[Rod]

I designed it based on some plan sketches I found on the web for a practical, low cost cart to be used in developing nations. I can send you a copy of the plans I prepared if you give me your mail address. Their are also more detailed pictures of the cart construction in another thread on this forum. I don’t remember where I put them but if I find them later I will let you know.

[Rod]

I usually do not leave the halters on but that day I was loading and sifting furnace ash into the dump cart and the oxen had to stand for a long time while I did it. The halters allowed me to tie them up while I was working. Hopefully I can get to the place where they will stand for an hour while I do stuff like that be we are not there yet.

BTW I used the dump cart in the dump mode for the first time that day dumping a load of manure then a load of wood ashes at my garden. The dump worked perfect. I also have used it for hauling sap and sugaring supplies. It’s real handy.

[Rod]

Sustainability is a nice word and a represents a noble goal but I view at as somewhat a simplistic concept when applied as it often is applied to agriculture. As has been mentioned what you are trying to take from the land is the major factor as to whether you can do this sustainably. Trying to grow monoculture corn or exporting hay are examples of programs which would be hard to sustain without outside inputs.
What are we trying to sustain? A soil that is in prime condition and fertility or one that is run down and in need of many improvements? Soil minerals can be sustained by letting the PH drop thus tying many of them up in the soil. Organic matter can be sustained by green manuring, liberal manure applications and timely cutting plants to waste and sustainable cropping can be achieved by fallowing ground and reducing production which can sometimes be counterproductive as to financial sustainability.
The natural system does have the capacity to resupply the soils and plant needs. For instance nitrogen fixed by legumes or from lightning in rain storms. Leached minerals re-brought to the surface by deep rooted plant communities, soil particle charges that make some minerals available to plants, cropping systems that encourage the recycling of root systems into organic and inorganic components which growing plants then can utilize. The sun working on leaf surfaces to draw mineral laden water into plant roots and other actions of solar photosynthesis.
Some soils have been cropped continuously for centuries with little or no outside soil additives. Stories about Chinese farmers comes to mind but this is an example of low input intensive agriculture relying on much human labor to be successful. My own farm which we bought over 30 years back is in much better condition than when we bought it. We have added lime and some trace minerals and we import hay because of the number of animals we keep but even without these helps I think the cropping system and livestock manures are the most significant reasons for this change.
Sustainability comes down to soils which vary tremendously, are very complex and can be a significant management challenge. That is why I think the concept of sustainability is good but the devil is in the details. My view is we work with these variables the best we can and try not to ask more from the system than it can come up with on it’s own while balancing the need to remain financially viable with respect to production volume. And to not feel guilty importing some limestone and other soil minerals which in their natural states are not sustaining much of anything.
And lets not forget the most important sustainability need and that is the human race. People need food, good nutritious food to live and have healthy lives. We farmers need to be wise in producing this food to meet the needs of the folks we feed and at the same time protect the soil for future generations to reuse for the same purposes. Sustainability is a big part of that challenge but not the only part.

[Rod]

The off ox is a bit smaller and lighter than the nigh ox. It’s hard to keep the coats glossy this time of year even with grain and I just wormed them last week. They are not in good pulling condition as I just got them a couple of weeks ago and they were not used all winter.
I don’t know which photo you were looking at but some of the closeups do not show the hair gloss accurately. I just reviewed them again and they are a little deceiving.

[Rod]

Here are some photos of the neck yoke fit.

[Rod]

Thank you, I am really enjoying this team of oxen, I guess it shows. It certainly helps enormously to have well trained responsive animals and the good advice I get from the helpful folks on this forum.

[Rod]

Glad you are using them.

Yes we did some good work today including picking up all the sap buckets and spouts in the sugar bush, and hauling a couple of down trees from the pasture to the firewood pile. I tried to skid a round bale out to the calving pasture but they could not pull it so I didn’t fight it but went to another job with them.
One nice thing about using the oxen is they go places where I could not or would not want to take my tractor especially now that the ground is so wet and fragile. These boys are so good at following me where ever I go, through the wet spots, over the stumps and rough ground. And no ruts and broken turf left behind, just a few hoof prints. Not to mention the value of a good walk for the teamster (me).

[Rod]

Will do tomorrow.

[Rod]

Hi Fabian

I do use spacers but wonder if my lowest bow position is too high? Where are the photos located? I don’t see any new ones yet.

[Rod]

Hi Michael

I keep an eye on ebay because sometimes they come up for sale there. I recently bought a nice pair of heavy duty 36″ wooden wheels with steel tires there for $200.
I do know someone who has a pair of 4′ army type old but unused wooden wheels for sale. He was asking $700 for the pair. Nice wheels and great for a cart. Send me a PM if you want his name and number.

[Rod]

Hi Carl

Thanks for the tip. I can adjust that with my pole as I will likely be using it with my oxen anyway and can make a vertical offset steel pole to use with it.
BTW I am the idea man and designer and have a young part time helper who loves to weld with my welder. He puts my ideas together for me.

[Rod]

Good idea.

[Rod]

Did even better today. Drove from the side and front. They have picked up my pace and no longer race ahead like the first time out. Haw and gee great, stops are good, back needs work. Took a long walk in my pastures all went fine. What a pleasure driving well trained animals.

My Nigh ox needs a little correction on one point. He crowds me to the left when I walk beside him. I have tried giving him butts with my whip end (the blunt handle end) but I don’t like it as he thinks we are having a butting contest ( which I would be sure to lose) Any suggestions. I have an electric dog collar for dog training and was thinking on putting it on my arm prongs out toward the ox and using it for correction. What do you think?

[Rod]

Well, after two days of bonding and grooming and today we yoked up and went for a short walk. At first they were a little squirreley but settled down after I started driving them from the front which is what the previous owner/trainer did mostly. I think they are going to be fine, they had a new yoke on, I left the collars on with a lead just in case which was also different for them and were they a little nervous around my noisy dog but otherwise did real well for our first time out. Thanks for the excellent mentoring comments, what a great resource this site is!

[Rod]

What makes me suspicious about this release is that the USDA and PETA are both in the same announcement. Neither is required to announce their listening in but I can see why the USDA might announce it if they did. It’s unlikely the PETA group would and if they did announce it it would seem to me to be against their interest in “catching ” someone doing something that they disapprove of. Personally couldn’t care less if PETA reads our stuff, or if they approve or disapprove what we discuss. IMHO most of these types are misguided, uninformed, wackos anyway and as far as I am concerned can read all they want. They might learn something enlightening.

[Author]

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