Description

Stories in this issue:

• Cover Crop Walk: nne and Eric Nordell’s extensive research on cover crops for their vegetable farm is exhibited at the annual cover crop walk at Beech Grove Farm. They present a very technical and useful explanation of the different crops, planting times, rotations including charts of their rotations and results.
• Make my Boat a stoneboat!: Roy Deppa makes his own stoneboat and has no end of fun during the winter snowfall. He tells us how to make it and how to have fun with it while doing a little work too!
• Lessons from a Ride in the Wilderness: Taking your horse on a trail ride in the wilderness requires some extra safety precautions. Philip Odden teaches us that standing still is an essential skill for your animal to master.
• Horse-Powered Garlic: Stephen Leslie describes his process of growing garlic from soil preparation through harvest. He has lots of great advice on all the different techniques he and fellow farmers have used.
• Dale Parsons on Head Yokes: Dale Parsons is interviewed about the crafting and use of a head yoke for his oxen. Some really nice photos accompany his explanations.
• My Favorite Harness: Hip breeching with no belly band and open bridles – that’s what Bob Erikson likes best for his teams of mules. He tells us how this became his favorite, when it is best to use, and when it is not.
• Jackson County Orchards: enifer Morrissey tells the story of her ancestors’ fruit orchards and the county of Jackson, Oregon in which they lived. A wonderful look at the evolution of the orchard “industry” as well as the life of one of it’s founding farmers.
• HVDHA Celebrates 35 Years: The Hudson Valley Draft Horse Association started with just a few draft horse owners to promote all draft animals. Today the 135 members participate in many plow days, fairs, harvests and fundraisers as well as educating young people about draft animals.
• On the Lines: Jenifer Morrissey explains why properly bitting your horse is mostly about feel, timing and balance. Painless communication is much more effective than harsh, excessive use of force
• Riding Oxen: Philip Henderson make a case for riding oxen. He enlightens us about the nature of the cattle and its comparison to horses.
• Light Harness: Some of us are getting up there in age and the harness we use is getting more difficult to lift. Robert Erickson has some ideas to help us out including materials, designs and even attaching the harness in pieces.
• Oxen Origins and Uses: A brief history of oxen. This is followed by how oxen are used today including oxen breeds, yokes, training, economics and more.
• Sheriff’s Posse Wagon Train: This 32nd annual event is held in Minnesota with the purpose of raising money for the Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. This year, eight drivers and 19 riders covered approximately 356 miles in two days in a variety of vehicles. Included in the trip was a stop at the FarmAmerica Interpretive Center.