Let 2025 begin....

So many pokers i the fire. I try to address several each day and stay, not ahead but on top of them. This weekend I did trails now in years past I would grab the 30# back pack blower after either mowing of pushing the DR over the trails. Literally 2 miles of trails. Pushing 68 with lets say compromised joints that's not happening. I realized half the harrow drag with a 10 in dia. log cut to width and tied to drag would work. So I took an hour drive around and around a few trails. Not only killing and pulling up brush, but removing rocks and breaking toe catching roots. Also loosening soils. That's important on two fronts. One for possible seed and foot prints. I can see travel route and what trails they use or where they cross them.
Work efficiently not harder.

 

Well lets see besides preserving the garden which includes watering and some weeding I picked my late peach tree and put those up.





Now to the green house coop. The one I started, hhmmm... a year or two ago. Hubby helped set base and square it up. Measured for the roofing panel siding then...abandoned me. So I swore I'd finish it myself . I can not cut that metal so......
I cut and fit the hardware clothe to bury all around outside edge. Then to protect from big animals I cut and tight attached chain link to each individual section. I line all that on the inside with heavy greenhouse plastic left over from original greenhouse build. I then took all the landscape material I had pulled and stored, dbled it and attached that to the out side.
Today the frame went up. I had a couple of hickups due to being alone but nothing major. I now have to frame steel door to end and install the 10'2" center and end brace so a real pole ridge can go in. The frame needs a fencing snow load cover over frame that will get a bubble wrap lining before the cover is installed.
As for the base finish, hubby has renewed intrest after seeing what I got done. I'll give him just 2 weeks before putting a tarp finish on the bottom. All the years of doing tarp blinds....never had the actual tarp chewed. The entire area around coop is the chain link garden fencing.
It is a 10' x 20' space for them to have winter warm space to keep them health with light. The cover is green and has 5 screened and covered vent "windows" for summer heat on each side. That will also be protected with hardware clothe

 

Well I got the roll of bubble wrap barrier/ slight insulation over half the roof. Now yes I know it's not uv rated nor will the poly be I put on second half. The cover itself is uv rated. And the next replacement cover will be. I did this in the other greenhouse as well and it's worked great. It keeps the main cover in very good condition. I also noticed less condensation issues. I have solar fans in the other greenhouse and will install bigger ones in this as well. Bracings go up today along sides. This is also base for the roosts. Hubby got framing to install the steel door. Once that's framed in The main cover gets put on and I can put the ridge support in.
Winds and snow are rough here. This frame isn't the best but supported in main areas it will work great. The curved roof where a snow fail would definately happen is fenced tight with metal tie wraps. No sagging so night snows can't sag between "struts". The liner over that is also pulled tight to prevent snow catch. Headed out now. I just may have this done by end of month..which will be perfect for the garden is winding down and will be a secure fenced area for birds to run in winter. I still have a bit more chain link to install against fox and coyotes. Not much though. Raccoons can climb and have, corn showed me that. though that's always been a night thing and why I made the coop walls tall 4ft, the screened windows are at 7 ft and will have hardware clothe lining. Nearly all materials save the frame and cover are used or material I had on hand for years. Out of pocket cost,200 to 250. 10ft x 20ft x 10 ft..not bad.

 

Dang that second half was a chore but in place and secured. No bracing done, because I got waylaid.
Decided to check a trail to a blind and stand. Good thing because what a stinking mess. I ended up cleaning about a mile of trail. Of course that completely screwed up my sciatica and my knee..
To that, worth it for the oak tree infront of the stand I shot my bow buck is dropping a ton of acorns. Now there is a crazy amount of deer droppings and a ton of turkey sign all around the stand. Depending on wind Saturday morning I will be there.

 

New tank (propane...fu NYS). They're filling it now. Lets see how long the old company leaves their tank at the end of our driveway. It's literally a rusted, moss and mildewed pile of crap. It had best be no later than a week or I'll rain living hell down on management. Of course they owe us for 30% plus a 1000.00+ pre pay from last year.
I got the greenhouse end ridge line brace up. Not secured to frame yet, for adjustments may be needed for the door end framing. That thought has nixed the side bracing as well. If hubby just gets the base set I can finish the rest of door. Once center ridge pole support is up the ridge pole will be easy.
Well dug rest of tators to find some sort of rodent ate 2/3 of them!!! Still got 20 #'s today. So that takes out my red tator raised beds. I will switch to a hot peppers there next year. They even got a bunch of my onions as well. Seriously a million summer squash not one chewed. Beans were attacked as well. I'm thinking voles they have been a long time issue here since our beloved Bear passed. That shepard was a vole eating machine !
He'd grab them them toss them up in the air and swallow them whole as he caught them on the way down. Funniest thing to watch, him tossing back voles. Though we spent a lot getting him wormed every year...lol

 

That's quite the garden! Nothing beats fresh, homegrown vegetables, and fresh laid eggs no less. Eating good in the neighborhood!

 

Thanks I love saying everything tonight came off our place....

 

Usual garden stuff. Then hubby has committed to installing the steel door. He cut and bolted the 4x6 base and is getting the pressure treated for the framing. Tomorrow I install the middle 4x6 ridge pole. This will also act as a higher perch for birds. This I'll attach to the side bracing and a bottom 2x4 bracing. It's not going to be buried much so will need the bottom and mid support bracing along with the attached ridge pole. The cover should go up by Wednesday. A finished project. It won't get birds in until I finish chain link around the rest of garden. Not much more to do on that. Hhhmmm need to find my roll of hurcane strapping....