Life goes on - Summer 2022

Very similar to the micro skid steer that is used in landscaping around here. I ran a boxer brand one for years super handy machine! Forks, grading rake, 3 sizes of auger, trencher, rippers, bucket, auxiliary hydraulics, grapple bucket, we built a set of tongs for skidding logs with it all on its own trailer. Honestly loved that little 22 horse Kohler powered wonder machine, I’ll buy one someday when I find another one here is some of the newer ones, the one I ran was a rental from home Depot when the sold off the older equipment my friend bought the whole set up for 7000$
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I have worked on the vermeer brand and the ditchwitch brand. they are super handy machines. One day i hope to own one but they cost the same as a full sized skid steer. I would probably buy that kit that you buddy got. that was a steal

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@r_wesseling a buddy of mine in Colorado says it’s snowing right now where he’s at, is it the same case for you?

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Did you use your iron horse in the winter? How did you steer it while on snow shoes?
Like this hey?

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Do you use snow shoes Bruce. I have the old bent wood ones with the rawhide webbing and the bear paw aluminum ones. They make good decorations on the wall. May be worth something on the wind packed snow but just a heart attack waiting to happen on the snows we get. Don’t put on any more pictures with snow in them. I’m still recovering from the trauma of winter. About the middle of August when the deer flies and mosquitoes are making a meal of me when I go out the door and I will change my tune.

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I guess, technically speaking, the video had snow in it…but it wasn’t enough for me to even consider it as such.
Black flies are out! No squitos yet.
Yep I use the magnesium army snow shoes. They carry my weight.

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I’m not sure if black flies are worse than deer flies. Probably. In 1967 I was on a fishing trip with my father. We used to fly out of the Soo about 300 miles north in a pontoon plane and spend a week on some little lakes up there. That year the plane went down for repairs while we were gone and they were three days late picking us up. The black flies hatched during those three days and there may be no greater hell on earth. Voracious. Moose were standing in the lake with just their nostrils above water and you could see swarms of flies hovering and attacking their nose holes. I don’t know how the native people could live through that.

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They work every once in a while. But for the most part they are completely worthless and wall decorations.

I didn’t think it was a question. Black flies are way worse. You can kill a deer fly, but killing a swarm of black flies is impossible.

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Not snowing here but rain!!! Probably a half inch overnight. We need it. Thank you, Lord.
This part of the world is like the wild, wild west. You can see golf ball hail, a tornado, sunshine, a flash flood (gully washers we call them), and probably a few other things within five miles of each other.
Rindert

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Hi Bruce, yes we used it some in the winter, was 'nt very much snow when we used it, maybe 6 inches most, first trip in to the woods was worst, the way out, same track the snow was somewhat compacted, good to walk on. When “making the way or track” i remember we used low speed, this particular machine had two speeds: slow and “super slow” i remember i got really tired when using low speed, without thinking i tried to pull the machine, constantly pulling the steering handle, which ofcourse was unnecessary, to no help.
Anyways it was’nt possible to ride on the machine, when lifting the front handle to high/backwards it automatically stopped, a safety feature among others, to not be able to run over yourself.

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You are no doubt right about the black flies Sean. I just don’t have to deal with them here but never think deer flies don’t swarm. I walk a few miles every morning and during fly season I wear a mesh bug suit and at times it’s just a haze around my head from buzzing swarms. The flies can bite through regular fabric.

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I thought Tone and Kristijan might find this interesting. It’s about Scything hay. I can’t disagree with the guys philosophy.

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I have implemanted Jims techniques quite a bit in our farm

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Have you looked at his wooden bailer? He mentions several times that it is designed from some Russian one. I think it is a poor design. I could do much better with compressed air and an air ram but how to efficiently get the bale tied is problematic.

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I have. I find it unpractical too. Im actualy thinking of building something like that for this years harveat, l only need about 100 bales so buying a baler doesent make sence. So l have done some research. There is an Amish design l liked, seems faster and more efficient but lm still thinking about options. If anyone has suggestions plese put them forward!

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Ok, I went through some of Jim’s videos.
The Finlanders here used a hay press. There is one still set up at the Hanka Homestead ( a pre 1927 era dairy farm).

s-l400 (3)
The closest thing I found on the web was the above.

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Do l need to say more…

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Nope, picture says it all. Everyone ok?

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Car is beat up and l dont dare to look at the crops…

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And your new roof??
Last year you posted up a weather map picture showing you were probably in a wind swirl intensity transition zone.
Need to build a car cover, I expect.
Depend on in the ground root crops.

I am sorry for your losses.
Steve unruh

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