Winter’s back

[Nick]

Found some time to check this site out after picking up flyer for 2008 field days at the Vermont farm show. The 2007 day was fantastic and the opportunity to meet and hear Lynn Miller made it that much more. Great to hear it will be happening again and hope to help out. I am one of the “got sidetracked” draft horse lovers. Got alot of experience working on a mostly horse powered dairy and vege farm back in the 1980’s in New Haven VT – any one recall Old Nash Farm and Peter Smith? We bottled and sold raw jersey milk along with large market gardens. Hayed with horses (except the bailing) – also cultivated corn, cut and binded corn and oats, spread manure, dug potatoes and numerous other tasks. Threshing the oats was amazing to see the large thresher working – wish I had been around when Peter rebuilt the machine just to see how it worked. Wonderful reflective and quiet times are remembered mowing hay with a great team. Also worked with mules with Amish in Chester Co. Pa. Left horses behind to earn money to buy own place and dream fell by wayside. Finally found land about 12 years ago and now that house is almost done and kids are getting older was thinking of maybe reconnecting with draft horses. Good to see young people interested and doing work with horses, mules and ox. For those who are just starting out with no experience – keep the interest and try to hook up with an experienced teamster. I gained experience from contacting an Amish farmer who had an ad in farm paper looking for help harvesting corn. Once he found out I was interested in working the mules, he gave me the reins! Thanks to those who set this forum up .

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