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Thanks for the replies. Where do you get your swivel hooks? I have one that I inherited, but would like a back-up (maybe one with a deeper slot).

George

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Mice are one step away from rats. We had lots of mice, then after a few years rats – for me a whole different ball game. Mice are inconvenient, rats are destructive and can be vectors for various diseases. We make cheese for a living and have zero tolerance for any rodents, especially rats.

We got a Jack Russel Terrier who has virtually eliminated our rodent problem and has be a great pet to boot. Have also used poison in a dispenser I made from pvc. You need:

• 3 pieces of 1 1/2 pvc cut to 16″
• 1 1/2 “t”
• 1 1/2 cap.

Glue your 3 pieces into the “t” and invert to make an upside down T. Put poison in the section facing up, cap it and secure to a wall with metal plumbers strapping. Rodents get in to access the poison, but nothing else (cats, chickens, dogs, etc.). There are “organic” poisons available if you don’t like the real thing. Make at least 5 traps and put them all over the barn. Check the poison regularly. This should get rid of everything.

George

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We are paying $3 -$4 / bale for certified organic second cut hay. Another farmer I have dealt with in the past is asking $5 for last year’s second cut.

George

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Thanks so much for updating on Peanut, it has been great to follow along. You must be so thrilled!

Kristan

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I’m not sure how a curb fits on a riding bridle, but we had information to have 2 fingers fit between the chain and the chin, we also attached the reins at the midpoint position on the curb. I since read somewhere on here, (from Jason?) that he fits them by pulling the chain up to the hook and as it slides down the hook the result is the correct fit. Ours is a little looser than that but it has worked so well we haven’t changed it.

I also wanted to mention that we purchased this team from a dealer, so we didn’t know what bit they had used previously. We were pretty committed to the idea of a snaffle so it took us a long time to switch. The lever made such a dramatic difference I’m pretty convinced it was what they were used to.

Kristan

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Here’s a quick follow-up before I go off to milk. The concensus at the gathering was that we should stick with a regular snaffle. We did….for a while. We finally went with a levered bit with a chain because we felt our horses had a slowly eroding respect for the bit. I didn’t feel fully in control with a snaffle. After the transition, it was like having the team we purchased back. They stop on dime, start calmly, stand etc. and if they do spook for whatever reason they might do a little jump up, but never into the bit. We drive with very light lines and things are going well. It’s been about 6 months since the transition.

George

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I would tend to wait until spring. Working soil this time of year leaves them more prone to erosion. Also, any amonimum and nitrate (the readily avaialbe nitrogen fraction) in that compost / manure will likely be lost without growing plants to utilize it if you were to spread it this fall.

George

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Plowboy:

My wife and I currently make two full time incomes off of our small farm. We milk 45 goats and process all the milk into a variety of fresh and aged goat cheeses. We also recently started making goat’s milk kefir (a type of drinkable yogurt). While I understand your questioning the economic viability of small scale farming, it is possible with sacrifices. We purchased 130 acres of undeveloped land for $63,000 11 years ago. We lived in a yurt for over 5 years while we built our barns, cheese facility, house etc. I taught high school for 9 years while building up the business and quit two years ago. Yes, that income helped capitalize the farm and was essential in reducing debt and enabling us to pay as we went. However, the business was also growing and contributing as well. We are now debt-free and live comfortably.

What did it take for us? Getting a good deal on land we purchased, willing to rough it for several years (yurt with no water and no electric for several years), doing everything ourselves (building, plumbing, electric, etc.), searching the country for cheap equipment that we could fix up (cheese regs are extremely strict), and working extremely hard for long periods of time (still going!). Did I mention interns? Yes, we have relied on them as well, although we are now in a position – with less projects, fence building, renovations, etc. – to wean ourselves from intern labor if we choose.

These are all aspects of the cost of running a business. On the income side, it wouldn’t have worked for us without a value-added product. For example, we could sell goat’s milk for $30 – $35 / cwt. That same milk processed into cheese and kefir averages $185 / cwt for us. Additionally, we have the power to raise our prices rather than accepting a price from a buyer. In fact, we have raised our prices twice in the past 6 months due to our rising costs (we are now paying $635/ton for organic grain!) Our customers haven’t blinked and we still don’t come close to meeting demand. Another key for us has been direct marketing 40-45% or our cheese through the Burlington Farmers Market and local CSAs. This insures we are getting top dollar for our products.

I don’t want to paint a overly sanguine picture of our farm because I would be making a lot more money and working a lot less if I continued teaching. We often work upwards of 80 hours weekly in the busy season and I bet if you calculated our hourly wage, it would be modest indeed. That being said, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

George

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Hi Jennifer,

Your experience with trailer loading is interesting..you are a skilled horsewoman and rider -why not start working with Peanut under saddle? It seems like a place to distinguish “work from play” where you have confidence and a clear vision of what you want to accomplish. Having been a rider first myself I have been surprised by what a different experience driving is. We bought a team with lots of time in harness, but they are young and had never been subjected to beginners. They could sense our lack of confidence and it made them nervous. We’ve used them regularly for a year now, and I’m just feeling that we have our calm relaxed team back. They have survived us, but there were times I despaired we we ruining them!

Our horses had never been ridden,and they were very anxious about it but I feel so much better prepared to handle situations when on their back than behind them. I think our riding relationship has been very good for our working relationship as well.

I know your goal is to work in harness, and hats off to you for changing course before you feel over your head. But it seems like working under saddle could be a good step toward getting there, since it is your home turf.

Just an idea anyway,I know nothing of training babies but can certainly relate to the struggles of a novice teamster!

Kristan

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Our farm depends heavily on border collies. We had two, lost one this summer at age 14 and getting another bc puppy tomorrow. They work goats (main job), sheep, cattle, and pigs. We also have a Jack Russell Terrier for rodents who does an excellent job and a Great Pyrenese for gaurding livestock.

George

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Thanks for the response Don. I found a #7 that was pulled behind a tractor (it has a short pole). It seems to be in decent working order and I think he will take $200. I know that these mowers weren’t meant to be pulled behind a tractor due to higher traveling speed. Are there some things I should look out for? Also, you mentioned a new knife. Do you mean the whole cutter bar with guards? Where can they be purchased new? Someone suggested I have two working cutter bars ready to go in case something goes wrong while haying. Opinions on that? I ordered L Miller’s mower book several weeks ago, but it is on back order. So I am kind of groping in the dark.

George

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Is that just a standard grinder? What kind of wheel is used?

George

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Neil:

How about a little background on that impressive picture? How many horses? How big a tractor would be needed to pull that plow? How much land can you cover in a day?

Thanks.

George

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We are using 8 pigs in two net fences on a field full of milkweed, golden rod, and fern. After a week, they tear up the paddock and I broadcast a mixture of oats, forage brassica, and millet. We hope to then graze this with goats and plant some perennial grasses and legumes. The seed is coming up nicely, but the field is a little rough. I think after a few passes with goats and horses it should even out.

George

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@Jim Ostergard 2442 wrote:

When I use the arch I use real long lines that drop where I can reach them quickly.

Jim:

When you mention long lines I assume you mean driving lines and not a lead line. How long are your lines? What tasks do you take on as they are in reach? I imagine these long lines reach the back of your arch to aid in safely hitching logs? Any elaboration would be helpful as I bought an arch last winter and am still getting used to it.

Hope this still fits the interests of this thread.

George

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