Oxen?

Ann is beginning the training on this steer as a oxen. We are always looking for ways both to save money and to reduce our negative impact on the earth. Draft animals versus mechanical power is part of that discussion. Having acquired a couple of extra bull calves this spring, Ann thought this would be a good time to attempt to train one for draft. This steer, aptly named Red, seems the best candidate. He is friendly and learns fast. Ann is just at the halter training stage now though starting to add in voice commands. If it seems to be going well I'll have to get to work and try my hand at making a yoke for him. At least if the training doesn't work out we will still have a nice steer.
  We think a ox will be a little safer for novice teamsters compared to a draft horse, especially as it is being trained by Ann right from the start. We had also thought about a draft mule but they are too pricey for us. There are lots of pro's and con's to the issue of which animal is best suited to draft use, but we had the steer so we are going with that.

Here is a shot of Ann's flax laid out to ret. The grayer stuff to the right has been turned over once and we will try to start processing that for fiber later this week, time allowing. We might try harvesting wild rice one more day this week and we are definitely going to spend at least one day picking hazel nuts. The gardens have been producing enough to keep me at the market three days a week so time is in short supply right now.
 A note to anyone I have talked to at market, I will be adding a page with info on ordering wild rice and some of our other items soon. Until then if you need something just send a e-mail and I'll get back to you.