Woodworking With Tillers International

HI.

I'M ROY UNDERHILL.

YOU KNOW, FOR 100 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE FOLKS CAN GO TO LEARN RURAL TRADES LIKE BLACKSMITHING, WOODWORKING, WEAVING, AND SO FORTH.

THEY HAVE THE PLEASURES OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE JOY OF LEARNING, AND MAYBE THEY GET TO MAKE SOMETHING TO TAKE HOME WITH THEM.

WELL, THERE'S A PLACE THAT GIVES YOU ALL OF THAT, PLUS THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ON FAR CORNERS OF THIS PLANET, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE POOREST OF THE POOR BUILD A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES WITH 19th-CENTURY TECHNOLOGY.

AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WE'RE GOING TO DISCOVER AS WE VISIT TILLERS INTERNATIONAL IN THIS EPISODE OF "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

MAJOR FUNDING FOR "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... MORE THAN 40 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEIR CARS AND HOMES CHOOSE STATE FARM FOR THEIR INSURANCE.

STATE FARM, A PROUD SUPPORTER OF "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

SINCE 1981, FOLKS HAVE BEEN COMING TO THIS LITTLE VALLEY JUST EAST OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, TO LEARN ALL SORTS OF RURAL TRADES FROM "A" TO "Z," FROM BLACKSMITHING TO WHEELWRIGHTING, IN ANY CASE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A PRIVATE LESSON IN OX HANDLING IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT BEFORE WE LEARN OUR GEE FROM OUR HAW, LET'S GO IN AND MEET THE GENTLEMEN BEHIND TILLERS INTERNATIONAL.

WELL, HELLO, DICK.

HEY.

HELLO, ROY.

WELCOME TO TILLERS INTERNATIONAL.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

FOLKS, THIS IS DICK ROOSENBERG.

HE IS THE FOUNDER OF TILLERS INTERNATIONAL.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT YOU WORKING ON A TIMBER FRAME HERE.

WE'RE FRAMING A SHEEP SHED THAT WILL PROTECT OUR FLOCK DURING THE WINTER.

NOW, IS THIS ALL WHITE PINE?

THE UPPER PART OF THIS BUILDING IS WHITE PINE, AND THEN WE HAVE A SILL... AH.

YEAH, HERE AT THE BOTTOM, THAT'S LOCUST.

SO THAT WILL NOT ROT?

LOCUST, YOU KNOW, HOLDS UP FOR MANY YEARS OF WET WEATHER.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

NOW, BEFORE WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THE DETAILS, LET ME ASK YOU: WHAT'S TILLERS INTERNATIONAL ALL ABOUT?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

TILLERS IS A PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE SEARCH THROUGH HISTORY TO FIND LOW-COST TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE CAN APPLY TO INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ADAPTED FORMS.

OH, SO THE PEOPLE IN, LIKE, AFRICA AND CENTRAL AMERICA CAN USE THESE OLD TECHNIQUES AND MAKE A BETTER LIFE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, WHEN THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE MONEY, THEY CAN USE THESE SKILLS TO DO MORE PRODUCTION.

AND LIKE HERE, WITH THIS BORING MACHINE, IS THAT A GOOD EXAMPLE?

YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AN AUGER THAT'S REDESIGNED TO HANDLE SO THAT IT CAN BE MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE AT VERY MODEST COST.

SO 19th-CENTURY AMERICAN INGENUITY HELPING FOLKS IN THE THIRD WORLD TODAY.

YEAH, IT'S BEING REPROCESSED.

THAT'S GREAT.

AND SKILL, TOO.

I GUESS SKILL--IT'S THE GREATEST TOOL OF ALL.

WHAT'S THIS JOINT HERE THAT'S GOING ON?

THIS IS A LAP DOVETAIL JOINT THAT HOLDS A BRACE ON THE END OF THE BUILDING TO KEEP THE BUILDING SQUARE.

OH, WONDERFUL.

AND THIS IS THE KIND OF CLASS YOU TEACH-- THE TIMBER FRAMING AND SUCH LIKE THIS HERE?

YES.

I MEAN, THIS-- AND WE ILLUSTRATE A NUMBER OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CLASSES.

INTERNATIONALLY, SOMEBODY MIGHT USE THIS IN A REDESIGNED OX CART OR...AH.

YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER PROJECT.

AND TAKE IT THEIR OWN WAY.

NOW, THIS BEGAN WHEN YOU WERE IN THE PEACE CORPS, IS THAT RIGHT?

THEY GAVE YOU THE IDEA FOR THIS?

YES.

I WAS INVITED TO WEST AFRICA AS A YOUNG FARM BOY, WHERE WE WERE USED TO RUNNING DIESEL TRACTORS AND ALL OF THAT.

YEAH, AND INVITED OVER TO INTRODUCE THE USE OF OXEN IN BENIN, WEST AFRICA.

WOW, AND I GUESS YOU DISCOVER YOUR GRANDPARENTS' KNOWLEDGE IS WHAT YOU REALLY NEEDED, NOT WHAT YOU KNEW NOW.

YEAH, IT REALLY MADE US, YOU KNOW, LOOK BACK AND TRY TO FIND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS' KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO TRAIN A TEAM OF OXEN OR SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

SO PEOPLE CALL THIS APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE AFTER?

YEAH.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER, WHERE IT BECOMES APPROPRIATED TECHNOLOGY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN TAKE THIS TECHNOLOGY AND THE SKILLS AND ADAPT IT TO THEIR OWN NEEDS, REINVENT IT, AND MAKE IT FIT THEIR CONDITIONS.

OH, BRILLIANT.

ALL RIGHT.

'CAUSE I GUESS THEY KNOW THEIR ENVIRONMENT BETTER-- THEY KNOW IT MUCH BETTER THAN WE DO.

HA HA HA!

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

I'VE INTERRUPTED YOUR WORK HERE ON THE TIMBER FRAME.

I DON'T WANT TO HOLD YOU UP, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT-- WHY DON'T I GO LOOK AROUND, AND MAYBE WE CAN CATCH YOU WHEN THIS IS READY TO GO UP?

WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE HERE TO TALK TO.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DICK.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

Roy: AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE INSTRUCTORS IS WORKING RIGHT HERE IN THE WOODSHOP-- MR. CHUCK ANDREWS.

CHUCK, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HI, ROY.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON HERE?

WELL, WE ARE SHAPING BOWS AND WORKING ON YOKES.

MY GOSH.

THESE ARE OX YOKES?

YES.

FOR TWO OXEN?

THIS IS FOR OUR LITTLE TRAINING CALVES.

THIS IS A 5-INCH-- SO THAT GOES THROUGH THERE.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THE YOKES FOR THE BABY OXEN.

THEY REALLY HAVE TO LEARN FROM--COMING UP.

AT ABOUT 3 TO 6 MONTHS OLD.

OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

BOY, THIS IS MY FAVORITE TECHNOLOGY THAT I GREW UP WITH-- THE SPOKESHAVES AND SHAVING HORSES AND DRAWKNIVES.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

WHAT KIND OF WOOD IS THIS HERE?

THIS IS COTTONWOOD.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT POPPLE.

SO IT'S NOT THE POPLAR THAT I THINK OF, BUT POPPLE?

NO, IT'S NOT THE TULIP POPPLE.

THIS IS SOMETIMES CALLED WHITEWOOD.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

WHY IS IT GOOD FOR OX YOKES?

WELL, IT'S LIGHTWEIGHT, VERY CROSS-GRAINED AND STRONG.

AH, SO PREFERRED BY OXEN WORLDWIDE.

ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SPEAKING OF FOLKS WORLDWIDE, WHO DO YOU GET TO TAKE THESE CLASSES?

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MISSIONARIES, PEACE CORPS WORKERS, AND THEN PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING THESE CRAFTS FOR THEIR OWN HOME AND FARM AND HOBBIES.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

SO THEY CAN COME IN AND SPEND SOME TIME ON THE SHAVING HORSE LEARNING HOW TO DO WOODWORKING.

ABSOLUTELY.

IS THAT ONE OF THE CLASSES YOU TEACH HERE AS WELL?

WE TEACH MAKING THE SHAVING HORSES, AMONG OTHER PRODUCTS.

MM-HMM.

WELL, LIKE WHAT ELSE?

WELL, LET'S STEP RIGHT OVER HERE.

I'LL SHOW YOU.

AH!

OH, NO.

YOU'RE KIDDING.

SO YOU CAN COME HERE AND MAKE YOUR OWN DARN BUTTER CHURN.

RIGHT.

WE TEACH CLASSES IN COOPERING AND MAKING BUCKETS AND PIGGINS AND-- OH, THAT'S WONDERFUL.

AND FIRKINS, TOO, I BET.

[CHUCKLING] AND--BUT YOU NEED SPECIAL TOOLS FOR THAT?

RIGHT.

WE HAVE TOOLMAKING CLASSES TO MAKE THE SPECIALIZED TOOLS FOR THESE VESSELS.

OH, BOY.

BEAUTIFUL STUFF.

AND WHAT IS THIS?

MAN.

THAT'S A CROP.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

MADE OUT OF VERY STRAIGHT-GRAIN HICKORY.

YEAH.

BOY, YOU HAVE TO DO THAT WHILE IT'S GREEN, TOO.

WHILE IT'S GREEN AND YOU SAW IT DOWN ITS LENGTH AND THEN SHAVE-- THIS IS ONE PIECE?

ONE PIECE.

YEAH.

WOW.

AND SO THIS-- WELL, HERE'S ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PIECE HERE.

I LOVE THESE.

THEY'RE HAY RAKES?

IT'S A HAY RAKE.

RIGHT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE CLASSES AS WELL.

RIGHT, WITH A WHITE OAK HANDLE.

AH, BEAUTIFUL.

NOW, HERE IS ONE OF THE COMPLETED YOKES, BUT IT HAS A BOW.

NOW, DOES THAT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH-- I KNOW YOU DON'T TEACH TOMBSTONE MAKING HERE, BUT WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP HERE?

WELL, THIS IS THE FORM THAT WE BEND THE BOW AROUND, AND RIGHT HERE IS THE BOW.

ALL RIGHT, SO IT STARTS AS THAT STRAIGHT STICK,, AND SOMEHOW YOU GOT TO BEND IT AROUND THERE.

RIGHT, SO THIS IS A LITTLE KIT.

ALL RIGHT.

AND JOHN SARGE IS OUTSIDE WITH THE STEAMER GOING, AND HE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO DO THIS.

THE STEAM BENDING.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, CHUCK, THANKS SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHTIE.

TAKE CARE.

Roy: WELL, JOHN, LOOKS LIKE I GOT HERE JUST IN TIME.

WELL, HI, ROY.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

ARE YOU PUTTING IN OR TAKING OUT HERE?

WELL, BOTH, ACTUALLY.

RACHEL'S GOT A NEW PIECE OF WOOD TO PUT IN, AND WE'RE TAKING ONE OUT THAT'S READY TO BEND.

AND HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN IN THIS BOX HERE?

ABOUT AN HOUR.

ALL RIGHT.

AND IT'S JUST REALLY A BOILING BOX OF WATER.

PRETTY MUCH.

IT'S JUST ABOVE THE WATER, SO IT'S ACTUALLY A STEAMER, NOT A BOILER.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, I KNOW THIS HAS TO GO FAST WHEN IT COMES OUT.

ARE YOU READY TO GO?

YEP.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO.

AND THAT'S GOING INTO THE MIDDLE.

THERE'S LENA-- READY?-- AT THE CRANK.

YEP, SHE'S STANDING BY.

AND THAT'S GOT A BACKER.

YEAH, THE BAND HELPS KEEP THE GRAIN FROM TEARING OUT.

AND WHICH WAY DO YOU ORIENT THE GRAIN?

WE PUT THE SAP WOOD ON THE OUTSIDE.

AND WHAT'S THIS GOING ON?

WHAT'S RACHEL PUTTING ON THERE?

THAT'S A LITTLE SAFETY DISC THAT KEEPS IT FROM POPPING OFF WHEN LENA STARTS TURNING THE CRANK.

OH, DOES IT GO BACK AND HIT LENA?

RIGHT.

THIS IS QUITE AN ARRANGEMENT HERE.

SEE, THIS IS LIKE A CROSSBOW.

IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE IT, YEAH.

YEAH, THIS IS GREAT.

BUT, AGAIN, NOW, THIS IS SEASONED OR SILK--KIND OF HALF-SEASONED?

IT'S FAIRLY GREEN.

IT WAS CUT, PROBABLY, 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO.

ALL RIGHT, AND THAT EXTRA MOISTURE HELPS WITH THE BENDING?

RIGHT.

IT BENDS BETTER THAN IT DOES WHEN IT'S DRY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?

JUST-- I'M JUST KIND OF MAKING SURE THESE THINGS DON'T GET STUCK.

SOMETIMES THEY GET CAUGHT.

KEEP THE WEDGE TIGHT.

AND THAT STRAP AROUND THE BACK HELPS KEEP IT COMPRESSING?

RIGHT.

IT KEEPS COMPRESSION ON THE BACK OF THE WOOD SO IT DOESN'T TEAR OUT.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THAT'S DONE WONDERFULLY.

SHE CRANKS IT ON DOWN VERY NICELY.

THAT'S PULLING IT WELL.

YEAH.

NOW, HOW LONG, THOUGH--I MEAN, NOW IT'S NOT SET.

HOW LONG DOES IT HAVE TO STAY BEFORE YOU CAN TIE IT OFF LIKE THIS?

IDEALLY, LEAVE IT IN THE FORM A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT OUT SOONER.

AND WHEN WE TAKE IT OUT, WE TIE WITH SOME STRING AND HOLD IT IN PLACE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND SO THIS IS THE ROUGH ONE, AND THEN IT DRIES AND IT'LL SET AND THEN YOU CAN SHAVE IT DOWN?

RIGHT.

AND THEN GO INTO THE BODY OF THE YOKE THERE.

RIGHT, YEAH.

AND IS THAT ALL DONE?

ALL EXCEPT FOR THE HARDWARE.

YOU GOT TO GET THAT FROM A BLACKSMITH.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE THE IRONWORK DONE.

WELL, THAT'S GREAT.

WELL, I HAVE SEEN HOW TO YOKE 'EM.

I GUESS I'D BETTER GO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE THEM.

SO I'VE GOT A LITTLE LESSON SET UP.

THANKS A LOT, YOU ALL.

TAKE CARE.

WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

[CHUCKLING] HELLO, DULCY.

ROY UNDERHILL, REPORTING FOR OX TRAINING.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M WELL.

HOW ARE YOU?

VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

I'M EXCITED TO MEET THESE GUYS.

NOW, WHO ARE THEY, IF YOU WOULD INTRODUCE ME?

THIS IS MARCO AND POLO.

MARCO AND-- MARCO IS THE NIGH OX, IS THAT RIGHT?

NIGH OX AND POLO'S THE OFF OX.

OFF OX.

AND YOU ARE IN THE DROVER-- IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED?

DROVER.

DROVER'S POSITION, SO YOU DRIVE ALWAYS FROM THE LEFT SIDE?

YES.

AH, ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

NOW, WHAT IS AN OX?, ANY BOVINE THAT'S BEEN TRAINED TO WORK IN A YOKE.

YOU CAN TRAIN COWS OR BULLS, BUT STEERS WERE MOST OFTEN USED.

THEY GROW LARGE AND THEY'RE PRETTY EASYGOING.

SO IF IT'S GOT A YOKE ON-- SO IT'S A PROFESSIONAL TITLE, REALLY, WHAT IT DOES.

IF IT HAS THE YOKE ON IT, IT'S AN OX.

YES.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THE YOKE ITSELF-- WE JUST SAW HOW YOU MAKE THESE THINGS, AND HOW IS IT POSITIONED ON THE ANIMAL ITSELF HERE?

IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE DESIGN.

IT'S A VERY OLD DESIGN, AND ALL THE POWER FROM THE MUSCLES IN HIS BACK AND SHOULDERS COME UP AND PUSH UP AGAINST THE NECK SEAT.

YOU CAN GET A LOT OF POWER INTO THE LOAD.

SO HE CAN REALLY PUT HIS--THROW HIS WEIGHT FORWARD INTO IT.

MM-HMM.

EASY FOR ME TO-- IT'S HIS JOB.

WELL, I KNOW WHAT THEY RUN ON-- VERY GREEN POWER HERE-- BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM GO AND STOP?

LET'S SEE THAT.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH THROUGH VOICE COMMAND.

MARCO, POLO, COME.

JUST LIKE THAT?

WHOA.

AND "WHOA" IS STOP.

AND YOU HAVE A LITTLE SWITCH THERE AS A REMINDER SOMETIMES, HUH?

SOMETIMES.

ALL RIGHT.

THEY'RE WONDERFUL.

NOW, DO THEY KNOW THIS WHEN THEY'RE BORN-- THE "WHOA" AND THE "STOP"?

WE STARTED MARCO AND POLO WHEN THEY WERE ABOUT A MONTH OLD.

WE HAD A VERY SMALL TRAINING YOKE FOR THEM.

NO KIDDING.

AND THEY LEARNED VERY QUICKLY.

THEY DID.

ALL RIGHT.

AND HOW OLD ARE THEY NOW?

THEY'RE 8 YEARS.

NOW, HOW ABOUT YOU?

DID YOU GROW UP KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE OXEN?

NO, I STARTED 7 YEARS AGO, HERE AT TILLERS.

OH, WONDERFUL.

BUT NOW YOU'RE TEACHING, I MEAN, FOLKS FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

LATELY WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN NORTHERN UGANDA.

THE SUDANESE WAR HAS SPILLED OVER INTO NORTHERN UGANDA.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN INTERNMENT CAMPS FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW.

THEIR CATTLE HAVE BEEN DECIMATED.

OH.

WITH THE PEACE TALKS, THOUGH, THEY'RE READY TO GET BACK ON THEIR FARMS AND RELEARN THESE SKILLS AND-- BUT, REALLY, THE KNOWLEDGE HAS BEEN LOST AS WELL AS THE OXEN THAT WERE KILLED, AND THE FOLKS FROM AFRICA LEARNING FROM FOLKS HERE IN MICHIGAN.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

WE'VE GOT STOP AND GO AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S GEE AND HAW, AND WHICH IS WHICH?, GEE, YOU TURN RIGHT AND HAW, YOU TURN LEFT.

CAN WE SEE THAT THERE WITH, I GUESS, THE EMPHASIS ON THE HAW?

LET'S SEE HOW THAT GOES.

POLO?

COME HAW.

MARCO.

STEP OVER.

BOY, THEY JUST TURN ON A DIME.

COME UP.

WHOA.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WHAT HAVE YOU GOT BEHIND HERE?

THE CHAIN IS PULLING THIS THING.

THIS IS A STONE BOAT.

WOW.

YOU JUST CAN ROLL THE STONES RIGHT ON HERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIFT THEM UP VERY HIGH.

I REMEMBER THIS FROM BEING A KID, IN "LITTLE HOUSE."

MAKING THE FOUNDATION, ROLLED THE STONES ON, AND THE OXEN WOULD PULL.

MM-HMM.

VERY USEFUL TOOL.

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WONDER IF I COULD GET A LESSON IN RIDING ON THE STONE BOAT.

CERTAINLY.

CAN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A STONE BOAT RIDING HERE, COURTESY OF DULCY AND MARCO AND POLO?

GEE, BOYS.

YEAH.

WONDERFUL.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL.

HEAD UP.

Roy: NOW, PEOPLE IN MOST PARTS OF THE WORLD TAKE THINGS LIKE ROADS FOR GRANTED.

BUT CONSIDER THAT YOU LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CENTRAL AMERICA, AND A HURRICANE HAS WIPED OUT ALL OF THE DIRT ROADS AROUND YOU.

IT MEANS YOUR KIDS CAN'T GET TO SCHOOL.

IT MEANS YOU CAN'T GET YOUR MILK TO MARKET BEFORE IT GOES BAD-- WHOA.

SO BEING ABLE TO FIX THE ROADS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.

DWAYNE, YOU'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER HERE FOR HOW LONG WITH TILLERS INTERNATIONAL?

WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS.

AND WORKING WITH THE HORSES?

WORKING WITH THE HORSES.

I'M JUST A LOCAL TEAMSTER THAT LOVES TO WORK WITH THE HORSES AND BE PART OF TILLERS INTERNATIONAL.

YEAH, YOU GREW UP WITH IT.

AND BEAUTIES LIKE THIS--WHAT ARE THESE 2 FELLAS HERE?

THESE 2 ARE PRINCE AND MIKE.

THEY'RE BELGIAN GELDINGS.

ONE IS 8 YEARS OLD AND ONE IS 12 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S A GOOD AGE FOR THIS KIND OF WORK?

YES.

THEY WORK WELL TOGETHER.

PRETTY GOOD-SIZED HORSES.

MOST OF THE INTERNATIONAL HORSES ARE CONSIDERABLY SMALLER... AH.

AND SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT--WHOA.

AND VERY CAREFULLY, I GUESS.

THE HARNESS-- A VERY COMPLICATED ARRANGEMENT TO GET THE PULLING POWER BACK HERE.

YES.

YOU PUT THE COLLAR AROUND THE NECK AND THE HAMES AROUND THE COLLAR, AND THEN THE HAMES BACK TO THE EVENERS, SO THAT WHEN HE WALKS FORWARD, SHE PUSHES THE LOAD.

AH, ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN THIS DOWN HERE, IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE DOUBLE TREE WE HAVE RIGHT HERE, SO THE 2 HORSES PULL A CENTRAL LOAD.

THAT'S RIGHT, SO EACH HORSE PULLS THE SAME AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

AH.

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE EVENER.

THE EVENER.

OK.

I WAS CALLING IT THE DOUBLE TREE.

THAT'S WHAT THAT IS, THE EVENER.

ALL RIGHT, AND THIS RIGHT HERE, THIS IS MADE TO BE VERY SIMPLE SO THAT FOLKS OVERSEAS COULD MAKE THEIR OWN DITCHER?

THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S GREAT.

THIS IS MADE OUT OF HARDWOOD AND MADE OUT OF STEEL STRAPPING.

AND IT HAS A METAL GRATER BAR ON THE BOTTOM, UNDER THE SOIL THAT YOU CAN'T SEE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S MADE OUT OF METAL.

BUT IT HELPS HOLD THE WOOD TOGETHER SO THE WOOD DOESN'T ROT AND TEAR APART.

AND THAT TRACKS IN THE DITCH HERE.

THAT BIG, LONG END STAYS IN THE LOW PART... UH-HUH.

AND THIS END, THE SHORTER END, ACTUALLY MOVES THE SOIL UP TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD.

AND YOU JUST KEEP MOVING IT OVER TO THE CENTER, AND WHEN IT FINALLY GETS TO THE CENTER, THEN YOU CHANGE THE HOOK-UP ON YOUR CHAIN AND MAKE THIS THING SMOOTH IT OUT.

EXCELLENT.

WELL, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, THESE ARE SOMETHING THAT FOLKS CAN MAKE FOR THEMSELVES AND GET THEIR OWN ROADS BACK IN SHAPE INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WAIT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT FOR THEM.

AND THAT'S RIGHT.

IN COSTA RICA, WHERE THIS-- THIS IS VERY POPULAR IN COSTA RICA-- THEY WILL USE 4 TO 6 DONKEYS... OH, NO KIDDING.

ON THIS KIND OF A MACHINE.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THEY LOVE TO WORK, I SEE, AND PULL.

SO MAYBE WE BETTER GIVE THESE FELLAS A LITTLE BIT MORE AND FINISH THIS ROAD UP HERE.

THEY READY TO GO, DWAYNE?

GIDDAP.

ALL RIGHT.

MIKE, GIDDAP.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN THEIR TAIL COMES UP LIKE THAT?

YOU ARE STANDING IN LINE FOR A SURPRISE.

OH.

Roy: THE CARPENTER MAY BUILD WONDERFUL BUILDINGS, BUT WITHOUT THE TOOLS MADE BY THE BLACKSMITH, HE COULD DO NOTHING.

SO WE'RE LUCKY WE'VE GOT 6 FORGES HERE, AND WE HAVE GOT MANY DECADES OF EXPERIENCE HERE IN HERB NEHRING, THE TEACHER.

HERB, HOW YOU DOING?

FINE.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST LESSON FOR THE STUDENTS YOU HAVE IN HERE?

MY FIRST LESSON IS TO TAKE A SQUARE BAR, FORM IT ROUND, AND THEN MAKE A CIRCLE AND WELD IT TO FORM A RING.

AND THAT'S THE RING FOR THE OX YOKE?

RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WHAT STAGE ARE YOU AT RIGHT NOW IN YOUR FIRING?

RIGHT NOW, I'M FINISHING A--FORMING THE CIRCLE.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S READY TO GO?

ALL RIGHT.

AND THIS IS IRON?

BEG YOUR PARDON?

IS THIS IRON OR STEEL?

THIS IS MILD STEEL.

NOW, HOW IS IT-- THIS SEEMS EASY.

IS THIS EASY FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO DO THE ROUNDING PART?

NO, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE NEVER HAMMER ON THE ANVIL.

WE'RE HAMMERING OVER AIR.

AH!

AND WHEN THEY HAMMER HERE, YOU FLATTEN THE IRON.

I SEE, JUST SPREADS IT OUT.

BUT YOU'RE ONLY HAMMERING OVER THE-- HAMMER OVER AIR.

RIGHT.

IT'S THE SAME AS IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A HOLD OF IT AND BEND IT IF IT WERE DUCTILE ENOUGH.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT IT'S-- I'M NOT GONNA GRAB IT AND TAKE A LOOK CLOSE AT IT RIGHT NOW.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE SAW SHANNON WORKING OVER HERE.

LET'S SEE WHAT SHE'S DOING.

SHE'S IN THE FIRST STAGES OF ROUNDING THE BAR.

UH-HUH.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT LOOKS HOT ENOUGH.

AND...

SO SHE'S TAKING THE CORNERS OFF.

SHE TAKES THE CORNERS OFF FIRST, AND THEN FROM SQUARE, WE GO TO OCTAGON AND THEN ROUND.

BUT THAT'S THE S.O.L.

TECHNIQUE YOU TOLD ME ABOUT?

S.O.R.

[LAUGHING] S.O.R.--SQUARE, OCTAGON, ROUND.

AND SO THERE'S A ROUNDED PIECE RIGHT THERE.

THIS HAS BEEN-- THIS STARTED OUT AS A SQUARE.

IT'S NOW WELDED INTO A ROUND RING.

WONDERFUL.

THIS IS TO GET THE STUDENT ACCUSTOMED TO HOW THE IRON MOVES UNDER THE HAMMER WHEN IT'S RED-HOT.

AND THE HOTTER IT IS, THE EASIER IT MOVES BECAUSE THE SOFTER IT IS.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN TO DO IT IS TO DO IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN GET A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM WATCHING, BUT... IS TO DO IT.

NOW, HOW'S HER TECHNIQUE THERE?

DOES THAT LOOK ALL RIGHT?

IT'S FINE.

HA HA HA!

ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

WELL, HERB, I'M GONNA LET YOU CONTINUE YOUR LESSON AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE WALKING AROUND A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

THE CLASSES AT THE MICHIGAN CAMPUS ARE GREAT, BUT OF COURSE, IT IS TILLERS INTERNATIONAL, AND JUST BACK FROM UGANDA IS DAVE KRAMER.

DAVE, HOW YOU HOLDING UP?

GOOD.

GOOD TO MEET YOU, ROY.

IS YOUR BRAIN STILL ON KAMPALA TIME?

I'VE STILL GOT A LITTLE JET LAG, BUT I'M CATCHING UP.

ALL RIGHT, AND WHAT WERE YOU UP TO OVER THERE?

I WAS HELPING DAIRY FARMERS PRODUCE BETTER FEED FOR THEIR CATTLE.

WOW, USING--OH, WAIT.

BEFORE WE LOOK AT YOUR TECHNOLOGY HERE, I WANT TO SAY YOU ARE THE RAREST OF THE RARE-- AN ACTUAL SHOP TEACHER.

I'M A SHOP TEACHER, AND I TEACH SHOP CLASSES AT A SCHOOL UP THE ROAD, BUT WE ALSO HAVE CLASSES HERE AT TILLERS.

THIS IS ONE PRODUCT FROM ONE OF OUR WOODWORKING CLASSES.

WE MAKE WHEELBARROWS.

YOUR WHEELBARROW CLASSES.

THAT'S GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, NOW.

I'LL GET ON WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, AND THIS IS A FAVORITE OF MINE.

THIS IS A COOL MACHINE.

WONDERFUL.

THIS IS AN OLD-FASHIONED WASHING MACHINE.

IT CHANGES THE ROTATIONAL DIRECTION THERE INTO UP-AND-DOWN AND BACK-AND-FORTH MOVEMENT HERE TO GET YOUR CLOTHES CLEAN.

YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

CAN I OPEN IT UP, YOU THINK?

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

WATCH YOUR FINGERS.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU SEE THE AGITATOR IN THERE, THE UP-AND-DOWN AND BACK-AND-FORTH,, AND THIS IS THE KIND OF INGENUITY IN 19th-CENTURY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY, OR EARLY 20th-CENTURY, THAT IS SO USEFUL.

IT SEEMS SIMPLE BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WASHING MY CLOTHES IN A BUCKET FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS, AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE WITH ME IN UGANDA.

OH, MAN.

BUT IT WAS FOOD YOU WERE AFTER, FODDER FOR THE CATTLE.

IT WAS FOOD FOR THE CATTLE.

RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ENCOURAGING FARMERS TO PLANT ALFALFA, AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE HARVESTING THEIR ALFALFA WITH VERY SMALL SICKLES LIKE THIS, WHICH IS VERY BACK-BREAKING AND TIME-CONSUMING.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE WORKED ON WAS LOOKING AT THE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN SCYTHE.

YEAH.

THIS SCYTHE FROM AMERICA HAS A STEAM BENT-WOOD HANDLE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HARD TO REPRODUCE IN UGANDA BECAUSE THEIR WOODS DON'T BEND WELL, THE TROPICAL WOODS DON'T BEND SO WELL.

SO WE USED THE TRADITIONAL STYLE FROM EUROPE, WHERE THEY ADD A HANDLE TO THE SIDE, AND IT STILL GIVES YOU A GOOD FEEL AND GOOD, BALANCED DESIGN.

MMM.

GOOD CONFIGURATION THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO SOMETHING-- THAT'S THE SECRET, ISN'T IT-- STUFF THEY CAN MAKE ON LOCATION?

THEY CAN MAKE AND IT'S STILL APPLICABLE TO THEM.

THEY, YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE THE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT.

THEY DO A LOT OF THINGS BY HAND, SO-- LIKE CHOPPING THIS STUFF UP.

NOW, THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE-- THE NEXT STEP IS CHOPPING IT UP SO THAT THE CATTLE DON'T WASTE SO MUCH, AND THIS IS AN OLD FODDER CHOPPER WE HAD IN OUR COLLECTION.

HERE, GO AHEAD AND GIVE THAT A SPIN.

I GOT TO TELL YOU, THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE SCARIEST MACHINE I'VE EVER SEEN.

IT JUST--OF COURSE, THE MOTOR IS PULLING THIS PULLEY HERE AND CHOPPING THIS LIKE CRAZY.

BUT THIS IS ALL CAST IRON.

THIS IS CAST IRON AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN WITH A MOTOR, SO WE HAD TO ADAPT IT AND MAKE IT A HAND-CRANKED MACHINE, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO WITH SIMPLE WOODWORKING AND SOME WELDING TECHNOLOGY.

SO WE CAME UP WITH THIS MODEL OVER HERE.

OH, MAN, LOOK AT THIS.

I WORKED WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN UGANDA.

THE CARPENTER I WORKED WITH WAS NAMED EDWARD KATAREGA, AND I WORKED WITH A WELDER, WAHAB, WHO DID THE WELDING FOR ME AND-- SHALL I CRANK IT UP?

YEAH.

GET IT GOING AS FAST AS YOU CAN THERE.

HERE WE GO.

REAL FAST.

ALL RIGHT.

WHOA!

MAN.

HA HA HA HA!

SO, AGAIN, THIS IS THE SAME MACHINE, BUT DESIGNED SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME FROM A FACTORY.

YOU COULD MAKE IT AT THE VILLAGE LOCATION.

EXACTLY, AT VILLAGE-LEVEL TECHNOLOGY.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE FOUND WE HAD TO ADAPT A LITTLE BIT WAS THE BOLTS.

WHEN WE GOT OVER THERE, WE FOUND THESE CARRIAGE BOLTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE, AND SO WE ENDED UP GOING TO A BICYCLE SHOP AND BUYING CHINESE BICYCLE AXELS AND WHEELS TO BOLT OUR MACHINES TOGETHER THERE.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THAT'S IT-- WELL, GETTING THE OLD TECHNOLOGY AND LETTING THEM ADAPT IT TO THEIR OWN NEEDS.

DAVE, I COULD STAY ALL DAY, BUT I GOT TO CATCH UP WITH THE TIMBER FRAMERS, SO THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

APPRECIATE IT.

THERE ARE DOZENS OF SPECIAL JOBS ON THE FARM, OF COURSE, FROM WHEELWRIGHTING TO BLACKSMITHING.

BUT THERE'S ONE TIME, JUST LIKE AT HARVEST, WHEN EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER TO HELP, AND THAT'S WHEN THERE'S A TIMBER FRAME READY TO GO UP.

HELLO, DICK.

ARE WE ALL READY ON YOUR FRAME?

OUR GREAT CREW JUST ABOUT HAS THIS SOUTH BENT ASSEMBLED AND IT'S JUST TO GO UP.

THAT'S GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, THERE'S THE COMMANDER, DRIVING IN THE PLATE.

WONDERFUL.

NOW, THIS THE KIND OF PROJECT YOU REALLY TRY AND EMPHASIZE WITH THE FOLKS WHO COME TO TILLERS?

YES, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT JOINTS IN IT SO THAT WE CAN TEACH JOINERY, AND PEOPLE LEARN THE SKILLS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, BUILDING UP TO THE RAISING DAY... AND THEN EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER?

AND THEN WE TEST IT BY PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

SO INDIVIDUAL SKILLS AND COLLECTIVE LABOR.

HERE WE GO.

THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT DONE, AND THIS IS, OF COURSE, THE TOP TO RAISE UP 'CAUSE I SEE WE'VE GOT THE LOCUST-- THE LOCUST SILL IS AT THE BOTTOM.

WE'LL STAND THIS WALL UP AND PUT THE END PANEL ON IT.

GREAT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE READY TO GO.

I'LL LEND A HAND.

ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE.

WE'RE READY TO LIFT.

ALL RIGHT.

AH!

HA HA HA!

OH.

WELL, IT'S A GREAT FEELING, EVEN ON A SMALL FRAME LIKE YOUR SHEEP SHED HERE.

OH, IT'S GREAT.

WHAT A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I MEAN, THIS GIVES, YEAH, EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE SESSION A GREAT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

MMM.

AND YOU'VE GOT THE SIDEPIECE READY TO GO ON HERE.

YES.

YEAH.

THIS LARGE-ANGLED BEAM HERE GOES FROM THE TALL FRONT SIDE DOWN TO THE LOWER BACK.

I GOT IT.

SO THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA SHED THAT NORTH-- WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING IN THE WINTER?

YES, AND THIS BEAUTIFUL DOVETAIL BRACE HERE-- IT HOLDS THE 2 FROM SHIFTING.

OH, YES.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN HELP PULL THAT IN.

SO YOU GOT ANGLED SIDES WITH A DOVETAILED BRACE.

NOW, HOW MANY MORE OF THESE BUILDINGS DO YOU HAVE TO GO HERE?

WE HAVE 4 BARNSTEAD AND ABOUT A TOTAL OF 40 BUILDINGS, AND THE FARMSTEADS USED TO HAVE A LOT OF SMALL BUILDINGS IN THEM.

WOW.

AND--YEAH.

SO NO PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE SHOWING UP HERE AND SAYING, "I WANT TO VOLUNTEER," BUT, "OH, SORRY.

IT'S ALL DONE.

WE DON'T NEED YOUR HELP."

EVERY TIME THEY COME, THEY ENHANCE OUR FACILITIES AND STRENGTHEN OUR PROGRAM.

THAT'S GREAT.

WELL, WONDERFUL STUFF HERE.

DICK, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US OUT HERE TO TILLERS.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR COMING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING ME.

THIS HAS BEEN ROY UNDERHILL HERE AT TILLERS INTERNATIONAL.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME IN "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

SO LONG.

LEARN MORE ABOUT "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" AND TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING ON OUR WEB SITE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE AT PBS.ORG.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... WE ARE PBS.

ROY UNDERHILL IS THE AUTHOR OF "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" AND OTHER BOOKS ABOUT TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING, PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS AND AVAILABLE IN BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES.