I wish... I'd be arrested (and probably burn down a few neighbors' houses - this is in the back of my property, right up against their much smaller lots.) I'm not going to dig. I'm going to anchor them in raised beds, instead. The upper part of the property has limestone just a few inches below the surface - I'd like to put some of them up there, as I can't ever grow anything deep rooted. I'm saving eggs again, so I'll probably join in right when this batch is done. I have the calibrated thermometer/hygrometer in the R-Com (the Brinsea is so rock solid). The temperature is bouncing around more than I'd like (though not in the danger zone). It's making me nuts. It also doesn't do great at keeping humidity down below ambient, so it's 50-55% whether I want or not. I am hopeful that they will catch up and they do ok. Hatching is one thing, but I kinda hate incubating in this thing... It's particularly appealing in really dry climates. I love splash!!! Did you say she was a splash marans? Here's my splash copper marans boy Monkey (if you haven't already seen him - if so, forgive the repeat): I've read that potatoes are a really good "first" crop with a new mound. (I hate growing potatoes, I'll consider something else...) I am BEAT. I went at that giant pile for quite some time. (This pile was created by a backhoe, and included pushing over whole trees, hence the craziness of it.) Made some head way (esp. in the area where Goodwin was taken under), and to some of the barbed wire out, but as it got dark, it was very Grimm brothers scary fairy tale-like back there, and there's plenty of dark creepy spaces underneath where you expect to see a pair of menacing eyes look back. Very creepy. Added bonus of doing this (which needed to happen anyway), I am considering and scoping out the new areas (coop plus paddocks) for the new chickens - I was stressing a little bit about where to put them because of shade issues, but was pleased to see that due to growth in some of my younger huisache and mountain laurel trees there was a well shaded area with good forage ground around it for a couple new tractors. By clearing these piles, I'll have even more space for them. SOOOOOOO TIRED..... This is Goodwin's last stand, exposed after several hours of clearing and cutting. I'm not sure it's clear how friggin' tall this thing is from this photo of this part of the pile. Those are tops of trees behind... See the trail leading to the pile (now much diminished in this area). Creepy scary story fodder: - Ant Farm
That is a lot of work. I am still sorry about your rooster and hens, but the new space for tractors is a positive way to look at it. You are giving me nightmares though about the clearing along my fence line I have to do to get ready for putting goat)field fence over my existing barbed wire in the spring. I just keep telling myself that at least it will be easier in the winter. With today's fence repair done, that is my next big job.
That is a lot of work. I am still sorry about your rooster and hens, but the new space for tractors is a positive way to look at it. You are giving me nightmares though about the clearing along my fence line I have to do to get ready for putting goat)field fence over my existing barbed wire in the spring. I just keep telling myself that at least it will be easier in the winter. With today's fence repair done, that is my next big job.
It surely is - but somehow it didn't feel like hard work when I was doing it (though I'm tired now). Probably because I was so motivated to get it cleared for the safety of my chickens, and because it was a little like a game of Jenga, seeing what branch I can tug out or break and remove from the middle of the pile. I try to find the positive whenever I can in things. Makes life happier to live.
What I'd like to do is to go over the ENTRIE fence line and add HW cloth up to 2 ft (as well as a lip on the ground to prevent digging, though the people who put the fence in knew I was excluding predators and they did pretty well getting it snug to the ground). I also want to put barbed wire all along the tippy top. That's a lot of work and a lot of money. I may do it in sections, especially as I have any scraps of HW cloth from the coop building.
There surely isn't ever a shortage of work, is there?
It surely is - but somehow it didn't feel like hard work when I was doing it (though I'm tired now). Probably because I was so motivated to get it cleared for the safety of my chickens, and because it was a little like a game of Jenga, seeing what branch I can tug out or break and remove from the middle of the pile. I try to find the positive whenever I can in things. Makes life happier to live.
What I'd like to do is to go over the ENTRIE fence line and add HW cloth up to 2 ft (as well as a lip on the ground to prevent digging, though the people who put the fence in knew I was excluding predators and they did pretty well getting it snug to the ground). I also want to put barbed wire all along the tippy top. That's a lot of work and a lot of money. I may do it in sections, especially as I have any scraps of HW cloth from the coop building.
There surely isn't ever a shortage of work, is there?
Unfortunately not. I would like to catch up though so I could just do the next job that needs done adverse to being so far behind I feel like I am first. I fell asleep in my chair. Now it is time for my real bed. I just typed a bit while I got a fire going.
Rest well friend. I hope you awake rested and not sore. I am buying my fencing by selling all my kids this spring. I have twelve acres three quarters of the perimeter still needs done.
Well the fire is lit with a big one that should last till I am up.
Not allowed to have a fire that big in town - it's a HUGE pile - it would be really hazardous even if I was granted a permit (which I guarantee I wouldn't be).
It's usually relatively warm in winter (it was 80F today) and exceedingly hot in the summer, and we're frequently under absolute burn bans, so there's not as much to be gained as in another location/climate like yours, I'm thinking....
Lowes carries a ten inch folding pruning saw for about twenty dollars by Carona. They are great. I have cut four and six inch limbs easily and used in twice to free my chainsaw over the years. I am on my second one now with a spare bought for the future in my closet. They cut through small limbs and trees like a breeze and are great for spots where it is too tight or too scary for me with my chainsaw or to quickly break up a branch. Seeing your pile made me think of how I would want it working that mess. Together the two types of saws compliment each other.
Nite, the blade did not get dull, I lost the nut on the connecting bolt and just got a new one.
Chrissy's a duck, but she already took that title anyway.
I may or may not have given her a thickly padded dog bed to sit on.... She loves it!!
And she gets her water changed several times a day.... Gets warm baths in the sink......
