Look Ma, No Hands!

When teaching people to plow, we often throw out the standard advice: lean to the left to go right, lean to the right to go left, keep a light grip on the handles (so you could peel an orange with your fingers is how I describe it),  stand up straight, walk a tightrope in the furrow, etc.

With this cacophony of instructions, beginners often get overwhelmed.  Their brains can't keep up with the action, even with a slow team (see "Stuck in First Gear").

When they've been overloaded, most people follow their instincts- grabbing the handles and wrestling the plow down the field, trying to push it along.  The predictable result is frustration and sore muscles.

Lately though, I've tried a different approach.  Similarly to teaching handsawing, the goal is to let the tool cut, while the operator stays out of the way.

To demonstrate, I walk the plow, occasionally letting go of the handles.  If the oxen are pulling straight and the plow is set up right, it makes little, if any, difference.

Try it sometime.  Peeling the orange is optional.