Description

Stories in this issue:

• Restoring a Log & Frame Barn – Final in the Series: Jenifer Morrissey explains how she and her husband, Don, figured out how to make the walls of the main barn more air/weather tight. Jenifer says goodbye to this project and her husband, who was tragically killed in an accident in January.
• Harness Storage Tips: Ralph Rice shows us how he fitted some plastic cabinets in his tack room to keep his harness nice and clean.
• Roasting on a Spit: Bill Speiden shares his Thanksgiving memories and advice on how to cook a venison hind quarter on a spit. The meal was filled out by a deep fried turkey, and ham as well as good friends. Of course, s’mores around the fire topped off the day of thanks.
• The Wonderful Wheel Hoe: Charlie Tennessen gives us a brief history of the hoe and wheel and how they were joined together to make this invaluable tool. He explains how this extremely useful, human powered implement works.
• Build Your Own Wheel Hoe: instructions for making a wheel hoe out of an old bicycle
• Choosing an Ox Breed: Carmen Legge gives a brief history of the origins of cattle breeds today. She then explains the characteristics/traits of each of the different humpless Taurine breeds. This study will help anyone looking to choose an animal fitting their oxen power needs.
• Ashland, Oregon – 1915: Fire, smoke and mental health were topics of concern in Jenifer Morrissey’s great-great-grandfather’s home town as they are in many places today. Ms. Morrissey gives us a vivid picture of Ashland with a fascinating account of the mineral springs there and how they were used.
• Fjord Power: Horselogger Taylor Johnson evaluates the benefits of using his small Fjord team to his the larger Belgian. Cost of gear, feed, fleixibility are big on the benefit side for Fjords. However, his single Belgian wins in the power department, especially when skidding logs. In the end, he prefers the smaller drafts and will continue to change their their impression to clients and build his business around them in the future
• Coblentz Collar Shop:  We visited to Coblentz Collar Shop in Millersburg, Ohio to get a tour from Marion Coblentz. The 44 year old company crafts a wide variety of mostly handmade collars for horses, ponies, minis, and mules. The photo rich article takes us step-by-step through the process of making a straw-stuffed leather collar
• A Poor Man’s Cover Crop: With his wonderful storytelling skills, Jerry Hicks shares a memory of his Papaw teaching the value of a good hoe, nutrients that chopped up weeds can provide and the value of all of the forces at work in his field.
• The Family Cow: Joe Mischka digs deep into researching the practice of owning a familly cow, it’s history, it’s demise and why it should become part of your small farm. He discusses housing, fencing, choosing a cow, and the actual practice of milking.
• How to Be Your Own Veterinarian (Sometimes) – Helping Your Veterinarian Help You: An excerpt from DVM Ruth B. James’ book that gives practical advice and questions to be asked before deciding on which vet will care for our horses. She moves on to how we should prepare for a vet visit, communicating information about the horse, providing adequate exam space, following treatment plans and follow up.
• Plowing with 3-Abreast: Joe Mischka filmed Ralph Rice plowing with three-abreast. Ralph drew out his plowing methodology on paper for us and layed out his harness and lines on the floor of the barn to photograph, aiding our understanding of how he runs them.