Saturday, September 15, 2012

A New to us Manure Spreader

I don't know where the summer went.  It was spring and before I knew it fall arrived.  Well, not technically, but it definitely feels like it.  The farm has gone through many changes.  As I look back they have all been positive.  We have been busy and I will attempt to catch up. 
To start, being a farm we produce one thing in mass quantity. POOP.  Yep, the chickens do it, the turkeys do it and so do the sheep, llama and goats.  When I tell you it is a mountain by the barn I really mean it.  I have been looking on Craig's List and Uncle Henry's for months in search of a reasonably priced and close to home manure spreader. If it was close to home it was rusted out and useless.  If it was 400 miles away the price was pretty good.  Nothing in the Bangor area.
I need to interject here. I have to say one thing about Mainers.  If they bought it for $1,000 twenty years ago and have used it the entire time and go to sell it, they want what they paid for it new. 
Seriously.
Well, Uncle Henry's finally paid off.  I had just about given up until spring.  Amazingly I called an add for a John Deere ground driven manure spreader.  No, it couldn't be. The price was just right and it was in Dover-Foxcroft.  Only 25 miles from home. Emma and Lucy were loaded up and ready to roll.  Off to see the exalted manure spreader.
 
Yes, it was in good shape and the price was right.  Homeward bound.
It may be old, the machine, not Ted.   
It is a Model-L Series. I don't have any idea what that means. I will go online and try to find out the year. 
The boards are sound.  There is some rust but everything works.

There is even some John Deere Green left after many years of use.

We can't wait to try it out.  I think I got a little too excited about a manure spreader.  Our pastures have been neglected for many years.  Hopefully we will increase our hay yield this next summer.  We will know what goes on our fields.  I had thought about using the sprayed fertilizer from nearby dairy farm on our pastures.  Then one day as I drove past one of the dairy farms I saw a septic tank truck dumping human waste into the holding pond where the cow waste was stored.  That changed our minds immediately. 
It's nice being back. I love reading the blogs and finding out what everyone has been up to this summer.  Now I have to blog and get myself caught up.
Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm
 
 
 
 

10 comments:

Tombstone Livestock said...

I have 2 old wooden manure spreaders, one freebie from neighbor across the road, that one was easy to get here, even with a flat tire. Second one came from Craig's List, I went to buy 3 galvanized watering cans, came home with them, and old wheel off of some kind of belt driven equipment, an old metal wheel hand lawn mower sans handle and 2 benches, had to get another neighbor with a car trailer to bring spreader home. And then I went and bought a brand spanking new Newer Spreader, love it.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

nothing like a good manure spreader!!!

Marie said...

Well, I am in the same boat as far as not finding the time to blog during the summer! Still haven't blogged mush even though the temps are not 100 degrees anymore!
Good find on the manure spreader!! Looks great!

Kelly said...

Tombstone- I can usually find so many great things on Craigslist or UH. It took me forever to find the spreader.
Jaz-I agree!
Marie-Time just will not stand still. Thank goodness we never got up to the 100's. Mainers melt in hot weather.

LindaSue said...

ah manure spreaders - I dated a few of those in my wilder younger honky tonk years - but the kind that spread the mountain of poop - wonderful find! Congratulations - really will make your pastures produce more and good sound practice.
I am still not blogging - life is still a day by day thing - true of every one but I seem to feel it rather keenly now.
Enjoy spread that black gold!

Kelly said...

LindaSue-Great to hear from you. I still keep you guys in my prayers. Miss hearing from you but completely understand. Thanks to everyone for stopping by.

NancyDe said...

Welcome back! I envy you your find - we have our own mountain of compost to deal with...

Marigold said...

So glad you are back to blogging! We have missed you! I promise I won't tell Ted what you said. :)

Mike said...

Welcome back. I've missed reading your stories.

Kelly said...

NancyDe-Its good to be back. Animals=poo. Fact of life.
Marigold-Ted don't need to know everything I say. LOL
Mike-sometimes life gets in the way of blogging.