[matt wny]

thanks for the explanation.

[matt wny]

taylor we have a bank of 6 trojan t105 batteries charged by a small 400 watt wind generator.i also have an alternator driven by a litttle 5 horse briggs that i use to charge the batteries if we dont have enough wind.we use an inexpensive 750 watt inverter to convert 12v dc to 120v ac household electric.I have found that it works better to try to use mostly 12volt lights and apliances whenever possible and only turn on the inverter when absolutely neccesary we use a generator to run our water pump it works but is kind of inconvenient i think a gravity system would be much better if your site allows. we have propane hot water,cook stove and refrigerator and a wood stove is our sole sorce of heat. this is a very small system that would not be enough power for a most of people but it depends on how much you want to compromise and do without. for example we dont ojwn a tv and we only use a laptop computer that we can run off 12 volt.I have also been thinking about building a water wheel under the overflow of my pond to turn an alternator that would charge my batteries seems like a great idea to me but another one of those projects that i havent got around to yet

[matt wny]

sounds like a good policy hope they leave it alone!! in new york they try to wring every last tax dollar out of you that they can.its getting to be either 300 to 400 cow dairies or houses built on it in this area.just 15 to 20 years ago there were a lot of 30 to 70 cow family operations in this area unfortunatly most went under and a few got very big.

[matt wny]

interesting little clip!i have raised and butchered a steer and a couple pigs every year for the last 10 years or so. we would butcher them and take the halves to a local slaughter house to cut and wrap.about 2 years ago they told me that they could no longer process farm kill meat because of the usda.the animal had to be killed and inspected at the facility.i am in new york i am not sure if this is a state rule or if it is the particular butchers that i deal with but the three that i know of within 20 miles of me all told me the same story.so the last two steers i have butchered i have cut and wraped myself but the hogs i hauled over live and had the slaughter house kill and process.

[matt wny]

my neighbor has a 50 bushel lancaster that you have to hook behind a for cart.seems to be built extreamly well. poly lumber floor and t-bar apron chain should last a long long time.the drive system is very similar to my old mcormic spreader and seems to work well.

[matt wny]

here are some pics of my plow hope this helps you.this is a single horse model it is only 4ft wide the team models are 5ft wide and a little taller and longer.the shaft that the fills are hooked to rotates so that the force or the horses pulling is what opens the rear gate. you have to back them up a little to close it.

[matt wny]

i dont think it would be that hard to build if you can weld half way decent. around here they cost 650 to 700 new

[matt wny]

i will try to get some more detailed pics and demensions of mine and post on here.there is an amish guy in conewango valley n.y. that makes them but i am afraid shiping to WI would be costly!!!

[matt wny]

lucky nobody got hurt!

[matt wny]

i use a little home made sled to get wood out with this leaves a good packed path. it mite be good enough for what you want.my sled is 4ft wide by 6ft long and a single draft horse pulls it easy. i just used two 6ft hardwood 4x4s for runners and nailed some 4ft 2×8 across for the floor then put 2×12 on edge across the front and on each side and left the back open.i cut notch in the middle on back side of the front 2×8 floor board so i can rap a chain around it to hook to a single tree.so the front floor booard should either be lagged down or use those big ribbed pole barn nails to attach it.it is preaty simple and cheap to build if you have any scrap lumber laying around

[matt wny]

thanks for the link tim. i am going to try to get a feed analisis done on a sample this week.

[matt wny]

jason, i saw the article in the new RH about SDAD it sounded like you guys put on a very nice demonstration.maybe next year i can make the trip down to see how you guys do it.

[matt wny]

on hard woods its usualy more important to keep you defects{nots and limbs} as close to the end of the log as possible to increase the grade of log for maximum value. at the same time different markets call for different lengths.i strongly recomend that anyone consult with a few different log buyers before cutting any trees up.or if you can skid tree length without doing to much damage to the woods this a good option.let the buyer determine where to cut the logs.it is also important the get hard woods sold soon after cutting ecspecialy hard maple it stains rather quickly.fall and winter is the best time to cut maple it will keep the longest.if cut in the spring when the sap is running logs will stain in a matter of a week or less

[matt wny]

there are 5 amish harness shops within about 10 miles of me but none of them are familiar with the d-ring style harness.the amish in this area are very old order that dont accept change or new tecknology like the ones in ohio and landcaster.is the d-ring mainly a new england thing?

[matt wny]

can a horse pull a heavy load through the shafts like that without the benifit of the single tree or evener used in a traditional american style harness and shaft set up?

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