Zero Turn

[Ed Kennell 45,293]

14 year old Elam making perfect zero turns this morning.   

 

[Achto 31,244]

4 abreast seems a bit over kill that piece of equipment.  

 

But then again I've never driven hay burners before. 

[Ed Kennell 45,293]

5 hours ago, Achto said:

4 abreast seems a bit over kill that piece of equipment.

Yep, they are clearly operating at idle.

The fertilizer truck arrived just as Elam finished.

 

The Elam went over the field again.   Notice the two outside horses are black buggy horses.   The colt on the left is in training, learning to pull in step and follow voice commands.

Then David and 4yo Amos are laying irrigation tubing and plastic.   The pumpkin, watermelon, and cantaloupe plants that are growing in the greenhouse will be planted thru the plastic with a wagon wheel planter after last frost.  The plants will be fed fertilized water thru the line under the plastic.

 

 

[WHX?? 55,626]

Hopefully you straitened him out on the color of that seat. 

[squonk 45,774]

19 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

14 year old Elam making perfect zero turns this morning.   

 

 

That kind of zero turn won't get stuck on wet leaves! 

[953 nut 64,582]

22 hours ago, Achto said:

4 abreast seems a bit over kill that piece of equipment.  

 

But then again I've never driven hay burners before. 

Two horses could do the job for a couple hours, four horses can do the same job all day with a reasonable lunch rest break.

[Beap52 2,090]

It seems to me that in this day and age it's difficult even for the Amish to not be drawn into modern conveniences.  The Amish around here have at least some type of phone service in which to contact the outside world.  They can easily rent a vehicle and driver.  They seem to travel around the state and even neighboring states with relative ease.  It's common to see them shopping at Walmart. 

 

I had an image in my mind's eye that they lived in the 1800's or early 1900's, but other than lack of commercial electricity, farm tractors and some tools/modern conveniences the Amish folks arn't much behind their English neighbors. Our local Amish grocery/variety store is air conditioned. 

 

Come to think of it, Some of the ways I do things are looked upon as  being "old timey." 

[953 nut 64,582]

There was a large contingent of Amish farmers at the White House yesterday as a part of the "Great American Agriculture Celebration" at the White House, honoring farmers and ranchers while announcing new agricultural policies. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, gave special recognition to the Amish and their sustainable agricultural practices.

Years back I was driving  my  street rod  through Amish country and pulled into a gas station at the same time as an Amish man in his buggy. He was using the hand crank pump to buy kerosene while I was  taking a restroom break. When I left the store I walked over and checked out the buggy and heard my wife laughing. Turns out the Amish man was checking out the street rod at the same time. We spoke for a few minutes and my wife asked if she could take a picture of us with the horse and buggy, he posed like a pro! Wish I had that picture to share.

[Ed Kennell 45,293]

18 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

he posed like a pro!

I always understood taking pictures of Amish was forbidden ...the graven image thing.    After becoming friends with my new neighbor, I asked.  He said he had no problem with pictures of his activity but they are not allowed to pose for pictures.    Different strokes for different folks and sects.

[WHX?? 55,626]

14 hours ago, Beap52 said:

it's difficult even for the Amish to not be drawn into modern conveniences.  

True ... buddy down the road buys big enclosed trailers and decks them out for job trailers for the Amish. Fully wired, heated, microwave, power tools, the whole nine yards. 

Turns around and rents them to the Amish builders. Pay a guy to haul it to a job site and plug it in to customer's power. So they can rent it and use it it just can't own it. Same with phones.

[squonk 45,774]

Most Amish can have any modern convenience they want if it's related to their business. Like air conditioning for their store and lights, phones, advertising ect. 

 

There's an Amish engine shop down to the south of me. He has battery powered Dewalt shop lights in the showroom and shop. Generates electricity with a genset. Has an answering svc. That relays messages to his wife and he might call you back in a week.  He's got almost the entire Sten's catalog in his showroom along with just about every belt size known to man. Hardware up the wazoo! 

 

Last time I was there there were 2 young boys working the field next to his shop. 2 horses pulling a rotary plow powered by a Briggsy.