Mennonite Neighbor

[Wilberton]

I took this picture last spring. That's my driveway in the bottom of the photo. Mr. Martin has only been farming across the road from me for two years. He started out with 15 acres and expanded to 20 acres this last summer. He and another Mennonite bought the 160 acre field across from me - 80 acres each.

Wayne said his motor is 100 hp. They sit next to the hot motor. They have tin "heat shelds" rivited to the sides of the engine they sit next to. I'd imagine it gets pretty hot, let alone sitting next to the exhaust.

 

[sixtyninegmc]

Do you know the reason for the cement blocks on the fore-cart? It looks fairly balanced, are they to keep the front down?

 

[Wilberton]

I've never asked, but I would imagine they are to keep the front down. Maybe not for the tiller, but if they get a piece that is tounge-heavy they might need it and not want to keep taking them off.

 

[Wilberton]

Also, them horses can get pretty "fractous". I've seen them take off at a run with the equipment, no rider. Wayne was running behind trying to catch the reigns. They ran a very short way and ran the tounge into the side of the shed. That was just the two black and whites harnessed together on a mower. I think he uses the Perchorn's to keep the two little black one's inline. The black and white one's can become hard to handle.

 

[Dick]

Not that it makes any difference, but the black horses are most likely Percherons and the brown and white ones are most likely Belgians. What was he pulling behind the forecart?
Sure do enjoy the pictures that you post,, keep um coming.

 

[JMS/.MN]

Is that a Deutz air-cooled engine? and a pto driven tiller? Must do wonders for his hearing- looks like a straight pipe. I"ve never been able to figure out the logic in how they do things. And for meds, they rely on the "English", instead of their own. Course, how do you get into med school with an eighth grade education...

 

[Bret4207]

If you can get past the bigotry and fear of the "strange" in all of us, you can learn the "why" of the way they do things. I have a lot of long discussions with Amish friends on the "why". It a balancing act as much anything else, trying to find a way to keep the family together on the land and within their religious beliefs which tend to be kinda Old Testament. When you think about it, a lot of the crap we do is absolutely insane compared to what some of the Amish and Mennonites do. While those groups have their idiots and morons the average person is no smarter or dumber than we are and no more honest or crooked either. They aren't saints and they aren't neanderthals.

I can tell you this, I'd lots rather have more Amish neighbors than more druggy welfare rats.

 

[El Toro]

Here's a picture of the Amish in Ohio baling hay. I was told the power unit is a Volkswagon diesel. Hal

 

[Wilberton]

Thanks for the clarification. He is pulling a roto tiller breaking ground for spring planting.

 

[Wilberton]

Yep, Wayne's hard of hearing. He told me his father was the same way. It's a diesel and the PTO drives the rotor tiller.

 

[Wilberton]

Amen to that brother. They are the best for neighbors. Anytime I need any help, or have a question -I have a Mennonite farmer across the road to bounce ideas off of.

I was talking to Carmi Horst down the road about having to replace the lean to on my barn. Carmi bought my wife's uncles place. He told me to let him know when, and they would have a "frollic" and help me put it back up. I enjoy going over and hearing them talk English to me, then switch to Pennsylvania dutch when talking to one of their children.

 

[Wilberton]

They do that around here also. The Zimmerman's up north of me have a large round bailer they pull behind their motorized cart.

 

[jbp]

And now for the rest of the story. How do they handle those bales? Interesting pictures.
Joe

 

[Dick]

I would imagine that the concrete blocks on the front of the forecart is for balance. With a heavy tiller mounted on the back it would probably be pretty tail heavy. It appears that he has a 3 point attachment on the back of the cart then the tiller behind that, making it heavy when he lifts the tiller. Pulling something like a baler or haybine that is using the pto, I doubt that he would need the blocks. Just my thoughts..
Dick

 

[barw]

Really enjoy the Mennonite pic's.
Keep them coming.

 

[Buffy1]

Doesn"t look like the Belgian horse is hooked up.If he is, he"s not pulling.The chain tug is slack. Or is it just the angle of camera when taken?

 

[Leroy]

Ever see a 3 point hitch bale spear on a fore cart, I have. hand lift for the 3 point and also use the 3 point blades that way.

 

[Leroy]

Can't see the picture that good but you would be correct.

 

[Wilberton]

He'll catch up after he makes the turn.