Each spring we are jammed with work. First the maple syrup season is upon us. The weather dictates that process. The horses and I gather sap on warm days after a freezing night. This job can be almost daily for short stretches, but usually works out to three or four times a week until the short 2-3 week season is over.
This is also the time I want to spread my fall and winter compost on the ground where corn will be planted. This ground I plow once the compost has been spread, again using horses for all of this work.
I also farm around an off farm job that requires me working rotating shifts. I have to balance competing jobs, using horses without killing any of us. I have found that the best way to approach this task is to just do "something" every day.
I plow with three horses, so yesterday, I set my powercart up for three horses too. I will haul a load of compost out to the field, spread it, then hook to the plow. I can plow til lunchtime then hook back on to the spreader and come to the barn for lunch. After lunch a second load of manure/compost can be hauled out the the field being plowed and spread. I plow til the end of the day, then bring the spreader home.
I am spreading two loads of compost by simply taking the horses back and forth to the plow. I wonder why I haven't thought of this before now?
Good luck to all of you as we all head out for spring work. Be safe Have fun!