Monday, September 8, 2008

Building a Stanchion



My daughter and I were one of six building teams at last Saturday's Build a Cow Stanchion Workshop, led by Joe Brien, Lost Art Workshops, and Izzy Fitch, Battle Hill Forge.

This workshop was another workshop made possible because of an Arts Presentation Grant awarded to Motherhouse from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism to support it's Old Style Life Skills Series of Workshops.


A stanchion consists of a framework with at least two vertical bars, one stationary, one movable, and is used to secure a cow for milking or for any other reason.










We assembled stanchions which can be mounted to an existing stall.







In addition to learning and using basic woodworking skills, each building team formed a 1/4 steel rod into a bail with blacksmith Izzy Fitch.




And here are a few of the stanchions, ready for future family cows...

No comments: