Becoming FarmGirl

[subk]

All my life I have boarded my horses. My husband and I bought acreage a couple years ago and since then have been slowly turning it into a horse farm. I've had horses there for the last two months.

Who knew I was going to enjoy the care taking and farm management end of things so much! Mr. subk who does a great imitation of a corporate executive during the week is amazingly handy. On the weekends he builds chicken coops, fixes trailers and keeps the tractors running--although he doesn't know much about farming or horses he can do mechanical things and knows how to build stuff. I'm a little challenged on that side of things.

It never fails that sometime during the week I have to call him at his office where he is pretending to do financial stuff while to ask why in the h#!! can't I get the leaf blower started or some other such thing. Usually he starts by telling me to put the offending machinery aside then to take a moment and "pretend it is horse equipment." Smart man. He knows that any woman who will toss the ponies in a trailer for a quick 15 hour trip down to florida--by herself--must have the confidence and ability needed to deal with stuff.

Here's my problem--I need to learn how to do stuff like hook up a three point hitch, how to get that stupid backpack sprayer going so I can tackle the honeysuckle bushes, how to refill the weed eater spool, how to know when the tractor needs more hydraulic fluid, dang I need to know what other things like hydraulic fuel is lurking out there that needs to be done that I don't have a clue about! I'm crazy about my husband, but we are certainly a case of opposites attract. While our different thinking styles makes for great conversation, it doesn't do very well in the whole student/teacher realm. I need a different resource.

Mostly it's mechanical stuff and I haven't got a clue where to go/look to get myself better educated! Is there like a "Tractoring School for Middle Aged Women?" or "Farm Mechanics for FarmGirl Classes?" Other suggestions?

How have the rest of you pick up the knowledge and skills you need on a daily basis to keep things going on the farm?

[Bluey]

Could you find a local farmer that would help you along?

[fivehorses]

because I had too. I don't have a honey do to call or wait till he comes home to fix it or do it.
So, when you are up against the wall, you learn.
3 point hitch...asked the trailer folks who service my trailer how to do it.
You learn by asking, and knowing if you don't ask, it won't get done. In other words, you don't have a fall back to do it for you.

[Robin@DHH]

It was 20 something years ago when we bought our little farm.
Neither my DH nor I had lived on a farm; we knew very little.
We were fortunate that the teenage sons and daughters of the
local farmers wanted summer work and were happy to come
to our farm and work for minimum wage. The kids very politely
showed us how to stack hay, adjust the bailer, load the string,
and a million other things they had learned as preteens on their
home farms. The local hardware store owner was also a great
help and the fixit guy at the local coop. A few hours with a
diligent teen or local fixit guy may be all you need to get
yourself sorted out.

[LAZ]

I'm a suburb child turned farm girl. I had the good fortune to farmsit and work for a family when I was a young teen/teenager and learned to run a tractor, hook up implements, etc. I also grew up in a car racing family so I had a fair concept of the right tool making a job much, much easier!

One of the major things I learned then was that if there is a will there is a way, that it never hurts to keep all instruction manuals in the same drawer, and laying things out before drilling, cutting or screwing is a very good idea! Much of the learning is trial and error, I'm sure there is a faster way to do it, but once you've learned, it's stuck and you'll be able to reproduce your results and apply that to other issues.

I still rely heavily on my farmer friend neighbor for things I can't or don't want to do, he's been invaluable to me.

[JB]

I have been a "farm girl proper" for about 5 1/2 years now, and am amazed at the things you learn out of necessity :D

I have also been really, really amazed at just how willing the long-time farmers are to share their knowledge, especially if you are interested in hearing their sometimes really, really funny stories :winkgrin:

Our hay guy, 1 mile down the road, who grows, cuts, and bales it all himself, has been "doing" farming his whole life, from when he could walk, throughout his "real" working career with Lorilard (RJR? whatever, 'bacca :D), and through is retired years. So he knows how to work and run and fix most anything out there, or can figure it out if he hasn't actually worked on one. He's constantly asking us if we need any help with anything. Many of these older guys seem tickled at the prospect of helping the newbies along :yes:

So yeah, get to know your local farmers :)

[OTTB FAN]

I have to say that i've mostly learned by watching. Some things came quickly but others needed repetition, just depends on how you learn as an individual. Sometimes if you can't find somebody to show you, you ca get user manuals. Youtube offers instructional videos on some things, and that may be one of them... So try it if you think its worth a shot? Best of luck to ya.

[EqTrainer]

Local farmers are the best resource :) my feed store is very close and they always know someone who can fix something for me...

and - do not figure out the PTO by trying. You could be dying. Sorry, I couldn't resist the rhyme.. but seriously. Also, don't blow anything up like I did. Beware of fumes. Otherwise, it's all good.

[Las Olas]

Where in TN are you located? I know a few farm girls up there that may be able to help.

[sunridge1]

Even though I was a born and raised farm girl. Living on a small farm with several horses, chickens dogs etc. alone made me learn a ton of things. I'm a really good mechanic better than my husband who raced cars!!???. I can do simple wiring and add breakers etc. Fix a lawn mower, washing machine, T.V. etc. Do not make my mistake, and tell DH you can do these things.

Anyhoo, service manuals and Google are your friend.

[Tornado Run Farm]

I agree with those who said, you learn to do it yourself because you have to. Keep all those manuals, read them, then re-read them.

You know you're REALLY a farm girl when you toss the Macy's flyer and look longingly through the FarmTek catalog!! :D

[onthebit]

I have learned that you can Google almost anything - the internet is the farm girls friend! :eek: I will also admit that if hubby isn't around or can't answer the phone or whatever that I call my dad next . . . :o

I do wish there was some kind of book with one of the titles you suggested. There is so much more I wish I could do and I am not mechanically inclined at all. So if you stumble upon this magical book be sure to let us all know about it.

I will say that Glen's son went to start one of our tractors once and couldn't get it started. I got it started because he forgot about the neutral safety switch. It was one of my proudest moments. :lol:

[Fly-by-Night]

There were some books called "Fundamentals of Machine Operation" put out by John Deere. My dad got me the ones on "tractors" and "hay and forage equipment" probably with the hope that if I read about it he would not have to explain over and over and over!! I hesitate to say how old they are but the concept is the same and they do have lots of pictures!

[LearnToFly]

you could do what my dad always does and reassemble the darn thing to figure out what goes where and then fix it... Of course, that might work about as well as it did way back when he tried to take apart grandpa's Cadillac... though I'm not entirely convinced that story isn't exaggerated... ;)

[subk]

I'm sure there are local farmers, but this area's farming halcyon days are long over so they aren't so readily available. Maybe one of my horsey author friends could use my "Mechanics for Farm-girls" as her next book idea! Actually it sounds like I need to make a call to my tractor dealer and start with some manuals.

you could do what my dad always does and reassemble the darn thing to figure out what goes where and then fix it... Of course, that might work about as well as it did way back when he tried to take apart grandpa's Cadillac... though I'm not entirely convinced that story isn't exaggerated... ;)
Not exaggerated. He also took apart my Baby Catch-a-Ball on Christmas morning when I was 6. That did not end well either...

[JB]

You know you're REALLY a farm girl when you toss the Macy's flyer and look longingly through the FarmTek catalog!! :D
*raises hand slowly* guilty!

And you know it when you get the sales flyer for TSC and wonder what it takes to justify an out-of-the-way trip there :cool:

[harveyhorses]

Older farmer men are the best!! It always seemed like they were thinking "wait till I tell my buddies I taught a WOMAN how to do such and such" like teaching tricks. Try hanging out at the feed store:cool:
My DH went to farm auctions and got very used, but still running stuff.
I still miss my tractor more than I can say, International 656 with hydrostatic drive.
My sister and I have been known to fight over the Tractor supply flyer, while Macy's is used for a coaster.

[JSwan]

I'm sure there are local farmers, but this area's farming halcyon days are long over so they aren't so readily available. Maybe one of my horsey author friends could use my "Mechanics for Farm-girls" as her next book idea!

Congrats on the new place. You want a rooster to complete the look? I'll send Chucky to you.:D

I have a Mr. JSwan who is very handy. However, he's rarely here and I run this place myself - including a VERY small beef/pork business. And I've gotten myself into a pickle a few times - I'm very clumsy. Which is why I don't bale my own hay.

I you are not a member of Farm Bureau, you may want to join even if you don't have them for farm insurance.

The reason I suggest them is that they offer free farm safety checks, discounts on equipment rental, a publication that has great information about safety, equipment, and other ag type of "stuff". It can be a resource to you and if you would like to become more involved in open space/farm/horse issue, can help connect you with like minded people.

For your purposes I think an associate membership is all you'll want. That's for nonproducers. If you start an ag/farm/horse business then you may want a producer membership - up to you of course.

Good idea on the tractor manual. Every piece of equipment you have probably has a manual. Some of these are available for download on the manufacturers website. If you have trouble finding them let me know - I love to hunt for stuff and it keeps raining so I can't do much farm work right now.

Hitching up stuff on the tractor can be a real PITA. Even for a strong man, long time farmer. I can't remember the name of this product but it is a thingamabob that you put on the back of your tractor that simplifies hooking up stuff to the 3pt hitch. Gack.... can't remember the name!

Let's see..... what else. I'm trying to think of something or someone that can mentor you or that you can use as a resource.

Check with your local community college to see if there are any adult ed classes that might help you.

Oh - your extension agent. Here is a link to your Extension Service
http://www.utextension.utk.edu/

The extension is there to help and educate. You'll see information on farm management, soil conservation, fencing - all kinds of things. If you don't see what you're looking for look at other state extension websites.

I'll try and think of other things but as far as learning how to do stuff.... at some point you have to grab some tools and scrape your knuckles. But it's not wise to do that until you've read up on things or found a good person to help... because you don't want to get hurt or expose yourself to chemicals.

Hope that helps. Again, congratulations.:)

[2DogsFarm]

Like a lot of the SoloFarmgirls on here I learned because I had no other choice. After a lifetime in the Big City, it was my idea to live on a farm, so I was darned if I was going to fail!

When my DH was alive he used to put hangtags with handwritten instructions on things like the furnace (so I could relight the pilot) and the water shutoffs. They saved my a** more than once and also taught me if I slow down, take a deep breath and concentrate I can figure things out.

I had a friend's husband give me a lesson on running the lawntractor when I first moved here. Since then I have replaced belts myself and learned to check the tires and winterize it.

My across-the-road neighbors seem to own every kind of small equipment you can imagine and I have learned not to be too proud to ask for a loan of their time, knowledge or both.

I have found neighbors here more than willing to help out with their equipment - bushhog, FEL, snoplow - and not expect a thing more than "Thanks" for doing so. Sometimes I don't even have to ask - they offer or just show up.
Just the other night I managed to put the lawntractor into a ditch too steep for me to pull out alone. Someone driving by saw me struggling, backed up and helped me free the machine then went on their way.
Try getting that to happen in the Big City!