Annmarie wanted me to make some progress on the field water set up. I always get busy in the spring with hay and seem to run out of time. I purchased a 4×6 pressure treated board a few months ago but never used it. My DeWalt electric grease gun came in on Friday and I loaded it with grease. I still needed fuel then I could “work” with my new mini excavator. It is still sitting on the trailer. Instead I was good and went to work on the irrigation. The first thing that needed done was to stabilize the two supports that go across the concrete weir. I had made these years ago and just screwed them together but over the years they have started to spread apart. They are not pressure treated but hanging out over the concrete they just don’t get wet enough to rot. So I took some 12” all-thread pieces and drilled three holes in each one and installed a bolt the entire width and cranked that down as tight as it would go. Once I had those placed over the concrete and no dirt touching on each side I started in on the pump support. It only needs to be on three sides so I cut each joint off halfway so I could overlap the boards and bolt them together with carriage bolts. I left the carriage bolts sticking up as I may use them to secure the wiring or hang the water pipe from in the spring. I am not sure yet if they will be useful but they are not hurting anything by sticking up now.
I did not have any pressure treated boards to make the upright and roof so I went to Tum-a-Lum and bought the only farmer’s pack of bent, twisted and broken pressure treated 2×8”x12’. I was able to buy 11 boards for $100. Anyone who has bought boards will know that is a great price. I was able to just physically tear one board in half and use it for the roof support. I had some old metal roofing and used that on the tall side and on the roof. This should keep the pump fairly dry at all times. I may install sides if necessary in the spring. The bush needs a trim as it has 1” thorns on it and they are very sharp! The entire thing cost us $130 to install and build. I will use those leftover boards for something else. I did pick up fuel for the mini-excavator!
I think I need to install a 6’ gate down by the apple tree and then make about 40’ of fence movable so that I can get the mini-excavator to both sides of the water retention pond for irrigation. I was looking at the fence and I don’t think it will be that hard. I need to repair my weight box for the tractor so that I can move the big bales. It needs some welding and steel reinforcement. That is on my list along with haying and mini-excavator for my vacation coming up. I am gonna live it up!
