Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil world) 2

fastpack

Why does it say I added tractorbob to my ignore list? I click on read his post, and nothing happens, if I clicked ignore, it was in error, how do I un ignore?
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J in N. FL.

wisconsin_cur · Moderator Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 2918

fastpack

DomusAlbion

The new three-rail fence is in on the south side of the chicken yard. I've had some temporary wire fence up there for the last 9 mos. This new fence is nice and solid and will keep out the dogs and horses but let the chickens come and go as they like. I still have to build the gate for us humans.

Built a nifty shower for the pigs out of PVC pipe. It is just an eight foot length of pipe extending out over their sty with holes drilled every 4 inches. This is attached to a hose that has an inline valve. The pigs love this thing. It was installed mainly to wet an area of their sty for a wallow, but they come running every time it is on and dance in the rain, turning their smiling mouths up to the streams to get a drink.

Also expanding the woodshed and putting walls on the sides. Basically it was just some posts with a roof up against the back wall of the work building. Now it will be more enclosed, drier and will hold more wood. I've cut and split several cords this spring but there is still another large pile of downed wood I need to pick through, cut and split.

After the woodshed I’ll move on to installing the new irrigation pump for the north field. We had the pond dredged (the water source) and a trench dug for the irrigation line. I have to hook up the hydrant, bury the line, pour a concrete pad for the pump and build a small box for the pump to live in that will protect it from the weather and the livestock.
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"Modern Agriculture is the use of land to convert petroleum into food."
-- Albert Bartlett

"It will be a dark time. But for those who survive, I suspect it will be rather exciting."
-- James Lovelock

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1502

DomiusAlbion,
Try putting up a tire swing for the pigs, for some real entertainment! Just an old car tire on a heavy rope, about piggy belly height up to the inside of the tire. They'll love it.

All I got done today was reorganize my junk and construction material so I can mow the yard. I'll be glad when that stuff is used up, and the yard (what's left of it) is plowed for garden.
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Local fix-it guy..

Ludi

2 more baby turx today.

Looks like the Silkie decided two chicks is enough, she's off the nest.
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No original ideas are contained in this post.

Moped

I bought some treated lumber to build a retaining wall that will allow me to terrace and expand my vege garden.
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"I'm here to fight for truth, and justice, and the American way" - Superman
Moped

RSB · Tar Sands Joined: May 13, 2008 Posts: 28

Today I bought 2 water purification bottles with extra filters. As far as I've read they have no shelf life.

Ludi

Finished the extension of the sheep paddock, with shearing pen.

Now I just have to shear the little bastards. Smile

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No original ideas are contained in this post.

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1502

Rebuilt a 4 ft. spike tooth harrow for use with the garden tractor. Not quite done yet, but it's functional. Still needs the adjustment lever fixed, add a spring and an unlatch grip. This thing is well over 50 years old, and could have worked as it was. I hope to see more things made that way.

I'm doing overkill on the machinery for the gardens so that we can get ours worked up in a hurry, and also do a couple for kids and neighbors. That's good for public relations, and a share of the produce, usually.
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Local fix-it guy..

Hagakure_Leofman

Made some progress on the new chicken coop. For chicken aficionados, updates and photos can be found in the poultry thread

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1502

Today I'm restoring a pre-!860 cider mill for a friend. It had a broken gear (welded it) worn out bearings (bushings under construction), and 100 years of abuse and bad repairs. Like an old bolt hammered flat into a tapered key to wedge a gear on it's shaft. The housing has been sandblasted and is set up to torch braze the cracks.

One of the crushing rollers was thin one one side and has a hole broken into it, normally a fatal defect. We're going to pour this hollow cast iron roller full of concrete! Desperate situations require desperate measures.

The owner is going to build a complete new wooden stand for it. He already managed to get the pressing screw (siezed by rust) freed up by cooking it slowly up to dull red heat in a bonfire during a backyard cookout. While it was hot I told him to pour old motor oil on the screw where it enters the cast iron beam. This is a smoky process that usually erupts in flames the first few times you pour oil on it, but as the iron cools, it getts less smoky, the heated oil is as thin as it can get, and soaks into the threads. The heating and cooling process crushes rust between the parts. Together, this loosens the parts. Two trips through the bonfire and oil treatments loosened the 1.5" (35MM) screw and made it operable.

This is a small, hand cranked unit, capable of crushing and squeezing up to 5 or more bushels of apples a day, if you don't run out of strong arms to turn the crank and the press screw. We hope to share some cider when apple season gets here.
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Local fix-it guy..

Pops

Ludi

Moving gravel, which means lots of breaks.

<<<feeb Sad

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No original ideas are contained in this post.

Hagakure_Leofman

My copy of Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game arrived today. It's an excellent book for those interested in taking care of your own carnivorous responsibilities.

Apparently, billy goats on the dinner plate are to be avoided like the plague! The author makes an emotive cause against them. Can anyone speak from experience?