Logging is a great example. Woodlots need to be managed and maintained, just like everything else. Old and/or diseased trees need to be removed to make room for new growth. In early Spring there is a perfect window of time for this job. It needs to get done before the trees leaf out and vegetation becomes thick, but mostly before Spring rains make the ground too muddy for horses or tractors to pull the logs out.
A few days ago my friend called to tell me that her brother had hired an Amish team to log the woods near her home. I always think that it is neat to witness farm work as it was done when Ohio first became a state. Because of our large Amish population, we do not have to go to a living history museum to observe and appreciate the old ways, we see it all year 'round in farms populated by Amish and Mennonites.
The man riding has three horses that are pulling a large log out of the woods, taking it to a loading station. The man walking has dropped of f his log and is leading two horses back into the woods to pick up another log to pull out. I was too far away to hear the horses clomping along, but could easily hear the buzz of chainsaws taking down trees.
Yes, Amish and Mennonite are not adverse to using modern tools, which is a misconception for people who don't live near them. They use what is best for the job. In this case, horses are perfect for bringing out the logs as they can maneuver around the woods much easier than a tractor.
Marcheta *also Spring cleaning...where's my team? :)