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Sustainable Logging with Horses: A Unique Approach by Adam Farnham at Flowing Waters Farm

In Summer 2004, Adam Farnham showcased an innovative logging method using horses at Flowing Waters Farm. This approach was particularly beneficial for small, soft ground areas with high-value timber. The project aimed to improve forest health by replacing old alders with diverse seedlings, such as hemlock, Douglas fir, and cedar, all while maintaining minimal trail modifications. The labor-intensive process, using a Belgian horse team, allowed for careful timber removal with minimal soil damage. Despite no profit, the effort produced wood for personal use and tax offset benefits.

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Sustainable Logging with Horses: A Unique Approach by Adam Farnham at Flowing Waters Farm

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  1. Logging with Horses Adam Farnham, Owner, Flowing Waters Farm Summer, 2004

  2. Why use this method? • Small acreage ~5 • Soft ground limited access • High value timber, widely dispersed • An old pasture for a dairy farm • Had not been used as pasture for 40 years • Random, good quality alder • Short skid distances (in theory) • Really neat to watch.

  3. Our Objectives • Forest health. Swap out old alder for new diverse seedlings. Thinning. • Hemlock • Doug Fir • Cedar • No intent to profit on this acreage. • Minimal modification to existing trails.

  4. Wes Gustafson and his Belgian team.

  5. Tong pull. Timber felled & cleaned. Team backed, tongs set. Extreme care given to lie and direction.

  6. Pull started. More manpower here than what is usually needed.

  7. This is how it looks after they’re done.

  8. Arch pull. Used for longer distances.

  9. Nearing the end of the pull at staging.

  10. A few things to consider… • Very labor intensive. Not speedy. • Logger cut only trees he could move each day. • We provided pasture for the horses. • Logger worked long days. Commuting with the horses too time consuming and expensive.

  11. The End Result • I did more soils damage collecting firewood with my tractor. • Two weeks later, it was difficult to tell where he’d been. • Two truckloads of alder removed in two weeks. • No profit, but income used to offset losses for tax purposes.

  12. I still have the firewood. A $600 value!

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