EVERETT, Wash. — From wheel hoes, seeders, and cultivators to binders, thrashers, walk-behinds and spaders, the tools available to modern farmers can be overwhelming. What do you need? What size? Is that rusting cultivator behind the barn worth refurbishing? What about hay-fueled horsepower?
A Washington State University Snohomish County Extension workshop will focus on the tools and equipment available to help today’s small-scale farmers save time and increase their bottom line.
The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Klesek Family Farm in Stanwood. The farm is located at 24101 Miller Road in Stanwood. The cost is $55 and includes lunch.
Space is limited and pre-registration is required by April 22. Download the form at http://snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/winterworkshops07.htm and mail with your check, or call Karie Christensen at 425/338-2400, email klchristen@wsu.edu.
Presentations will cover currently available hand-, tractor-, and horse-powered equipment, including how to determine the most appropriate match between farm, farming style, and implement. Hands-on practice will provide participants with the knowledge to make the most of future equipment purchases. The use of horses as a power source will be a special focus.
The instructors will be Tristan Klesik who has been farming in Snohomish County for more than 10 years and uses draft horses in addition to a variety of tractors and hand tools, Ray De Vries who organically farms more than 100 acres in the Skagit Valley and sells into wholesale markets across the country, and WSU soil scientist Andy Bary who has a special interest in tools and equipment that help small-scale farmers work more efficiently and improve profitability.
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