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brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey?

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Jane Peppler

12-12-2007 15:43:11

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I think y'all are the perfect people to help me. I have a big strong standard donkey and want to use him to renovate his own pasture. I want to use a no-till system and slice into the ground for aeration and improved water penetration and to over-seed with more forage crops. I do NOT want to kill the grass etc. which is growing in his pasture already.

We're not in a hurry, we both need the exercise, I see this as a multi-year project, and the area to be improved isn't huge, so I'm more concerned with the plow/cultivator/harrow being (a) pullable and (b) effective (ie really does penetrate the soil) than with efficiency.

A small home-welded gizmo would be fine. Probably walk-behind. Thought of it having low wheels so I could raise and lower the spikes/coulters/disks from the ground.

So I thought - notched or ripple coulters? Set at some angle? Also wondered whether used Skillsaw blades could be used! With spacers, and an axle. Foggy on the details. Any suggestions are SO welcome except for this one: "You stupid dame, forget about it."

Thanks for your tolerance.

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Jane Peppler

12-14-2007 03:47:43

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What do you think of this design? in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

Thick wooden front axle (nearest to the donkey); long lag screws drilled into ends as short axles take the end of the L-piece and also the end of the shorter piece which will hold the trace chain (attaches to donkey).

A hole in the "elbow" of L-piece threads onto the 5/8" steel axle in the middle. This axle holds 7-1/4" used rotary saw blades spaced by pieces of conduit (ie replaceable) and the blades are loose enough to wobble off course slightly if they hit small rocks etc.

Thoughts?

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Amatt

12-14-2007 04:35:32

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Re: What do you think of this design? in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-14-2007 03:47:43

In reference to your drawing, if you were to put the rolling wheels behind the saw blades or coulters, you could push down on your handles to make the blades run shallower. Having the wheels in front of the blades means you have to lift up on the handles, which seems like it would be more difficult. I think the sharper the blades you can put on the contraption, the better, in order to get through that established sod. Maybe you can grind those used saw blades to a sharpness like a coulter?
I think discs are the way to go over any spring type shank, which might have a tendency to scratch along the surface.

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Amatt

12-14-2007 04:41:24

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Re: What do you think of this design? in reply to Amatt, 12-14-2007 04:35:32

However, contrary to what I posted above, the design in your drawing above would allow you to use your own body weight to help push the blades down into the ground.

It might be difficult to find wood with the right grain to make strong L-handles as you show. Plywood (not OSB) sandwiched together might be the strongest.

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Jane Peppler

12-14-2007 05:09:52

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Re: What do you think of this design? in reply to Amatt, 12-14-2007 04:41:24

Oh, I hadn't thought of plywood!! I was thinking I'd have to find a blacksmith...

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bva

12-13-2007 19:55:55

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

dad had a single gang adjustable v disk he pulled with a team. problbly too much for a single donkey but they were avalilable. His had a seat and weight box. I would have a look at those designed to be pulled by garden tractor or 4 wheeler and adapt it to the donkey.

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Dave Sherburne NY

12-13-2007 09:12:41

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

I think Wally b has the right idea with the disc A spring tooth harrow in unplowed ground is gonna be tough
to pull and its gonna bounce around

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wally b

12-13-2007 09:01:57

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

I would use a 4 ft disc set fairly straight and disc several directions, sow the seed and chain harrow. You can buy a walk behind cultivator with s tines like in the picture, for single horse, from I and J manufacturing in Gap Pa. They work pretty well in rocky ground.

wally

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Up North Louie

12-13-2007 05:47:17

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Mikec IH464, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

The picture you post is about like the drag I suggested, without the 3-point and the tines adjust with a lever. Mine are put away for the winter or I would take a picture. I can't draw a proper stick man, so my illustration wouldn't help.

To add some weight, I clamped a couple lengths of abandoned railroad track to it. That gets it up around 400 pounds, and that seems to be ample.

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johns48jdb

12-13-2007 05:46:52

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

i don't see a donkey being stout enough to pull some of the things being talked about here. there is only certain times of the year that you should plant seed for grass. its to late this year and if you plant it in the spring it will need to be kept watered. i'd get a tractor to get the tillage done all at once then sow the seed and use a drag harrow behind the donkey to cover it with. i'm sure the donkey has some ideas about what you can do with this plow idea.

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RobMD

12-12-2007 21:45:09

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

This could be fun.

I'd check around for a little 4 or 5 foot disc, they are often found in amish areas.... also, a spike tine harrow is a nice feature to have to dethatch. an aerator is a must have for gettting that fertilizer/extra seed in the ground. You will want to do all of this after it has rained, ground sort of moist, not sopping wet. Easier to work in.

Have fun, you'll figure it out.

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doug in illinois

12-12-2007 21:01:02

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

I don't know where you are, but would ask Amish if any are nearby. Plenty of them about 10 to 20 miles south of me, but the "true" Amish won't go anywhere near a computer. I just last week had one move away who probably could have gave you a good answer, the "smart" ones don't necessarily have to reject the religion, but move to where Mama and Papa don't see everything they do. If he was still here, he would get right on this board and give you a straight answer. DOUG

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Bill(Wis)

12-12-2007 20:44:54

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

Turbo Til coulters are available. I'm looking at the ones Great Plains mfg sells for a particular application I have in mind. You're on the right track. Vertical tillage. The coulters I'm looking at have to be attached to a toolbar. In your case that could be a wood 4x6, maybe, with a tongue on it? On the other hand, maybe you have a neighbor? If I lived near you I could renovate that pasture at the rate of 5 acres an hour with my Brillion subsoiler. Maybe someone near you can help?

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msb

12-12-2007 20:15:20

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

Turbo Till coulters set straight would work best in my opinion.They easily penetrate the soil and really kick the soil up when exiting the soil.A donkey could probably not pull more than three or four.

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Up North Louie

12-12-2007 19:37:59

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to El Toro, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

I work a fair bit with my Belgians, individually and as a team. What has worked well for us is to weight down a small, say, 4-5 foot wide, 3-gang spring-toothed harrow. It isn't too much for one animal to pull. Just hook it to the single tree with a short length of chain and leave a little more length in the heel chains so the animal doesn't get hung up in it when he turns.
Scratch up your ground in a few different directions and seed back with a hand broadcast seeder. Fence it off until it's established, and do it again in another spot. It won't be like turning it with a moldboard plow, but that doesn't sound like what you want to do, anyway.
I would hesitate to rig a tractor plow as a walking plow-- the greater depth and weight would jerk your arms out by the roots when you hit rocks and snags, which you will. It's more than enough work and punishment with a plow designed to walk behind. It would also beat the snot out of the draft animal. And probably tear up your harness.

Good luck to you :-)

Louie

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Tom from Ontario

12-12-2007 18:53:27

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

See if you can find a 4 or 5 foot single gang disc on which you can adjust the angle of the discs. With standard concave discs set straight, they won't do a thing. If you chose to replace the standard concaves with straight colter type blades, it would then depend on weight to penetrate and that would depend on your soil type, rocks, moisture etc. If you angle any blade, you will increase the draft load pretty quick and maybe tire out donkey in a hurry. Used saw blades would only go in an inch or two. If you want to save the grass, maybe try some fertilizer on it or overseed in early spring and see what comes up.
Good luck.

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RayP(MI)

12-12-2007 18:20:11

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

Copuld you find a used garden tractor plow - one bottom? Add handles and necessary hitching. Brinley made one which was sold for many different tractors. Ought to be small enough for you friend to pull!

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BLT

12-12-2007 16:26:39

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to Jane Peppler, 12-12-2007 15:43:11

I know nothing about donkeys. A long time ago(seems like everything was a lomg time ago) I pulled an adjustable spike tooth harrow with a single horse, quarter horse- belgan cross mabey 1300 lbs. soaking wet. Just one section I would guess 3 or 4 feet wide. I would set spikes straight up to rip up pasture then overseed then set spikes at an angle to cover. Why do you want to lift it up for? cant you just pull it out of the pasture and leave it?

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Jane Peppler

12-13-2007 03:30:15

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Re: brainstorm with me: coulter plow to be drawn by a donkey in reply to BLT, 12-12-2007 16:26:39

Oh, this is a very good start! I'll look for turbo-till coulters.

The reason I wanted to lift the gizmo (with plow handles): I was envisioning places where rocks were slowing us down I could push down on the handles and the gizmo would penetrate less deeply.

If anybody should happen along who has a gift for sketching, I'd love to see a proposal as a jpg file! I took some pictures of old plows in a field and stared at them trying to figure out how they were put together. Also, click on the url below to see the "Earthway Kentucky High Wheel Walk-Behind Cultivator, Model# 6500" what do you think? The picture is of the King Kutter field cultivator - too big, but otherwise a cool idea?

All the drag harrow/spike harrow ideas sound ok, I guess I'll just have to start looking around and see what I can find. Problem is I live in a yuppie area and have to drive an hour or two in any direction to find country people who might have used equipment for me.

The reason I want to do it myself: (a) Because I want to do it myself; (b) because I have a donkey and donkeys like work.

Earthway Kentucky High Wheel Walk Behind Cultivator, Model 6500

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