Hey there, ever wondered what you can conjure up using gizmos like:

• Riga 13 moped engine
• GAZ 51 cabin heater fan
• Ural chainsaw fuel tank
• D4 auxiliary motor and its control gadgets
• Home-brewed bicycle with C-tine cultivator

Well, guess what? Starting from April 14th, 2023, the Agricultural Museum is rolling out an exciting exhibition from the Soviet era that showcases the DIY spirit and inventive minds titled "When Times Are Lean, Invent a Machine." Picture this: 11 custom-made mini tractors, including the masterpiece you've just described, the furrow maker assembled from those seemingly mismatched parts.

Back in the day, when pockets were light and times were tight, people got crafty. They scavenged from scrapyards, grabbed things from utility closets, and hit up repair shops for "priceless treasures." These resourceful folks, blessed with the Midas touch, transformed these odds and ends into tractors. These masters weren't just creators, they were the tractor's inventors too, since blueprints were about as rare as a unicorn. Most were self-taught. You can bet a solid welding or locksmith skillset came in handy.

They hitched all sorts of horse-drawn implements to these machines—stuff that was still lying around from the good ol' farming days. But the real geniuses crafted their own attachments: plows, cultivators, furrow makers, harrows, drag plows, (tilting) trailers, mowers, snowplows... You name it, they built it, and thank the heavens gasoline wasn't worth a fortune back then!

Local inventors and innovators became legends. The bold ones even crafted machines for commissions. Registering these creations? Nah, wasn't really a thing, especially in the boonies, because "who cares about traffic regulations when you're not really on the road?" Noise and vibrations were their escorts, often accompanied by near-miss incidents. But you know what? Thanks to these machines, many tasks got done. These custom mini tractors were like a golden ticket to survival for many families.

Today, you might just find this "mystical" machinery sitting in a scrapyard, waiting for a second life. To others, it's a family heirloom, wrapped in nostalgic tales and heartwarming memories.

During the Soviet era, industrious and clever men rolled up their sleeves and built their own garden equipment and mini tractors, because you just couldn't buy 'em off the shelf.

Come, feast your eyes on these rad creations that made gardening chores way less back-breaking. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.

Oh, and guess what? This exhibition is just a sneak peek of what's to come next year as part of Tartu 2024, the cultural capital of Europe. It's a joint exhibition by three museums (Estonian Agricultural Museum, Estonian Road Museum, Tartu City Museum), aptly named "From Beets to Washing Machines," taking you on a journey through Soviet-era ingenuity and DIY culture.