Description

Stories in this issue:

• No Till and Reduced Till for Animal Traction: Stephen Leslie highlights two regions where reduced tillage strategies are being successfully used on small farms: farms in South America and Ontario, Canada. Ken Laing from Ontario also introduces us to some No-Till equipment.
• Haitian Farming: Joe Mischka gives us a brief history of the impoverished country of Haiti and a look into the challenges farmers face. He shares his experiences of the land, livestock and people after two trips to the rural mountains of Haiti.
• Compost: The basics of composting including bins, materials, moisture, and time are covered by Dorothy Reike. Composting on your farm or home can yield nutrient rich organic material for your garden, pots and and even to make liquid fertilizer.
• Ox Training Psychology: Expert oxen teamster Rob Collins discusses four tools of reinforcement and punishment in training oxen. The nuances are explained using practical examples.
• Returning North: enifer Morrissey continues the chronicles of her grandparents’ journey from Oregon to southern California in 1903. This episode covers their return journey up the California coast, into the Yosemite Valley along the way.
• Homegrown Lunchmeat: First in his DIY series on smoking meat, Ralph Rice prepares us for smoking many sorts of meat. He describes the equipment and supplies needed. This installment includes detailed instruction on smoking bacon.
• Fire Horse Memories: A touching story of Dave Hulbert and his restored fire engine that brought him close to the draft horse community as well as many tradesmen who all helped with his endeavor.
• Of Hoes & Haywagons: Kim Peavey reminisces about the history of her most coveted hoe as well as other heirloom garden implements she uses on her vegetable farm. She then gives us some great advice on caring for our garden tools.
• Pastures, Paddocks & Productivity: Managing your grazing land has many components. Ralph Rice advises us on how to do this by managing the livestock numbers, paddock rotation, plantings, composting and more.
• The Beauty of Butter: Katrina Julian extols the virtues of fresh made butter. She discusses the benefits to our health and then goes on to tell us how she makes it herself from the fresh milk her dairy cows provide.
• Nickel Bows for Fortino: Philip Henderson shares an ode to a friend with us. Fortino and his natural way of working with large animals is an inspiration to all of us who do the same.
• Five Minutes with Howard Van Ord: Rob Collins interviews experienced teamster Howard Van Ord (Ox Hill Devons) at the 2014 Midwest Ox Drovers Gathering. Howard gives us some sage advice on training oxen.
• Taking Care of Kenny: Karen Kirsch tells us about her dear friend and neighbor Kenny and she and other neighbors took care of him in his final years so he could stay in his home.