[dominiquer60]

Thanks Tim, it was rough, but we learned a lot about ourselves and are enjoying our life work now more than ever. Sam’s says “It is all part of it, don’t own them if you can’t handle saying goodbye.”

[dominiquer60]

With the McCormick Deering the narrower your wheel base, the less range of motion you have with foot pedals and width between the 2 frames for shank attachment. You can go 40 with the neck yoke, but where are the eveners set at? if they are 36″ and your neck yoke 40″ it may be rather awkward and you could have a hard time getting them to track well. Of course with 40″ rows there is more room for error. I run everything at 36″ but my wheels are 40″. I put the rear sweep where it runs 18″ from either row, (36″ center or “wheel track” to “wheel track”), it gives the horses a centered mark to follow vs. getting too close to the plants. It is not a big deal to have the wheels off center, but with 8 large hooves involved, I want them where they belong.

[dominiquer60]

Quickly before our internet curfew.

From Sam Rich: If all things (animals, plow, etc) are equal it doesn’t matter which way you plow as long as you are happy with the results. Animals and plow set up can cause variations. With a walking plow he prefers right handed, it is just what he has always used, and having started with oxen, he thinks that Howie’s theory is a good one.

Our 2 way plow has been taken apart and adjusted many times, but each side still plows a little differently no matter how properly it is set or adjusted. I can plow either way if I have the horses that I like to plow with, the wrong combination and I get frustrated no matter the direction.

[dominiquer60]

Oat or oats and peas are good to plant this time of year, if done ASAP they will be less weedy than if you wait some. If you are giving this plot the year off I would recommend oats (horse feed oats work fine) and peas if you can get them. in July mow or disc them down, then work them in for a bit. It is during the warm summer months that bare fallowing will promote the flush of crab grass that you can kill with a harrow and repeat a couple times. After a bare fallow to sprout and kill the grass seeds, you can go one of many ways. More oats and or peas that will winter kill, buckwheat that will frost kill or a winter grain with or without vetch. The buckwheat doesn’t leave a lot of residue for winter ground protection, the oat and/or peas can be disked in come Spring, the winter grains (rye, wheat, triticale) will need plowing the following Spring. There are many options and any that let the grass sprout to be killed, and grow cover for soil protection and added Organic matter will do you good.

[dominiquer60]

It should be a great weekend for out DAPNet Plow Clinic. We have plenty of room for anyone wanting to join us last minute.

Also, due measures beyond their control, one of our DAPNet Plow Clinic Teamsters can not come this weekend. They are donating their payed place to another teamster. It is last minute, but if you would like to bring your plow and team to our Plow Clinic, this coming weekend, please let me know ASAP. If we cannot find a teamster, the funds donated will cover the auditor fee for 4 people. We will give preference to students and farmer types first. For more details check out our events page, let me know if you are interested. http://daclresources.org/events/

Erika Marczak

[dominiquer60]

Donn, bringing the FB text to the forum was as simple as highlighting, copying, and pasting the text here. I did a little editing, and could have done more for ease of reading. It seemed to me a good conversation to capture and save from the ever volatile FB.

[dominiquer60]

Lizzy,

I don’t have time at them moment to add the the discussion, but I have a couple saddle horse Myler bits that you are welcome to borrow and try out, they should fit your Halfligers

My number is on my website,
http://abingtongrown.com/form/contact

Erika

[dominiquer60]

The DAPNet Plow Clinic registration deadline has been extended to April 15th. We have a 3 abreast of mules, 3 pairs of Oxen, and a pair of horses registered, plus a few plows both sulky and walking types. Most folks plan on arriving Friday afternoon to spend time in the shop trouble shooting and making repairs and adjustments. We will be inviting a few of Sam’s mentors to come Friday for shop time and Potluck supper, be prepared for some quality social time. We still need a few more folks to register in order to be able to cover our costs, so please register ASAP if you plan on coming. There are plenty of free camping situations, tents, vehicles, campers (no hook ups), hay loft or sugar house. We hope to see you in Abington!

[dominiquer60]

We had a lot of rain, then snow yesterday, it finally froze again last night and the single pail next to the horse barn started singing late this morning. They boiled a few nights last week, averaging 1.9 mostly on vacuum lines. Sam boils at a neighbors place with 2 other farms, together they have 7,000 taps and made over 700 gallons so far this year. A good year is 1,500, they will be happy if they can get to 1,200 gallons. We still have some snow in the woods, but it is disappearing fast. Meanwhile the fields are still mostly covered and the snow drifts and piles will be around for weeks.

[dominiquer60]

Good to see you both “back in the saddle” 🙂

[dominiquer60]

Brad,
Did you mean to include your phone number?

[dominiquer60]

I agree with Tom, my father is a Luthier and teaches others how to make instruments. It is a common problem that beginners choose too complicated of a wood to work with for their first instrument. It can be very discouraging due to factors that Tom describes well, and some give up because of it. Make a couple good ones first then get fancy. Father rebuilt his first acoustic a couple times, even then his second and third were better, now he does it in his sleep. He also had years of experience working with exotic species and figured wood before he ever made his first guitar.

I hope I don’t come across as discouraging, instrument making is fun and rewarding, keep it simple and build on that. Enjoy your new adventures, nothing combines science and art like a luthier, best wishes.

Erika

[dominiquer60]

You are on your way Jay, keep it sane and grow slowly.

Sam tapped one bush yesterday, will start on the other tonight and hopefully finish it tomorrow.

Spring must be coming, I am off to body clip some show horses tomorrow, at least it is some seed money 🙂

[dominiquer60]

White Salt
Calcium : Phosphorous 1:1
Calcium : Phosphorous 2:1
Kelp Meal
Mineral Clay
There are lots of other options too

Our soil is high in Phos, and low in Calicum, we figured they would hit the 2:1 one hard, but they surprised us and gobbled the 1:1. They also will kill the kelp from time to time. No more licking and chewing trees, rocks, etc.

[dominiquer60]

If he is hitting the salt block hard something is out of whack. We used to feed brown blocks and kelp too. Since giving them free choice of 5 different mineral sources, they seem to have balanced their own needs and only go through 60% of the salt that they used to.

The mineral mixes are good, but they can easily cause more problems. For example (made up scenario), say he needs more cobalt and keeps eating more and more salt/mix to meet that need. Only now he has eaten too much copper, and that has a negative impact on vit E absorption, mean while the water retention from the salt is making his heart work harder, etc, etc. It can snowball fast with out us realizing it.

Sam had a horse that used to chew his lines bad (beta too). I don’t know if he grew out of it, or if by meeting more of his needs (better minerals and different bit) he just gave it up.

Minerals and herd dynamics may seem off topic, but it is all related in some way, shape or form. Ours have their faults too and part of figuring them out is what makes it all interesting to me. We have a team that sounds similar to yours in some ways, they are very good to work, but difficult to get them the way that you would really like them.

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