One of the things long desired by Southern fruit growers is a good table grape, sufficiently resistant to leaf and fruit diseases to endure the climatic conditions of their section. Many varieties have been brought forward from time to time; but of the older sorts especially adapted to table use not one, either foreign or native, has yet proved successful over any large area. One of the most promising recent introductions in this field is the Headlight, which was originated by Prof. T.V. Munson, of Denison, TX, in 1895. The post Headlight Grape appeared first on Small Farmer's Journal ..read more

As a young boy I told myself that one day I would organize an event here in Tennessee to help the public get a glimpse of what we as horse and mule enthusiasts all over get to experience. Finally, this past October, a young boy’s dream came true as my wife and many friends came together to pull off the 1st Annual Cedar Creek Plow Day. We got to incorporate a lot of different activities using horses and mules at this event. I love new ideas in the direction of old ways and equipment from yesteryear. The post Cedar Creek Plow Day appeared first on Small Farmer's Journal ..read more

Hay Barns & Sheds and Corn Shellers The post Hay Barns & Sheds and Corn Shellers appeared first on Small Farmer's Journal ..read more

For the past few years we had seen posters for the Northern Minnesota Draft Horse Association’s Field Day event, but it was always too far away for us to make it. But this year, while putting up feed at the mill, a bright blue poster on the counter caught my eye. It was the Field Day poster. Location: Forest City, MN. Forest City?! Less than an hour’s drive from us! Hallelujah! The post Northern Minnesota Draft Horse Association Field Day 2023 appeared first on Small Farmer's Journal ..read more

The efficiency of a lever depends upon the relative length of power arm and weight arm. These principles particularly apply in draft work to the question of lowsetness. The weight of the load is a direct force that corresponds to something pulling back on the animal. As stated above, the longer the power arm the greater the advantage, hence the longer the limb of the horse the greater the advantage that the load will have over the animal. The teamster consequently requires that his draft horse be lowset, in order to gain a greater efficiency. The post Draft Horse Mechanics appeared first on Sm ..read more

What I love about wood cookstoves is the large flat cooking surface with variable surface temperatures. Something that needs high immediate heat is positioned over the firebox but the pasta now boiling can get slid to the right onto a slightly cooler surface over the oven. The closer I slide it toward the side reservoir, the cooler the stovetop surface. Sometimes if I am canning and my canner is taking its sweet time to get up temperature, I will pull out the eye of the stovetop and put the canner directly on open flame. The post Cooking and Heating with Wood appeared first on Small Farmer's J ..read more

Spoke Augers, Tank Heaters, Case Almanac Cover The post Spoke Augers, Tank Heaters, Case Almanac Cover appeared first on Small Farmer's Journal ..read more

In our part of North Devon, John Symmonds is famous. Famous not in the modern way of fame, in that he is famous merely for being famous, but in the old manner of fame in that he is famous amongst his peers for possessing certain skills and practical knowledge and as a custodian of something special. For “Cider John”, as he is known locally, is a maker of cider, and not just any old cider, but cider made in the manner of cider crafted on small yeoman farms in Somerset and Devon for centuries. The process of “Cider John’s” alchemy is a relatively simple affair, yet it requires certain irreplacea ..read more

When I first came into contact with the world of draft cattle over ten years ago, I would never have believed the importance that this topic would one day have for me. Not only did I gradually become an advocate for the positive impact of draft cattle in agriculture or silviculture, but I also became a draft cattle farmer and trainer myself. It is with great pleasure that I get to teach people about working with draft cattle each year, and I am pleased that the demand for this all-important traditional knowledge continues to grow. Draft cattle can be so much – working companions, community bui ..read more

I want to produce the three principal ingredients for my sesame whole grain crackers: hard red winter wheat flour, sesame seeds and sunflower oil. The winter wheat I have been growing for years. In 2023, I grew sesame seeds and also worked on a new approach to making sunflower oil. To make sunflower oil I needed a relatively low-tech and low-cost system scaled for human labor and small volume. The post Growing Sunflowers and Pressing Oil at Garden Scale appeared first on Small Farmer's Journal ..read more