Draft Animal Power Podcast
The DAPCast from the Draft Animal Power Network investigates the intersection between sustainable land use and working animals. Hard to pigeonhole, our podcast will inspire you to create the change you want to see both in the world and in your animals. It will provoke your thoughts on sustainability, and also give you practical tips for getting big heavy animals to do what you want them to do. If you've ever had a twinge of curiosity about draft animals, or even if you're just interested in sustainable agriculture and silviculture/agroforestry, the DAPCast is worth a listen. Maggie Smith hosts Season 1 with editing by Louis Ménard and Alexia Allen and music by Pier-Rick Boivin.
The Draft Animal Power Network is a membership-based nonprofit organization nonprofit organization that aims to highlight ongoing efforts of people who are educating, mentoring, and building community around animal-power and sustainable land use. We are based in the Northeastern U.S. but are growing all over the country and internationally. We host an annual flagship event, Draft Animal Power Field Days, as well as many other small in-person events and virtual discussions. Find us online at www.draftanimalpower.org.
Draft Animal Power Podcast
Experimental Archaeology & Draft Cattle in Germany
Claus Kropp has a the kind of job you only get it if you make it for yourself. He works as the founding director of the Lauresham Open-Air Laboratory at UNESCO Lorsch, a medieval abbey site in Germany. There, they have a full-scale model of a medieval village, filled with historically accurate buildings and animals. Claus works the land with his oxen and practices "experimental archaeology," which you will hear explained in the episode. He also runs the non-profit, overseeing the day-to-day of a busy public facing historical venue and research institution, and organizing the Center for Draft Cattle Research and Organization to connect draft cattle users all around the world. He tells us working with oxen puts him in flow, and you can hear his deep love for these animals -- and passion for draft cattle generally -- shine through our interview. His organization is also the home of the World Draft Cattle Symposium, and we talked shortly after a successful Symposium in spring 2024.