Have you ever noticed how important little things can be? In fact the smaller things get, the more attention they often demand. I was reminded of this the other day when I received my latest mailing from Lee Valley Tools.
Hydraulic power is one of the greatest of on-farm labor savers. The problem with a labor saver is when they don't work, you hate to go back to doing without.
I love traipsing through an antique store, but I'm not there for the ornate decorative pieces. I love looking at the samples of fine craftsmanship—the "useables."
Warm weather has arrived in Minnesota's Bluff Country. Temperatures have climbed above freezing and stayed there for several days now. It won't be long before my friend Harlan will start collecting sap from his maple trees.
Small-scale farmers can take the worry out of barn building with barn kits that are affordable and easy to assemble.
We are in the midst of winter farm show season, nationally as well as here in the Midwest. A week and a half ago, I was in Sioux Falls, S.D., for their show. Last week, there was a big show in Des Moines, Iowa.
Some of the Spanish goat's colorful regional names suggest one of their primary uses: they're called "brush goats" and "briar goats" in the Carolinas, "wood goats" in Florida, "Hill goats" in Virginia, and "scrub goats" throughout their original range.
With temperatures well below zero, this past weekend was devoted to maintenance. I tore out old caulk around the shower and the tub and put in new.
If you live in a northern climate, you probably share one of my winter frustrations. It seems like a chair rung or two come loose each winter. A combination of age and the drier winter air is likely to blame.
Talking to a trash hauler at our local garbage transfer station, I asked if he found many rechargeable battery pack tools while on the job. He said he did, and it was hard not taking them all home. He knew that often all that is wrong is the battery pack.
As I mentioned last week, a blog reader commented on comparing guarantees when considering which of two brands to buy. He makes a good point.
A reader recently responded to a blog entry from this past July that talked about buying tools locally where you could get service. Brent pointed out that tool-buying decisions should include buying the best-quality tools you can afford. He also mentioned the importance of guarantees and availability of lifetime replacement.
