Saturday, July 07, 2007

Summer on the Farm

I wanted to give you a little tour of our farmyard before we go to the field to make silage today. We've done this silaging thing every year as long as we've been married (31 years this July!) but I have precious few pictures it so I resolved to change that this year.



Here's the equipment we are using this week. I'll drive the tractor with the forage harvester and hydump in the field(it's the rig on the left side). Bob's truck isn't in this picture and the silage press is already in position with a bag on it to stuff (literally!) the silage into so that it can be sealed off and rest until winter. It looks like a lot of stuff here, doesn't it? It is a lot of machinery and my talented husband, the farm mechanic, has been very busy repairing and fine tuning to have everything shipshape and ready to go. Theoretically, the more time you spend getting it all in perfect running order the less problems you should have once you are in full operation. It rarely works that way - there's always something else that breaks when you least want it to!!!

Notice that blue prairie sky? It's one of the seven wonders of Canada, CBC announced recently. Pretty cool, I think!




This is the farm shop where Bob's tools and some replacement parts are kept. All those bins in the front are treasures he bought at a recent auction. He did get some really good deals but still - it seems like a lot of stuff. I guess we're going to be farming for a few years yet!!




This is the disc bine that will cut down the grass, hay or grain. Today it's cutting fall rye that was planted last August.




Putting the power takeoff shaft on can be such a delicate process as the teeth and splines need to aligned correctly. This is what makes the implement behind the tractor go up and down or around and around - it gets its power from the motor of the tractor - amazing, hey! I took this picture to capture my husband's hands. They are covered in grease and oil whenever he's in the shop but he is so talented when it comes to mechanical things - understanding how they work and how to keep them running. He's a self-taught mechanic and is ingenious when it comes to adapting and improving.

10 comments:

  1. Your farm sounds wonderful. My husband's grandparents on both sides were farmers in Minnesota and he has wonderful memories of summers spent with them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very interesting post for a city girl like me. Enjoyed it!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Just saw your comment about the balloon ride certificate for this summer. You will so love it. I'll be looking forward to your post when you take it.
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  4. We are on Johnsonia Beach just up from Kathy Timmons. We actaully saw her when we were out there, she got a new puppy (too cute).

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for sharing this part of life on your farm. As a "city girl" I really enjoyed it!
    Those blue skies are amazing!
    hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's amazing how we forget about the everyday things in our photography. Glad you captured some of these moments that bring back all kinds of memories. Happy silaging.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7:18 PM

    Wow, Crystal--thank you for showing me the farm set up. I have such a new-found respect for you and your farming family...that's hard work! But I imagine it must be so satisfying to see your crop grow and finally be ready for harvest. (Honestly, I had to look up silage before I read the whole post).

    I've got to show Brian that heavy equipment--he likes those kinds of things. He'd like to buy an old tractor, although I'm not sure what he'd use it for...I think it's just the idea of having some "farm" equipment.

    I enjoyed seeing the operation!

    XO,
    Jill

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for sharing a day on the farm with me!! I have NO idea what it all meant... I am a true city girl. But it sounded cool!! And like a lot of work...

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm with Carm - city girl, through and through! But I love to hear about your annual harvest!

    ReplyDelete
  10. So cool to read this and see those photos! I'm glad you captured it for your grandkids to see one day!

    ReplyDelete