Filed under: October 2018 | Tags: corn picking, draft horses, farm life, peace of mind
October 26, 2018
I am working on two jobs. We are trying to finish filling the woodshed at the sugarhouse. We are also picking our corn for the animals (maize). I pick by hand when the fields are wet. Believe me, this year, my field is very wet. The horses navigate the sloppy ground with ease. They do not get stuck and their impact on the land is light compared to the spinning wheels on a tractor.
I pick two rows at a time. This way the horses and wagon move over to a new place to walk, every trip around the field. Once I have picked all the corn ears off the stalks, the livestock will be turned in to glean the field. The cows will search out any nubbin ears that I missed, as will the hogs. All of the animals will eat the leftover plant called stover or fodder depending upon what part of the country you are from.
I will graze this field all winter once the ground has frozen. The animals will eat much of the spent plants. The field will then plow easy in the spring. I hope to plant oats here in early spring 2019. That is the life of a farmer, plant, weed, harvest and repeat. The little things along the way like making use of corn fodder, just help the farmer out.
Picking corn by hand is a boring job to some. To me, it is a nice quiet time spent with the horses. I can pick along and solve all sorts of problems, plan things out and enjoy some nice autumn days. Winter will soon be here. I must push hard to get the corn harvested and the woodshed filled, but thanks to good horses, good friends and family, I’m sure I will get it all done.
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RicelandMeadows 
I enjoy picking corn too. Something about being surrounded by those tall stalks. Peaceful.
Comment by Jacklyn October 26, 2018 @ 11:13 amWet it is!! & we are getting more rain this weekend when, like you I have wood to stack. I hope we have a dry year next year. Did you see the winter forecast by our local meterologists? Below average temps & average snowfall.
I agree it is very peaceful!
Comment by ricelandmeadows October 27, 2018 @ 8:20 amYes, winter forecast looks pretty much normal, except perhaps a bit colder. We could use a good freeze up. Once my work is done…I like winter!