Comments on: The Wheelbarrow Conundrum: Why I Still Sometimes Find Myself Buying Low-End Globalized Junk

By: Mike Jones

Mike Jones — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:25:49 +0000

I was fortunate enough to revitalize an old US-made wheelbarrow abandoned on the old farm we are bringing back to life–all I needed were some new ash handles from the local hardware store. The wheelbarrow has a solid tire–and it was still good!

My Dad volunteers at Colonial Williamsburg and brought me a fine wooden bucket made by the local cooper– so if you go to extremes, Charles’ tools are still available. (Although the cooper advised me to keep water in it at all times, once put in use— the colonists didn’t use varnish on their buckets). Keep the posts and inspiration coming!

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:09:44 +0000

Doug, it was a pleasure to meet you yesterday at the Portland Auto Show and hear your informative and humorous presentation on sustainable vehicles and other related green activity. (I was the one who mentioned having just made an offer on some land)

I too read the Little House series to my children and have enjoyed those books as much or more as the kids. Charles and family were an amazing bunch and quite inspirational.

The kids are all grown up now and ironically the day before hearing you speak, I had just had a very long conversation with my 18 year old daughter regarding the very same concerns you addressed. She is planning for a business degree but will be studying agriculture and other subjects as she is becoming aware that we will need to re-regionalize agriculture and business during her lifetime.

Thanks for taking the time to talk and sign my copy of “Farewell, My Subaru”, you were a real pleasure. The eighteen year old daughter was intently reading this book when I went to bed last night. We will be following your adventures via this website with great pleasure and interest!

By: Jeanine Sih Christensen

Jeanine Sih Christensen — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:14:53 +0000

Am pretty sure those pioneers did not use rawhide on their rims. Pioneers likely carried a bit of scrap iron for mends: they dismounted, heated, rehammered, patched and remounted their steel “tires” over a managed campfire, assuming they had the metal-working tools. The steel tires on this Amish page: http://www.amishwares.com/site/1504461/page/45031 look mighty fine from that perspective. One of our barrows here has two steel rim-and-spoke wheels and while yeah it’s hard to handle over very rocky terrain, its acceptably functional wheels are originals and are nearly 30 years old.

By: OrgoCowboy

OrgoCowboy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:57:46 +0000

That is such a cool and helpful post, Jeanine. Just the other day, I was hiking up my canyon where there’s a preserved pioneer-era wagon wheel (with a tree growing through it). I took a close look, and it’s an amazing piece of engineering: a wood base surrounded by what looks like a thin iron outer layer. I’d like to know if anything typically provided a “tire” layer (rawhide?). I mean, in “Little House” days, there was no Big O “Road Hazard” warranty, and usually no roads.

By: Jeanine Sih Christensen

Jeanine Sih Christensen — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:45:30 +0000

Doug, Doug… you need *solid* not pneumatic wheelbarrow tires. Poke around on the web for a place (maybe surplus, if you get lucky) that’ll sell you hard rubber tires for your barrow. You’re going to need the information from the existing tire, including hub size, diameter of tire, etc. so be sure to have a tape measure and that pulled POS tire on hand when you call in your order. NB: they ain’t cheap, but they last for a long time esp. if you can keep them out of direct sunlight (UV can make unstabilized rubber brittle). Happy hunting, from a treehunggin’ dirt-lickin’ central Texas family who mercilessly uses three wheelbarrows. If we ever learn how to cast our own wheelbarrow tires, we’ll send you the info.

By: Danica

Danica — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:01:33 +0000

Time to get out out the hammer and a wood chisel and make yourself some ‘barrow wheels! Oh, and a frame for a single axle, double wheeled ‘barrow so your big helper won’t tip the load.
I am dumbfounded that you referenced the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I just finished reading “Farmer Boy” to my four year old. (I cautiously read/edited the teacher whipping the Hardscrabble Boys)

Thank you, Mr. Fine!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:44:22 +0000

WHAT A CUTIE!!

By: OrgoCowboy

OrgoCowboy — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:29:49 +0000

Thanks for the reference, Sandra. As for the chickens — funny you should ask. The rooster “Hank,” who I’ve noted has been impeccably behaved ever since my May 8 Dispatch implied he was close to becoming soup due to aggression toward one of my drakes (to the point that I thought he might be reading these Dispatches via wireless in the chicken coop), has of late been acting up again (vis a vis the same drake). Still deliberating on his fate. He has been warned.

The rest of the chickens are increasing their egg output with the longer days. This is actually the first winter their output was even affected by winter (which everyone warned me it would be): it could be that they’re getting older, or that I didn’t fool them with a few hours of electrical light during the shortest days this year, or that it’s an El Nino year and the different weather patterns had them confused into a temporary reduction in production. Regardless, I’m glad to report my cholesterol levels are skyrocketing.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:22:40 +0000

I am pleased to no end that you are taking tips from the Little House books! Not wanting to leave it at that for inspiration - the Foxfire series of books (long out of print but available via the library or if they don’t have it through inter-library loan) will give you more than just inspiration on how to do some of this homesteading work.

Cheers- and tell me more about how your chickens are doing?

By: Stitch

Stitch — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:57:59 +0000

Doug- Keep it up dude. You’re inspiring me left and right.

By: Al Larabee

Al Larabee — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:38:55 +0000

Doug;
No one in Arkansas has ever said “duct tape can’t fix that’. If we didn’t have duct tape and baling wire I’m not sure of our chances of survival.

By: hio

hio — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:05:45 +0000

hi.
I just read your book “Farewell, My Subaru” in Korean. Woooooooow your son is cute, and I am very happy to see him!
I am working in Advertising Agency.
We make almost all HYUNDAI and KIA commercials. so your book was very imprressive to me. I will try to live with green. thank U.