Draft Powah

Hullo folks! Welcome back to the blog, I hope you all are well and happy! Today's photos are from this Tuesday's Draft Power Lab. Draft power is animals doing meaningful work for farmers, such as pulling a cart or tilling a field. This lab, we worked with Molly and Mindy Mules and Zep the horse. Zep has a good deal of energy, whereas Molly and Mindy walk a lot more at my pace--this makes a brisk pace for three abreast (three side-by-side), which we were able to do for the first time that day. As soon as our Professor, Rick, placed the driving lines in my hands, I felt at home. Everything just felt right, and the rest of the world melted away. Working with these equines is so therapeutic for me--feeling the soft, velvety noses and looking through thick brown eyelashes into knowing eyes makes me feel at seen, listened to, understood. Gentle yet firm care for the animals, the lifting and phenagling of harnessing and hitching, and the thrill of driving are probably the most rewarding work I have done in my life. It makes me giddy. Not to mention, you can get a LOT done. This class, we focused on hoof care, practiced three abreast, and skidded a couple of logs, while talking about farming systems, infrastructure revelations, and just the good, quiet life. Makes me long for the country and renews my future hopes of a farmstead. Every time I cross the line into Henry County, I beat my hand on the roof of my car and cheer. It takes 20 minutes from my house to that line, 5 to the exit, 10 to New Castle, and then only 15 to Port Royal. I think: this is my community, these are my people.