Irrigating Days

Today was a big day in getting the irrigation set and operational.

I never did get a chance to finish the top coat of gloss and anti-corrosive on my 40ft pipe. Too late now. Its half submerged in the main pond.

Just to further document my Sistine Chapel of pipe- its about maybe a foot in diameter and thick aluminum. On one end I used the disk cutter to saw off the old steel braces and rubber extender, then took the wire grinder to the corrosion and rust (aluminum rusts? maybe the end bits are some kind of alloy). I replaced the rubber end with a new clearish ribbed plastic pipe extension. Used some machine grease to lubricate the pipe end so i could slide the plastic pipe over it, then braced it in position with two new stainless steel coil and bar contraptions that you tighten with two bolts. At the other end of the plastic pipe I lubed up and pushed on the galvanized steel coupler that attaches to the water pump-- I also reinforced the coupler with two steel braces. Okay. So.
The other end of the mega pipe has an enormous steel block of pipe. This end is the part we tie the empty keg to, and sink the whole mess into the pond center to suck up the water for irrigation.

Today started off with me and the foreman fabricating a new basket to go around the mouth of the steel pipe block- it filters out some of the larger pond weeds that might clog the water pump. I took 2 sheets of perforated sheet metal and bent them into the semblance of a cylinder, then after measuring to match the opening's circumference I bolted together the sheets with four nuts and bolts (with double washers). The foreman and me then took another perforated sheet and traced a circle matching one end of the cylinder- then cut it with the wheel. We dropped 3 maybe 1 & 1/2foot screws through the new cage top and cylinder into the holes drilled in the pipe block. Bolted it all in place, then took some lengths of wire and further reinforced the cage top (its bottom really) with the cylinder sheet. Finished it and the pipe was good enough to go. We carried the monster down the hill into the horse field, I tied on the keg and we pushed the cage end into the pond.

The boss rolled up in the old tractor and we headed to the barn to get the water pump- we dragged it out of the workshop and hitched it up to the tractor. Back in the yard of the main greenhouse the foreman went over all the valves and couples, while we drained then replaced the oil. Good to go.

We brought the pump down to the pond and set 2 full cinder-blocks and two half blocks (and a board) beneath the pump-- to give it support and a good connection angle to the tractor. The foreman attached the PTO shaft (which turns, giving the tractor's engine power to the water pump)-- the cinder-blocks kept the shaft straight which keeps the pump and connections/tractor from rattling too much.

The boss primed the pump while me and the foreman scampered off along the main irrigation artery double checking the plugs. We uncoupled one end, which leads to the pipe that passes beneath one of the pavement roads bisecting the farm. The boss kicked on the pump and we purged the pipes up to that point of all the crap and dirt they'd gathered over winter. We recoupled the pipes and repeated the purging process along the artery on the other side of the road. Everything all green and go.

The wind really started kicking up, occasional showers too, as we began testing the water guns and drip lines. I played message ferret running between the boss and the foreman. Start the water. Stop it. Start Stop etc etc. I grabbed a quarter inch wrench and a length of wire and joined the foreman. We kicked the water pressure to high gear and got all the water guns running- or most of them. I ran along the pipe length unclogging the water nozzles with the wire as they ran. I was drenched in a minute- which was perhaps fortunate as it started to downpour. At least I was already used to it. In the rain we marched through the strawberry fields checking and adjusting their drip lines. Marked all the brakes and kept trucking.

Lunch time never came too soon.

Somewhat dryer, I came back and found my cigarette lighter was outta fuel-- kinda fitting as things progressed. The rain had died down over lunch, so the foreman and I marched around the pond and started laying down the galvanized steel pipe leading over the hill. We attached them into the pipe system they left at the hill top, which covered and irrigated all the corn fields last year-- this year its mostly strawberries so far.
Apparently ( i assume at least) the water pump isn't strong enough to cover the lower fields and upper fields at the same time, so we ran the pipe up and left a couple big elbow joints by where we'd trade off attachments to the pump. The whole pipe process blossomed into a great round of foreman passive aggression- long sighs and frustration.

When it started to pour hard, and the wind really kicked up-- I almost would have preferred to be outside. Instead, the foreman and I sat in mutual silence transplanting three varieties of eggplant for the rest of the day.


Though it wasn't all bad. Got in some quality time with the boss, as he gave me the lowdown on pump mechanics and the art of good piping (gasket maintenance is key). Out in the fields, the 3000 strawberries we planted are really starting to respond- most have opened out their three leaves and are growing more. The 12 rows of snap peas have poked out of the ground. At some point the foreman laid down 2 rows of spinach and a row of kale- all are through the ground and green. Checked on my faba beans and they're progressing-the boss dug a bean up for a little sprout anatomy/comedy lesson. Bah was out perfecting the hay placement on the strawberries planted last fall-- the same ones I swept open in march-- they're all big and green and growing up fast. The lower fields at least are starting to look like a farm again, and not a dirt wasteland. Still 2/3rds of the space is empty there, but hey, looking better.

Narrative aside so not to forget-- the boss told me about some frost protecting techniques using the irrigation system. We still are in cold snap territory and with all these plants popping up- running the drips and sprinklers overnight (when properly placed) prevents any hard frost from developing over the buds and fragile bits of the plants. Just that narrow gap of degrees between freezing air and 40 degree water is enough to make the difference. The boss stared off at the hills, his face ashen, as he described loosing thousands of strawberries (and many more potential thousands of dollars) in a matter of hours due to unchecked frosts.

Also, third outbreak of poison ivy this season!

I'm heading off for the weekend, so I'm tucking out of work early tomorrow. Got a tight schedule, but I'll try to give a quick recap of the morning before I bus out.