Walking the walk...behind a horse.

In 1995 my wife and young family arrived in Prince Edward County to grow Pinot Noir. A lot has happened since then. Ups. Downs. Two County born children have been added to our two from the city. And we've all been joined by countless dozens of other men and women who shared much of the same vision.

But I'm always prepared to push it farther, based on observation and thought. Increasingly around the world fine vineyards have reverted to old ways. Horses have returned - in a few rugged places they never completely left.

I mused and discussed it for about as long as we've been here, and finally last Fall the horse I was looking for turned up almost on our doorstep. We bought her, and then housed her at a neighbour's farm for the Winter months. Spring draws near and the next steps must be made:

• Harnessing tack - collar, hames, lines etc. - are needed. Some can be found second-hand, but a few items, for the safety of horse and hand, must be new and secure.
• Sage mentors are available, but time is pressing hard on them.
• Keeping their knowledge alive AND in practical current use, for the benefit of both the land and future women and men who may require it, is about as fine a thing as I can imagine doing for my neighbours.

How about you?

Harnessing You to Harness Lily

Lily is a registered Haflinger small Austrian draft horse - at the large end of the breed at 15 hands high. The temperament, size, power, and ability to thrive on supermodel portions of forage had marked Haflingers out to my eye as the perfect draft animal for small farms. We have the horse. But as a group we need to get her:

• A single draft harness, which for a Haflinger sized horse runs well over $1,000.00 cdn., even if parts can be acquired second hand.
• Scuffler (cultivator) and plow for vineyard work - used or the new Amish designed models.
•  Fencing and small buildings for shelter, tack and forage.

Why Does it Matter?

I've spent the last two decades growing wine grapes organically. I've made well received wines. I've written about the viticultural life. It was always the goal to introduce a draft animal into the process. Truthfully, until our farm has livestock, I feel we've not lived up to our part of being true farmers:

• Hooves & human feet are much gentler on the land, cutting soil compaction. We still have our tractors, but a horse can help greatly lessen their inevitable punishment.
• The last generation that farmed Prince Edward with horses is still around and can still hand on those skills.
• Putting livestock back into the farm increases soil health through natural fertilizer.

If It's so Easy, Why Isn't Everyone Doing it?

It's not particularly easy. It's also not rocket science. However, kitting out a draft animal and learning how to gain and keep its trust in a work environment requires the expert help of those who know how these things are best fitted and fashioned.

We have the knowledgeable neighbours who can do this.

We have the vines, and now the horse, in place.

How swiftly we can put this team together to pull for place and purpose is our most formidable obstacle.

That, and how quick or slow a study I might be aft of the handles.

Let's All Get Lily Back to Work

Not everyone is in a position to contribute to this project directly, Even if your finances have thinned out (as a lot of us have seen lately), if you find this an interesting and worthy little quest, you can give invaluable assistance by:

• Pointing us out to people you know who might think the same way as you.
• Sharing this campaign through the various electronic social and personal networks you use.