[Mark Cowdrey]

Me too
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

No foolin’, hunh?
We have moved our “shoot for” from 300 to 425, we are at about 375 now without much sign of quit in the forecast. Wood will be the challenge. Making a nice light Dark with good flavor.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Erika,
I like your pricing and pricing philosophy. I don’t set ours, my partner who owns the sugarhouse does. If I get my own rig I have thought I wouldn’t sell larger than quarts, or at least not cheaper than a quart price.
I know what you mean about people liking Dark & B, I just shake my head & take their money.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

We are getting $6 1/2 pnt, 10 pnt, 17 qt, 32 1/2 gal, 55 gal, all in plastic, regardless of grade. I would be interested to hear what others are getting.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Hi Brad,
No dog yet.
Looked seriously at an 18 mo BC that my vet had but decided he was too much dog. An 18 mo ES in Vt didn’t pan out.
Original thinking was to get another dog before our remaining older one goes. Current thinking is there may well be different behavior expectations for the new one so maybe wait. Or not, if the right dog comes along.
Advantages of the 2 we looked at was low/no up front cost. I am hearing 600 for pups. Perhaps reasonable but no less difficult to come up with.

Sounds like you have a good one. Thanks for your inquiry and tip.

Mark

PS
Looks like a PiggyBack FireWood Arch on that forecart! Hope it’s working well for you.

[Mark Cowdrey]

How much snow do you have Erika? We have enough to keep things cool for awhile.
We are just under 1100 taps, with several different bushes. Biggest run 275. That has vacuum as does another 240. And an RO. 2 1/2X8 rig. Buckets are fewer each year, mostly roadside trees.
Still hoping to get my own setup at home before long. Will be lower tech, that’s for sure.
Ran like gangbusters today. They are saying our temps will drop down at night over here the next few days. We’ll see. Good so far w about 75 gallons made, no light though.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Here’s a post from another list:

Maine Town Declares Food Sovereignty, Nullifies Unconstitutional
Laws
< http://maine.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2011/03/maine-town-declares-food-sovereignty-nullifies-unconstitutional-laws/>

http://maine.tenthamendmentcenter.com/

The Maine town of Sedgwick took an interesting step that brings a new
dynamic to the movement to maintain sovereignty: Town-level
nullification. Last Friday, the town passed a proposed ordinance that
would empower the local level to grow and sell food amongst themselves
without interference from unconstitutional State or Federal regulations.
Beyond that, the passed ordinance would make it unlawful for agents of
either the State or Federal government to execute laws that interfere
with the ordinance.

Under the new ordinance, producers and processors are protected from
licensure or inspection in sales that are sold for home consumption
between them and a patron, at farmer’s market, or at a roadside stand.
The ordinance specifically notes the right of the people to food
freedom, as well as citing the U.S. Declaration of Independence and
Maine Constitution in defending the rights of the people.

Local farmer and member of the National Family Farm Coalition Bob St.
Peter noted “Rural working people have always had to do a little of this
and a little of that to make ends meet. But up until the last couple
generations, we didn’t need a special license or new facility each time
we wanted to sell something to our neighbors. Small farmers and
producers have been getting squeezed out in the name of food safety, yet
it’s the industrial food that is causing food borne illness, not us.”

Also, ordinances similar to this one will be going before a vote in
three other Maine towns: Penobscott, Brooksville, and Blue Hill.

The text of the “Local Food And Community Self-Governance Ordinance of
2011?, which was passed unanimously, can be found here
<http://savingseeds.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/localfoodlocalrules-ordinance-template.pdf>.

The Food Sovereignty movement has been growing, as it gained a boost
with the U.S. Senate bill S. 510: “The Food Safety Modernization Act.”
Georgia, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming have introduced
legislation that, if passed, would nullify Federal laws that
unconstitutionally affect food that does not cross state lines. Maine
Representative Walter Kumiega (D-Deer Isle) has also taken the lead in
the Legislature for food freedom with L.D. 263, which would exempt
people from licensing requirements when engaging in sales that are
local, such as at farmer’s markets.

[Mark Cowdrey]

See also:
http://www.draftanimalpower.com/showthread.php?t=2418&highlight=snow+pads

They work for me.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

@Carl Russell 25478 wrote:

…the loop must be long enough…
Carl

If I was to go out and buy a chain for such, what size and how long might I look for? 😀

Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Carl,
Thanks for your clear description. The part about running the chain over the end so the log comes off the skid sounds key. It is info like that that can make the difference between success or not for someone trying it for the first time.

In my limited experience what one tries w their horse(s) has a large component of self confidence. You may recall the recent day I was helping Brad w my single horse. There was a good sized stem on the ground that you asked if we were going to twitch. I replied that I thought the first two logs was more than my horse could/should do, that I would take the top. Well, we took the top and I thought what the heck, if I get those other two Brad will have a load on the deck. So we did it. He had to hump them and was a little anxious to start, but he did fine. Thinking back on it, I don’t suppose I ever would have tried if you hadn’t inquired. Sometimes the “innocent” question or comment by those with experience can help move others out of the middle of the road.
Thanks.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Doesn’t it though!

Carl, how do you attach your parbuckle chain to your skids?
Do you sometimes start rolling a log up and then stop and adjust where your “draw chain” hooks to your parbuckle chain? Or can you eyeball it pretty good to start by examining the log and its position relative to the wagon?
Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

@highway 25033 wrote:

We call the whole assembly, the pans and arch, an evaporater.

Ed

Or, a “rig”, As in, “What do you have for a rig?”:D

Hope to get some of my lines that I take down each year back up tomorrow. Mitch, I think your right. Warm today but cold for a while yet before things really break loose.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

It looks like the britchen on this harness is what I know as a “basket britchen” as opposed to a “hip drop”. There is an adjustable strap that goes from one “britchen ring”(?) up over the rump to the other. There is also a strap on each side from the “spider” to the britchen strap that goes around behind the horse. You can just see one in the picture. There are leather “keepers” on these straps to help hold the first strap I mentioned (“rump strap?? I am totally making this up) in place. I will try to get a picture up if no one beats me to it.

On a side note, my father-in-law is a painter. He saw the post card I have of the photo George posted of Les driving the greys on his arch cart and liked it. So he painted a picture of it and gave it to me for Christmas this year. It is hanging in our font hall. Pretty cool, I think. I posted a photo (of a picture of a photo??) in the gallery under “Other”.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

Joshua & SL,
Thanks, makes perfect sense.
Mark

[Mark Cowdrey]

SL,
Chain up the fronts of the runners to what? That’s what I’m missing.:confused:
Mark

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