Archive for the ‘Draft Animals’ Category

2010 Northeast Animal-Power Field Days

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

The 4th annual Northeast Animal-Power Field Days will be held October 15-17, 2010, at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds in Tunbridge, Vermont. The theme for this year is: ‘Connecting to the Broad Community of Interest in Draft-Animal Power’.
Woodland Demos 2009 NEAPFD
This three-day trade fair and conference will present resources for farmers, loggers, and forest landowners pursuing the use of draft animals as part of their land-based livelihoods. By encouraging diversified farming, low-impact logging, and the use of draft animals, small acreage can be effectively managed for valuable farm and forest products, expanding opportunities for families to enjoy good livelihoods where they live.

The 2010 Northeast Animal-Power Field Days is a grass roots event made possible by countless volunteer hours and contributions in the form of sponsoring, exhibiting, advertising, membership, and product donations. This event offers exceptional opportunities for organizations, businesses, and individuals to promote their services and products to a targeted and growing audience of farmers, gardeners, consumers, and educational institutions associated with working animals.

The program features presenters who put into practice skills and philosophies that advance the initiative of using draft animals on a daily basis. They are among of the most skilled and informed people in the northeast, such as Les Barden from NH, Jay Bailey form VT, Howard Van Ord from PA, and Sam Rich from CT, to name a few. The 2010 NEAPFD is a full weekend of workshops, panel discussions, draft animal presentations, and equipment demonstrations that will provide enough inspiration and information to encourage a full year of worthy endeavors.

Friday, October 15th will feature field and forest working demonstrations at Howevale Farm, adjacent to the Tunbridge Fairgrounds. Saturday, October 16th will focus on workshops and draft animal presentations, resource exhibitors, local food vendors, an equipment swap-meet, and networking sessions throughout the Fairgrounds. Sunday, October 17th will start with a Community Meet-The-Teamsters Breakfast, followed by a variety of activities including some one-on-one time with teamsters and equipment dealers.

The 4th Annual NEAPFD will also feature the launch of the new membership organization: Draft Animal-Power Network, which is being created to provide year-round educational and networking opportunities to interested individuals throughout the Northeast.

To sponsor, advertise, exhibit/vend, or become a Draft Animal-Power Network Member, please visit the website www.animalpowerfielddays.org for more information and the necessary forms.

Please Volunteer! Your volunteer time can earn you free admission, free meals, and a free T-shirt and it is a great way to meet others.

Please direct questions to Event Producers Carl Russell and Lisa McCrory, Earthwise Farm & Forest, Bethel, Vermont. Phone: 802/234-5524, Email: info@animalpowerfielddays.org , Website: www.animalpowerfielddays.org

Posted in Draft Animals, Educational Workshops, Northeast Animal Power Field Days | 2 Comments »

Bobsledding Logs

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

bobsledsideview

It’s 4:30, quarter to five,
on a crisp mid-winter afternoon.
The sun has gone down behind the hill,
and you can see dusk forming in the shadows.

Dry powder snow covers the ground.
The temperature never got above fifteen degrees today,
but working in the sun, you warmed up easily.
Now a slight chill seeps into the dampness of sweat on your shoulders.

The team is ready,
hitched in front of a nice jag of fine straight logs.
Put your coat back on, and check for mislaid tools.
Climb up on the load, gather lines,
brace your feet, and calmly call on your animals.

As the load lurches forward,
puffs of steamy breath float from the horses’ nostrils.
You can feel the weight of the load through your legs,
as the bobsled travels over humps and through hollows.

Hooves thump and squeak,
as chips of ice fly from sharpened caulks.
From below the load comes the jingle of bridle chains,
and as the logs rasp over the frozen snow
they put forth a whine, like from a bow on a fiddle.

Feel that?… That’s the spirit in your soul dancing the bob-sledder’s jig.
” Now we’re logging”.

1998; For Walt Bryan; Farmer horse logger, family man

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Kate and Benjamin Returning from the Woods

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

katebeninwoods

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Luce Farm

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

bobsledding2I watch each horse bob their head,
as they draw this loaded sled,
through floating flakes and fading light,
into this space in time tonight.

These logs in mighty hemlock grew,
one hundred and fifty years they knew,
ever since this yard was made,
where house and barn cast their shade.

The sounds of hooves and harness chains,
echo deep into my veins,
and play like shadows cast in space,
of other lives who’ve passed this place.

At times like these I catch the sight,
of those who’ve crossed this beam of light,
and eddied in the current here,
the prints they made are very clear.

Their whispers speak of hard work done,
that doubters would never have begun,
but the challenge of this Earthly life,
is to work with love instead of strife.

For Mark & Leslie 3/01

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Some Days !!

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Some days are like last Sunday, a week ago, when snow started falling early. Falling straight down in small light crystals, like the type we recognize to be the beginning of a major accumulation. So, I had to change my plans and go get a load of hay instead of work the horses, because now I was pretty sure I was going to have to clean up snow all day Monday.

Some days are like that Monday with 10 inches of new snow, melting on the roof, and backing up behind the ice jams that I had hoped would melt before I had to get up there and chop them out of the roof valleys. 10″ of new snow, on top of 3-4″ I didn’t clean up the week before because the truck was in the shop getting inspected, that needs to be plowed now before any other work can get done, which by the time I’m done, I get the horses harnessed by 3pm, and get 2 trees cut and skidded out.

Some days are like Tuesday, when a plan that had been made to take my trailer to a friend’s to haul her pigs is canceled, but other commitments had been made in concert with that, so part of the day is blown, so I arrange at the last minute to get another load of hay from my other source, then while clear skies and light winds predominate after noon, I sit inside at the Forest Forum, discussing pertinent issues about forest biomass energy initiatives in Vermont with a bunch of other forester types who keep looking out the window, and trade disgruntled comments as we leave about what a good day it might have been outdoors. At least we got the second load of logs moved for this week.

Some days are like last Wednesday when I had to go the Vermont State House, wearing my hat as a Board Member for Rural VT, because our ED had to be out of town, and we were following important bills through Gov/ops, Ag, and Fish & Wildlife committees, and I had to watch and listen as politicians and lobbyists maneuver around details that basically limit this set of constituents, or that one, and looking out the window at the bright sunlight reflecting off the roof in the first day above freezing for several, and thinking that these are not the horses asses I wanted to be looking at today.

Some days are like Thursday when I’m finally at home and can concentrate on getting some logs cut, but first Ben is going to move a couple of loads of pine logs to my woodmizer with his forwarder, which by the time he’s done, I get the horses harnessed by noon, which is better than nothing, and things still seem pretty good in the woods, and I still have all weekend and part of next week to finish another load of logs.

But, some days are like Friday when one kid needs a ride to day care, and my mother needs a ride to catch another ride with a friend, and I know that it is going to start raining during the afternoon, so by 11 I finally get the saw and go to the woods to cut a few down while the horses get a little snack, after which as I’m brushing them I hear the rain starting in fits and starts, so that I stop in disgust, then start again as it doesn’t seem too bad, only to start even harder then just start pouring, so I just go into the shop and work on a saw.

And of course, some days are like Saturday when I have to put everything on hold because it dropped below freezing during the night and we have a side hill ice rink, so I can’t even put the cows out without going to town for a load of sand, and as things are now glazed over every where I will have to put the sharp shoes on the horses before I can go back to the woods, and I save that for Sunday so that I can put more wood in the basement.

Some days are like Sunday when the horses are so relaxed that I can hold each foot for cleaning, trimming, and rasping, or to drive all 8 nails, without a battle. Nothing like a pair of well shod horses walking on glare ice with sharp caulks, watching the chips fly.

And then there are days like Monday when all of the expectation from every day over the last week are all balled up inside me, and all I want to do is use these sharp shod horses to move as much wood as I can, and they haven’t done snot for 7 days, and they sense my tension, and the snow is like 2 1/2 feet of corn crystals off the beaten track which make them even more discomforted, especially because we’re getting to the point where there are not so many trees that are that easy to get to, and with a strong wind out of the North working against me, they are acting like absolute renegades, and I feel like it is the worst day I’ve had in the woods for years, but I struggle to find the patience to take it one step at a time, and end up with a pretty good stack of logs, and reasonable calm horses by the end of the day.

Oh, and then there are days like Tuesday, when I wake up after a good night sleep as a result of resolve to improve on Monday, with renewed focus and patience to make the best out of a calm good weather day, with horses harnessed early, trees falling where I want them, taking light loads, and giving the horse a chance to relax, things are a bit more frozen so footing is better, and about noon I’m getting to feeling pretty good, like I have a good thing going, and as I return to get one more, I actually begin thinking that there’s a chance that I’ll have a good load ready by Wednesday PM, and then I see coming down the road, my log truck, a day early and a couple of thousand short, but rather than getting too down I can see the benefit of getting the landing cleaned up today, and while he’s loading I go get the two that were on the ground, and cut one more, 24″ on the stump, 3-16’s, and right next to the trail, it falls with ease, I decide we’ll take it all, and they’re all there, right on cue, and after 1000 feet of good hard work we walk onto the landing with the whole stick right alongside the truck, unhitch and back them out of the way where they can watch the loader swinging logs high in the air over their heads. Now that’s the team I want to work.

Some week’s are like roller coasters, when I feel like a yoyo, but I have experienced the frustration so many times, and the elation as well, that I have learned which I prefer, and how to keep working at it, to overcome.

There is a quote that I keep in my head, from the early 20th century arctic explorer Vilhamar Steffanson, “Failure is no excuse for success”. It is more than try try again, it is the denial that failure is even an option, and that it is really only a part of the process toward success.

Carl

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2008 Northeast Animal Power Field Days

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

The steady, rainy drizzle on Friday afternoon, September 26th, did not dampen spirits nor participation, as Animal-Power devotees from across the Northeast came to the 2008 Northeast Animal-Power Field Days in Tunbridge, Vermont, to gather around teams, to ask questions, and to watch and learn. In the hayfield at Howevale Farm, Donn Hewes and Andre Palmer hooked a young Percheron to a noisy motorized forecart and round-baler for the first time. Using three more experienced horses, they carefully introduced the young horse to the new concept, outlining their approach and considerations as they went. Although there were some questions about the logic of running the baler in the rain, by the time the team came back around the field, the horse had settled in nicely.

Across the brook, participants watched and queried Jay Bailey and Sam Rich as they plowed. Jay Bailey demonstrated a Pioneer sulky plow while Sam, the 2nd place finisher of The International Walking Plow Competition at the 2008 US Plowing Contest, demonstrated his fine skill with a fundamental draft-powered farming tool. Both were discussing plow adjustments, tactics and strategies. Also in this field was Bob Crichton driving eight mules, including pairs belonging to Evelyn Pike and Patricia Bacon, hitched on a set of gang harrows. He handed the lines off to others to drive, providing the thrill of a lifetime, and sewing seeds for tomorrow’s crop of teamsters.

Folks who went up to the woodlot saw Ray Cote and Ben Wallen working with their teams of steers and Neal Perry logging with his Morgans. More than one onlooker commented on how much work those “little Morgans” could do. David Sharp and Liz Guenther rounded out the woods crew with their teams of horses, while Bob Capobianco and Paul Ruta made sure there was a constant supply of logs on the ground, and Ben Canonica kept the landing cleaned up.

In each case, NEAPFD Event Organizers Carl Russell and Lisa McCrory chose excellent experienced teamsters, who are passionate about what they do, and who can communicate clearly to folks who are interested in learning more. The teamsters shared their knowledge, collaborated with others who they didn’t necessarily know, and provided an outstanding learning opportunity for everyone in attendance.

Although it did not rain on Saturday and Sunday at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds, Hurricane Kyle and flood warnings throughout the Northeast created significant challenges for folks thinking about making the trip. This may have dampened the attendance levels, but certainly not the spirits of those who did come out. The workshops covered a huge variety of topics and were led by people with expertise in sustainable farming practices, renewable energy, working with draft animals, and issues around food policy. Rob Flory gave the Feature Farm presentation, detailing his work at Howell Living History Farm, in Mercer County, New Jersey.

The Equipment Demonstration area was a popular place, with logging, haying, and fieldwork equipment on display and in use. It was a place where local innovators such as Mark Cowdrey with his Piggyback Arch, could demonstrate their products for others to see in action and evaluate for themselves. Pioneer Equipment, White Horse Machine, I & J Manufacturing, Mascot Sharpening, Payeur Distributors, Log Rite, Boynton’s Yokes ‘n’ Bows, and Berry Brook Ox Supply also provided brand new animal drawn farming and forestry implements to the demonstrations.

The Pulling Arena featured a variety of presentations, including a demonstration by 4-H youths with teams of steers ranging from “just started” all the way up to “fully trained” and many in between. Regional experts on working cattle, Howie Van Ord, Ray Ludwig, and Tim Huppe, led several workshops on starting calves, working with the 2-month old bulls that became the grand prize of the event raffle-drawing. The audience was able to watch and learn about the training progression and potential challenges along the way in a very logical format. Among that audience was a young girl, Sophie, who became so attached to the calves that she took the liberty of naming them Charlie and Dave, and when she ended up with the winning raffle ticket it created a heart-warming conclusion to the entire weekend.

The Pulling Arena also hosted horse trainers, Neal Perry, Donn Hewes and Rebekah Murchison. They were working together for the first time and took turns doing demonstrations and narrating. They brought a young horse along, putting harness on and driving the horse for the first time. Alternating him with an older horse that had experienced poor handling earlier in his life. Later they worked with a “broke” mare, demonstrating that training is an ongoing process, and that there is always more to learn and teach your horse. Throughout the afternoon, the importance of developing a relationship between horse and person was emphasized.

Other workshops and demonstrations ranged from wild edibles to effective pasture management, to challenges facing women teamsters, and teaching your goat to drive. The “Swap Meet” was a place that folks could display equipment that they were offering for sale, including a small livestock trailer, single horse mower, several harnesses and more.
The Farmers’ Market and food vendors featured local growers with end-of-season delights. The Exhibitor Hall provided books and products for sale, educational exhibits, and a place to relax and network.

The weekend was a wonderful event, serving many functions for the working animal community in the Northeast. Folks came to visit with old friends and met new ones along the way. People came to look at a certain piece of equipment and found something else instead. They arrived looking for new ideas, and found more than they could absorb.

With grateful appreciation for all of the work, financial support, and volunteer effort that goes into this event, this teamster anticipates another fantastic event next year. Save The Dates, October 17th & 18th, For 2009 Northeast Animal-Power Field Days to be held again at the Tunbridge Fair Grounds in Tunbridge, Vermont!!!
Submitted by Rebekah Murchison, Fairwinds Farm (NEAPFD Sponsor, Teamster, Presenter, and Co-Organizer)

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Rob The Wonder Horse

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
Rob, my first work horse, winter of 1986-87, heading back to the woods with a single-horse bobsled.

Rob, my first work horse, winter of 1986-87, heading back to the woods with a single-horse bobsled.

Now go ahead, be on your way,
I’ll think about you every day.
Your eyes so bright, your ears so keen,
go find the field so lush and green,
and romp and roll, and buck and run,
have yourself a lot of fun.
I hope sometime to go that way,
and crest that hill to watch you play.

So many paths you helped me find,
both in the woods and in my mind.
We turned the soil and I learned to grow,
and bring to life the things I’d sow,
the best of which it really seems,
were buried deep within my dreams.
My time with you I’ll never trade,
you made a mark that will not fade.

Now go ahead, get on your way,
you will be with me everyday.
From ridge to ridge along the brook,
I see you everywhere I look.
Like scratches on a cavern wall,
our secrets are hidden in the scrawl,
of skid trails, furrows, and manure,
the tests of time, they will endure.

Whatever the job, you had your pace,
and I learned that this was not a race,
but when I asked you did your best,
your done with work, now take a rest.
It’s hard for me, I feel so strong,
the need to bring you on along,
to see things through to the end,
you truly were my greatest friend.

Go on now Robbie, get on your way,
I’ll meet up with you again someday. C.B.R. 2/94

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Draft Animals in Forestry

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Draft Animals Can Play A Vital Role In Forestry; by Carl B. Russell

I bought my first draft horse in 1986, and I have been working horses, and oxen, in the woods ever since. One of the most common questions I get is, “Can you really make any money logging with horses?” The answer is yes, particularly if the skid is short, and there isn’t a lot of low grade. This may sound like high-grading on small lots, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that.

The most significant drawback to working with draft animals in forestry is the low rate of production. This is not a financial disadvantage as much as it is a logistical restriction on the type of work that can be legitimately considered. The time required for human physical labor and the limited power of animals make it difficult to skid long distances, or to cost-effectively harvest low-grade products.

Although high production and maximum utilization have become conventional standards, they are not necessary components of successful forest management. I believe that we have become overly dependent on forestry defined by timber harvest, and the equipment used to do it. I think that the current approach to forestry may benefit from a perspective in which draft animals can play a valuable role.

The effective distance for ground-skidding logs with a single horse is about 500 feet. With a team and a hitch-cart designed for logging, 1500 feet is a reasonable distance. In certain instances with good conditions, with a sled on snow, or with a horse-drawn forwarder, distances up to ½ mile can be considered. These may seem like short distances by comparison to machines, but whether mechanical or animal-powered, skidding distance is a cost that ultimately affects stumpage value.

A well-designed network of truck roads and landings can improve accessibility throughout a woodlot. This up-front capital investment ultimately reduces the cost of any harvesting operation, and can be amortized through an increased return from stumpage. Although this kind of investment is rarer these days because huge powerful all-terrain harvesting equipment can go nearly anywhere, there are other benefits to this strategy.

A network of all-season roads can be the foundation of a multiple-use working landscape, affording access for recreation, agro-forestry, sugaring, on-site sawmilling, and fuelwood harvest. It also provides superior erosion control, and access for fire suppression. While it would be beneficial for any type of timber harvest, this is the type of investment that makes draft animal power more practical.

Because of low overhead costs, the primary costs of skidding with draft animals are related to time. When harvesting sawtimber under reasonable conditions, horse-loggers can be competitive, and operate with logging costs between $175-$225/MBF. But when harvesting low-grade material, the cost of the operation can outweigh the value of the product.

A viable strategy to reducing low-grade growing stock without harvest, is to practice noncommercial crop tree release, ensuring future production of quality timber. When it is adopted as a regular on-going practice, average stumpage value per acre will increase through improved growth of crop trees and the elimination of poor quality stems.

Many landowners can gain the skills to fell or girdle low-value trees, which are the primary techniques of crop tree release. This reduces out of pocket expenses, increases a sense of stewardship and the rewards of multiple-use, and reduces the disturbance created by equipment traffic. Non-commercial crop tree release can occur at the most effective time for each stem, not restricted by a schedule of timber harvests. There are also numerous circumstances when the work can be done in conjunction with harvest.

In financial terms, the harvest of low-grade products returns only minimal value, as stumpage income. By eliminating harvesting costs, non-commercial thinning returns the entire value of the cut trees to the site. In ecological terms, when trees die, they eventually contribute nutrients, organic matter, and accumulated carbon to the forest soil. Ecological function and soil productivity are significant factors in sustaining a vital woodlot, so this type of contribution can have real long-term value.

This may appear that horse-logging requires costs that are not necessary with other means. However, for financial assets to accrue value, there is always investment. When done correctly, timber harvest is an investment, with the cost of the operation being offset by the value of the cut timber. By investing in timber stand improvement and access infrastructure, landowners can reduce long-term costs while increasing future returns.

Neither of these strategies are new ideas. In fact, they are “old school”, much like draft animal powered harvesting. However, they remain effective approaches to cultivating working landscapes and improving growing stock. With higher quality growing stock and improved access, frequent light harvests can be more cost effective. This will facilitate small-scale harvesting operations, and low production systems like horse-logging.

If we continue to practice forestry that is dependent on harvesting large volumes of low quality material, with access limited to all-terrain harvesting machinery, then horses, mules, and oxen will never compete. However, if we see forestry as an opportunity to develop an accessible multiple-use working landscape with a commitment to sustainable management strategies, then draft animals can play a vital role.

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