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Post by steev on May 7, 2017 20:34:30 GMT -5
Right on!
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Post by reed on May 8, 2017 3:21:42 GMT -5
Got all the dead ash trees that came down in a recent storm cleaned up as well as cutting down the big hedge apple that was encroaching on the septic leech lines. Had hoped the main trunk would be good for bow staves. It was big enough but curved with weird twisting in the grain. I'v never made a bow myself but a good Osage stave can bring a very good price and a tree that size could have made several. O'well got a bunch of night logs out of it assuming it ever gets cold enough again to need a hedge night log.
Next project other than to finish planting is to get the solar electric fence up. Those goofy chinese made insulators were a little pricey I thought so I made some out of and old garden hose, don't see why they shouldn't work.
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Post by steev on May 8, 2017 4:09:18 GMT -5
Once it's up, you can check how they work by grabbing the line; I hear that's definative, solar-wise.
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Post by mjc on May 8, 2017 8:15:33 GMT -5
It was big enough but curved with weird twisting in the grain. I'v never made a bow myself but a good Osage stave can bring a very good price and a tree that size could have made several. O'well got a bunch of night logs out of it assuming it ever gets cold enough again to need a hedge night log. Larger diameter limbs can also be used (3"++) if they are straight enough...some bowyers prefer the limbs, because the different bending ratios of the sap/heartwood. |
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Post by steev on May 11, 2017 1:38:10 GMT -5
Given that I get some mowing done, I'll be able to till more fallowed lanes, preparatory to increased planting, which requires increased irrigation; bought batteries for the controllers, so I'm good to go as soon as Sukie can do her thing (bearing in mind that any newly re-domesticated area will need a second tilling in two weeks, before planting); I'm getting stoked/chuffed about this growing season; at the very least, I expect to deplete my store of out-dating seed and, one hopes, renew them for an excellent planting next year, when so much prep won't be needed and I'll be able to plant more extensive patches earlier. "Wait 'til next year"; isn't that the refrain, if one wants to survive?
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Post by steev on May 14, 2017 22:59:09 GMT -5
The hammock-arbor shade is primo, but I didn't use it; temps were not too bad, so aside from a bit of irrigation- and fence-repair, and some pruning to clear/raise limbs out of my way, I spent my time mowing roads (things are drying to the point I'm antsy about the p'up's hot muffler), paths (too many ticks to be waltzing through knee-high weeds), and planting lanes (Sukie can't efficiently till such growth); got some preliminary tilling done, but much was already so dry that I think I blew a cubic inch of dust out of my nose.
I'd bought a new mower Friday, week ago, which I took to the farm, but there's so much work for it there, that I left it; I'll get another tomorrow for town use.
The Tepary beans are sprouting, but no sign of the bush beans (hope they weren't all too old); I've about got a trellis-lane tilled and ready for pole beans, which I also hope aren't too old.
My three-year-old wild arugula plant seems to have croaked, but I saw two new volunteers, so I'll transplant them to better locations, not wanting to be without such a tasty note in salad or salad dressing.
I'd thought rabbits were going to be this year's plague, but when I moved an inverted bucket, so I could mow, there were 100+ slugs in it; that's more than I've seen total in ten years; just another result of the extravagant rains we got, I guess; slug-eating snakes (like Thamnophis, garter snakes) and amphibians (some frogs and toads) will benefit from this bounty of slimy protein toute suite, I hope.
Still didn't beat that leak, but I have one more quick-and-dirty thing to try before falling back on cobbling together a thingy to catch the water and drain it through the wall; no way am I going to re-build that piping/pressure-controller array.
Stopped at my sweetheart's house, coming back, to re-up and trouble-shoot/repair her riega. For a piquant detail, I'll refer you to "Inadequate Help".
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Post by steev on May 20, 2017 2:03:04 GMT -5
I expect to to get space worked for more corn and a large patch of "Steev's Dry Wit" melons; I'm very stoked on that, being curious about the potential: f3 will be fun; one hopes; next year, f4 will be both fun and interesting.
Must remember to take parts to retro-fit my sweetheart's riega to remedy the problem of sprinklers on drip-lines (there's one on the end of each of two drip-lines; so not to the point, but they "need" to stay); no biggie, aside from my memory-issues.
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Post by steev on May 21, 2017 20:47:46 GMT -5
Did some tilling, (not much because I forgot to fill and return the gas-can) enough to re-up more riega so I planted pole beans: Flor de Rio, dry; Blauhilde, snap; Gold of Becau, snap; Worcester Indian Red, lima; Domatsu, snap; Guadalupe y Calvo Negro, dry; then went on to Kogiku, sq; crossed Whitley Yellow, WM; Sweet Meat, sq; Chirimen, sq; Steev's Turkish Sweet, cuke; Lakota, sq; Cream of Saskatchewan, WM; N Z spinach; Golden Honey, WM; and Black Crowder, cowpea.
Went another round with the well-plumbing; if I didn't need the water, I'd shut that sucker down! I really can't automate the riega until this is squared away, so irrigation only happens when I'm there; not optimal.
The ~70' of bush beans has produced TWO plants; plenty more (old) seed where that came from, though not of those varieties; the teparies and mat beans are doing fine.
Weeded some; gathered pea tips and beet thinnings for salad.
Opened the screened vent-windows to cross-ventilate the bunk in the pump-house; it's officially Summer, though still dropping to 30's at night.
Must remember to take face-masks and gas next week (tilling is awful); got to check Sukie's air-filter.
The tree-frogs are busy; it's a thrill to take hold of a hoe from the tool-shed and realize there's something cold, damp, and squirmy in your hand; pretty little devils, but occasionally off-putting.
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Post by mjc on May 29, 2017 18:08:55 GMT -5
Got most of my tomatoes and peppers planted today...and it's not even June yet!
Still have some other things to plant but, I'm actually about half done with planting...maybe.
Also, started a batch of rhubarb wine yesterday. The dandelion wine I started several weeks ago is progressing nicely, it will need attention in a couple of weeks and then left to age until next year.
I need to lay out a couple of permanent beds and get them started...another raspberry location (for some prolific reds I liberated from my dad's place) and a place to expand my wild blueberries to...to keep them safe from the power company's hired idiot tree trimmers who can't understand the 'DON'T SPRAY!!!!' order.
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Post by steev on May 29, 2017 19:18:38 GMT -5
Did a little tilling; so wretchedly dusty, but that's another long bed ready to plant; re-configured the riega to it; thought I'd beaten that leak; must take tools and materials next week to drain the drip outside.
Driving out through the winding hill-road, I nearly got side-swiped by a moron (prolly had his head up his phone) who came around a curve too shallow, straying half over the line before realizing he wasn't alone; had I not already moved to the far edge of my lane, he'd have nailed me; what are the odds he'll have learned the appropriate lesson?
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Post by mjc on May 29, 2017 20:19:50 GMT -5
what are the odds he'll have learned the appropriate lesson? To carry a spare pair of tightie-whities and a roll of TP? Because he'll never learn to put down the damn phone... |
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Post by steev on Jun 4, 2017 20:33:29 GMT -5
Having taken the stuff needed for my last shot at dealing with that leak, I was pleased to find that it was no longer an issue, thanks to having re-configured the riega to reduce back-pressure.
Having left the riega running all week, things are looking more vigorous, except one circuit which had a blown actuator; got that replaced; must remember to get some spares.
Apricots will be ripe next week or two.
A benefit of the past Winter's copious rain is a patch of Brodiaea, which I've not seen on the farm before; very nice, since, like Paris Hilton, they're both pretty and edible.
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Post by mjc on Jun 9, 2017 13:33:45 GMT -5
Today, I'm drilling and plugging various hardwood logs with mushroom plug spawn.
So far I've got brown oyster and lion's mane done. The black poplar (piopinno) are next. I need to let the logs for the shiitakes sit a week or so before drilling them. I just cut down the white oak to use, so it's too 'fresh' to use.
It takes quite a while to drill 100 holes in logs...if you need to do it in a specific pattern.
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Post by steev on Jun 9, 2017 19:07:16 GMT -5
Needing parts for a drip-job, I went by the store; remembering my need for spare solenoids, I found that my units are one or two models out-of-date, so I'll bring in the blown one so we can figure out what is the right replacement.
Why does "progress" make me so often disgruntled?
So a shotgun gives too random a pattern?
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Post by mjc on Jun 9, 2017 21:22:32 GMT -5
So a shotgun gives too random a pattern? Needs to be a 5/16th hole...have you priced shotgun shells lately? Especially with shot big enough to give a 5/16th hole? |
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