[Mark Cowdrey]

I would add a 4th to Erika’s list; same a #3 except we have no formal presence at it.
Ed, I would think for categories 1-3 we would want the host to be a member. Why wouldn’t they want to be. BTW, how much is a membership?

To the committee re: the 2 events I mentioned tonight.

1. Bradley Teeter at The Farm School in Athol, Ma.
Here is a PM I got from him yesterday:

Re: get together
I wrote Jean an email, so she has some more ideas down, but I was thinking it could be set up kind of like the gathering at the Bailey’s with pre registration for meals and a few different activities around the farm and in the woods. The fellow from Long View Farm was interested in coming down to move some logs in exchange for help repairing his sled. That gave me the idea of maybe building a log scoot workshop? We have woodstove in a workspace for that. We could mill the lumber we need on Sat. then build it on Sun. I”ll get all the hardware we need ahead of time. And then we could just mill lumber all weekend if people were interested in that. All the while on Sat. and Sun. a few teams could be out in the woods with bob sleds, your arch, etc. hauling to the mill or firewood to it’s place. Of course I couldn’t lead any of these things except my coworker would run the mill but would also accept advice from more knowledgeable dapnet members. So if some of you guys who have been doing it longer than I have would be willing to just answer questions I hope it would have a natural flow where we are just working and having fun with observers. I don’t know if we want to branch out from our group or not, that could be up to the board, but farm school kids might want to come out for the day just to be on the farm and see what we are up to. I think the schedule for the weekend regarding meals would probably be similar to the weekend at the Baileys. Hope this helps.

His phone is 978-575-1470

2. Chuck Cox in Lee, NH 603-868-1822, cell-603-344-2438.
His neighbor, John Hutton of Coppal House Farm, http://nhcornmaze.com/, is harvesting 4-5 acre of corn w/ six horses on a power forecart in early NOv. Chuck has ideas for a variety of levels of putting on the event. I am thinking it would be a level 3 or 4 because of short notice & our lack of organization at this time, and because the event itself will take pplace on “the first good day” after the 2nd weekend in Nov., kind of hard to schedule.

Good luck P&E committee!

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Bradley,
Thank for the offer, sounds like a good possibility. When in the winter would work for you? Post-holiday?
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Getting loaded up & headed down to Fair Winds Farm today to help get things rolling for the weekend. Hope to see you there.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Thanks Jen for getting this ball rolling.
I agree that the VP should make a statement that is her’s or the President’s. As moderator I am willing to emcee if the Board wishes.

I agree w Carl about keeping control of NEAPFD even if we don’t do it annually. We should trade mark/copyright our various names.

The small events is something we have already started and is a good way to go regardless of the FDs. However, sanctioning will require establishing and administrating various official criteria.

I think there is a lot of merit in doing the FDs on a two year interval from an energy point of view. Also, create pent up demand for the event.

I would hope that the main source of funding would be grants, one of the main reasons for a centralized organization. Low gate fees are a prerequisite for high attendance. Finances can be a trap. I see one of the main problems with NOFA and their corporate attitude is that the budget drives their event rather than the event driving the budget.

Slate announcement should include brief bios/statements, probably read by one person.

The meeting is not scheduled to start until 7 PM. I would think about 2 hrs will be a maximum. (Others?)

7:00 Welcome/Opening remarks
7:05 President’s address
7:20 Carl & Lisa
7:45 Jen
8:00 Slate presentation, nomination from the floor, election
8:30 general discussion
9:00 Closing remarks

We may want to consider a PA and lights.

Thoughts?

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

I signed & passed it on, tho I do not remember who to.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Hi Jen,
I don’t see the attachment.
Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Sounds good. Who will handle the framing?
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Oct 15 sounds good.
Content ideas:
1. FDs genral reportage
2. FDs “person on the ground”, experience of a non-BoD member ????, must recruit someone.
-. Future of the FDs????
3. Gathering article
4. Annual meeting report
5. Mishaps… Eliz??
6. Forum thread thing…Mark
7. Editors letter…Erika

[Mark Cowdrey]

Brad,
The horsemanship issues aside, a fine piece of writing. Thanks.

Although I know line adjustment is very situationally specific, if you and Carl could shed any light on your evaluation process and remedy I would be interested to hear.
Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

I echo George’s comment. Carl & I went around on this on a thread a year or so ago.
While I don’t doubt that leaving your near side front side strap(FSS) (from the D-ring to the jockey yoke) on your near horse (left & left) adjusted in its “hitched” position while hooking to an implement is doable, particularly for some one who is rugged, I believe that George’s method is easier (takes less strength) for a couple of reasons.
If the FSS is “tight”, in order to hook the last trace the chosen link must be brought back past the point of the hook on the wiffletree (or tug, depending on the style). This distance of a couple inches can be quite a challenge. When using the FSS tightening method this is not a factor.
Also, as Carl pointed out, as you tighten the last tug the resistance you are overcoming is the weight of the pole as it pivots at the implement end and the front rises. You are also lifting the neckyoke assembly. I find that when I tighten the FSS last, I stand in front of the horses facing the rear with the outside end of the near horse’s jockey yoke on my left upper thigh or hip. As I draw the strap end towards me I can directly lift the yoke (and pole end) with my body.
Also, it may be worth mentioning that even w the FSS loose the horses need to be standing not too far forward to hook the tugs. If your horses are not standing evenly when you hook the last one and assuming that you hook the near side of the near horse last, remember that if your off horse eases back the near side of your evener will pivot forward making it easier to hitch.
I hope this is helpful.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

When I am cutting the corner of a triangle, after I make my turn (sometimes swing right, sometimes loop left) and start the next swath, I do not drop my cutter bar in until I am cutting all uncut grass. The “trimmed” grass that results at the beginning of the swath gets cut the next pass around as you are finishing your swath rather than starting it. If the cut grass the cutter bar encounters wants to plug it, you are stopping anyway (right hand swing) or shaking it off as you go around (left hand loop).

I do not worry too much about perfect corners or even leaving a “widow” now and then. I don’t see that it serves a purpose other than pride. I’m satisfied and thankful if I get reasonably well made hay into the barn.

When raking those corners, especially if I have help, I swing short leaving hay to be raked by hand. This leaves me a more reasonable turn for the baler. When I get tight near the center I wing it.

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Geoff,
When I got my ledgers from Macknair several years ago they came w small taper headed bolts w allen heads that work great. I drilled & punched the original rivets.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Am currently reading Meat: A Benign Extravagance, by Simon Fairlee.

He looks at much more than the meat vs vegan “efficiency” argument, including a host of efficiency & sustainability in agriculture issues. Very even handed & non-dogmatic. Highly recommended.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

http://www.ezfolk.com/lyrics/qrst/r/rye-whiskey/rye-whiskey.html
😀

[Mark Cowdrey]

It’s a #9. Shoulda mentioned that.
Mark

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