provide protection from cold northwest winds would make sense, again remembering that they will drain water from the roofs that will have to go downhill somewhere, even if you are catching it in a collection system once it overflows.

Many older animal powered facilities did have lots of pull through arrangements, like corn cribs, wood sheds and hay storage for loose hay. These arrangements were often where equipment (wagons) were left parked when no in use. Howie is right though in that on level ground a team can back an implement as well as a tractor in skilled hands with the right sized equipment.

There may be better suggestions or some referral to printed material on this issue recommended by other readers/posters. Since we still use an integrated system of machines and horses, we may not have the best ideas about all animal power. I suspect a study of Amish farms and layout could be insightful. I agree that the design to be animal power friendly is important and we do try to think of that form of power first when laying out every thing we do on the place. Our land being in the mountains limits lay out in some ways and compliments it in others. It is always interesting to see that the old folks put all the homes, barns and buildings in the worst spots land wise and kept the good laying land for farming and forestry.

It is a sad thing to see so many old farms turned into sub divisions with houses situated with regard to the roads only, no chimneys and trees randomly planted in fields that families spent generations clearing of forest and cultivating top soil for crops and in the end grow mostly houses….

Good question Rod, hope you share with us what you learn and how you adapt your modern mechanized layout to be more appropriate to animal power.

[near horse]

Some good points Bio Woodsman.

I continue to struggle with “the best way” to lay out our farmstead. As you state, you have to work within the constraints of the geography. One challlenge is having faclilities within a reasonable distance of the house – think feeding time or need tool in house ….. BUT you still need enough room to get equipment turned around and into the shop, hay to the barn ….

AND —- enough room to push the snow out of the way. It has become apparent to me that thinking about chores and daily living in the worst possible weather conditions (and then add 10% to your estimate:)) helps give you a better layout. Obviously snow seems to be a relevant topic for me right now:eek:

Things can get much more complicated if you try things like harvesting rainwater from your roof runoff….. (things get dry here in the summer and wells are deep and hit and miss).

With regard to overall efficiency, there are some good ideas from the “permaculture folks” that say to place “areas of usage” based on frequency of use – imagine a dart board or target. High usage places would be near the center while areas like hayfields would be more towards the perimeter. Good basic concept.

[Julie Clemons]

The book Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn might be worth looking at.

Here it is on Alibris for $18 or so, or ask at your library.

I forget how much it concentrates on the farm vs. the buildings but you might be able to glean useful information from the photos.

[Author]

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