Description

Stories in this issue:

• Forecart Design Part 1: The Nordells answer our call for photos and descriptions of their unique forecarts. Their horse drawn forecart has an adjustable wheelbase and a sliding drawbar. Included are many photos of the forecart.
• Forecart Design Part 2: Ernie Mieir submits his homemade sitting/standing forecart. Great photos are included. horse drawn equipment, horse drawn vehicles, do it yourself equipment.
• Threshermen and Collector’s Show: Promotion of the 46th annual event in August 2016 including a wagon train, field demonstrations, feed team races, food, music and more. They are trying to set a Guinness world record for the largest number of draft horses plowing. Many beautiful photos of previous shows are included.
• Hilling Up Watermelons: TW Scoggins gives us a how-to on preparing the ground and planting hilled watermelons with great instructions and photos to illustrate. He uses his mule for the hard work.
• Settlers Trek 2016: Follow the reenactment of the 1816 trek of Scots from Brockville to Perth, Ontario to claim free land. Learn about the original journey and the 2016 adventure.
• Greasy Overalls: Learn about the Mike Karch family who left their fast paced life in California and started a horse-powered farm in Virginia. They share their many lessons learned and how the family works together as they had dreamed.
• Homegrown Lunchmeat Part 3: Ralph Rice instructs us on making our own bologna and hot dogs. His step-by-step instructions on preparing the meat and spice, stuffing the casings, and smoking, will get you started!
• Barring off Corn Part 2: TW Scoggins continues his instruction on barring off corn. He is now cultivating between the rows to aerate and eliminate weeds. His thorough directions on equipment and technique will help both experienced and novice farmers.
• Travel Preparations:  We get another view into the travels of Jenifer Morrissey’s great-great-grandparents in 1901. Their journals chronicle the preparations for long horse-drawn journeys – and the beauty and abundance of the Oregon mountains during that time.
• Clean Up Work: Taylor Johnson uses his horses to clear a large wind-damaged property. Read about his ingenuity and creativity utilizing his draft horses to get this difficult job done.
• Does Size Really Matter: Ralph Rice contemplates the business of a small farm vs. working off the farm for low wages. All the benefits associated with hard work doing what you love are discussed
• Oxen Steal Your Heart: Philip Henderson contemplates the intellectual life of oxen. He gives us many examples and encourages us to keep this in mind when thinking about cattle as well as training them.
• Five Minutes with Dulcy Perkins: Rob Collins sits down with Dulcy Perkins, former Tillers International Farm Manager, oxen and teamster trainer to discuss her oxen experience. Dulcy has a well know reputation for her gifts in working with animals.