shopping the junk yard

Last fall, with the help of lovely friends, we were able to get our second hoophouse erected. And covered. Additional generous souls visited, sorted the beds out and planted spinach, garlic and salsify. Recently peas were planted.

Now the amount of daylight is increasing. The vegetables are all growing. And so are the weeds. Part of each day is spent pulling weeds.

And the dogs are finding their way inside. One will remain nameless. Dug a hole into the plastic to get inside. We don't want the dogs in there, but they like to be where we are. Especially where we all are!

So the fencing, removed when the second hoophouse went in, is being reinstalled. Tposts driven in. Fencing stretched and attached.

At the junkyard last year we found a tool. We fished it out of the pile, asked how much it would cost us. $2 was the answer. This piece of equipment usually costs $45-$65. And is not needed very often.

Pulling the fence tight onto the tposts is just the job. It grabs hold, and ratchets the fence tight. A tight fence helps keep the dogs (and everything that likes fresh vegetables) out of this area.

The $2 tool, known as a come along, is making this a quick job. Then it will be stowed away until needed again. Probably 5 years from now.

It is shockingly easy to spend more than you make operating a farm. Paying someone to construct a fence, or full retail for a come along are 2 ways just today that we could have spent too much money. Instead, we watch and pickup on sale or for free tposts, fencing and more. The same with tools.

Under the fence line is plastic used to keep weeds down. It will serve as a walkway here. We will plant flowers and herbs on either side of this path, and keep mowing to a minimum.

Now it is nap time.