Row Crops: Beans, Potatoes, and Sunflowers

As part of our continued interest in using draft animals as primary source of traction on the farm, I have recently introduced a horsedrawn tillage laboratory to our curriculum which includes row crops such as potatoes, beans, sunflowers, and corn. Students learn how to use horsedrawn equipment for tillage, cultivation, and harvesting. Occasionally, a plant or two gets damaged--I have learned that the best teacher is direct feedback as a new skill is being taught--students always keep a great sense of humor as they continue down the row. Clearly, students enjoy this time discovering a wonderful relationship between the horses, the equipment, and themselves.